`we Need Drugs Room'
Illawarra Mercury
Monday May 24, 1999
Wollongong should take part in the heroin shooting gallery trials, according to a delegate from the recent NSW drug summit.
Kristine French from Crisis, a Berkeley detox centre, said she believed it was important to provide a safe environment for users, particularly in the Illawarra region.
``Considering that we have the most deaths here, apart from Sydney, I think Wollongong would be a good place," she said.
At the end of last week's NSW drug summit it was agreed a number of proposals, including trialling heroin injecting rooms, would be considered over the next six weeks.
Since beating a heroin addiction herself 16 years ago, Ms French has been involved with helping others. Eighteen months ago she returned to work at the Berkeley centre after a break of several years and said she noticed a marked increase in the number of heroin-related deaths.
Ms French, 48, admitted the mental scars remained from her time on heroin - until two weeks ago she would have had difficulty telling anyone she was once a user.
She said one of the great benefits of injecting rooms would be to offer a facility where addicts would also be able to take advantage of medical advice.
She estimated there were up to 27 people on the waiting list for the Berkeley centre's month-long program, which was always in need of funds.
© 1999 Illawarra Mercury