The NSW President of the Doctors Reform Society, Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, today urged the Federal Government not to back away from the legal changes necessary for the heroin trial to go ahead.

"We are discouraged by the response of the Government to continually use the police, law and penal system to try to solve a major social problem" said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

"The drug problem is the tip of the iceberg of human suffering in our society.  It results from youth unemployment and alienation, considerably worsened by the economic reality that huge profits can be made from drug illegality" said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

"The existing policies are manifestly failing and it is time the foolish rhetoric stopped and a new approach was taken.  The legal system has failed and the social costs are being visited on the victims and community in general.  The report on prescribed heroin, recently released in Switzerland, found the trial resulted in a striking decline of criminal activities and dramatically improved addicts' health" said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

"The Australian Medical Association and the Doctors Reform Society both support the heroin trial and offer their professional advise to Mr Howard and the Cabinet" said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

"It is most disappointing to see that the Prime Minister is interfering in an area where he lacks expertise" said Dr Chesterfield-Evans.

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