Ban sees drop in heroin substitute use

The recent ban on the sale of a heroin substitute has led to a decline in its use, according to a New South Wales Government report.

The recent ban on the sale of a heroin substitute has led to a decline in its use, according to a New South Wales Government report.The drug temazepam, in its liquid capsule form, was withdrawn from sale earlier this year.The report says the liquid in the capsule can be heated and injected and is favoured by users when heroin is unavailable. The Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee decided to ban the sale of the capsule. The report by the NSW Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy says in the past three months since the ban, the number of users injecting the drug in the safe injecting room in Sydney’s Kings Cross has dropped. The Government says the injection of the drug is associated with pharmacies and doctors’ surgeries being burgled. Temazepam, one of the benzodiazepine family of drugs, is used to treat insomnia or anxiety and is available by prescription only.(Source: ABC News: August 2004)