Health group pays cash to drug users

October 10, 2007 - 5:27AM

The Queensland opposition says pamphlets offering drug users cash payments in return for teaching safe injecting techniques are "grossly irresponsible".

Opposition child safety spokeswoman Jann Stuckey said the Queensland Injectors Health Network was distributing flyers headed: "Wanna make some cash?"

They offered $110 cash payments to intravenous drug users willing to teach others safe injecting techniques, or, "learn a bit, share a bit and make a bit".

Ms Stuckey said it was not a responsible way to deliver a harm minimisation program.

"To pay drug addicts in this manner, knowing that the $110 will almost certainly be their next hit, is grossly irresponsible," she told reporters yesterday.

Ms Stuckey said she believed the program was not effective because it did not focus on getting people off drugs.

"Without that support, these facilities are nothing more than needle hand-outs," she said.

"The public have for many years been led to believe these are needle exchanges, and sadly, this is not true."

Premier Anna Bligh said Queensland Health had ordered the advertisements be withdrawn at least six months ago.

She agreed the program, jointly funded by the state and commonwealth governments, would offend some people, but said "unconventional" methods were sometimes required.

"Sometimes they have to go to extreme lengths to engage with these people," Ms Bligh said.

"It is unpalatable work, it is a difficult subject.

"But Australia and Queensland can stand proud in terms of our very open approach to dealing with issues such as the spread of HIV/AIDS."

Ms Bligh said she would ensure the flyers had been withdrawn as ordered.

The Gold Coast-based needle exchange service at the centre of the controversy said it had paid 320 drug users who had completed the program across Queensland since 2004.

Queensland Injectors Health Network general manager Geoff Manu said he understood criticism of how the program was promoted, but defended the practice of paying drug users to to prevent blood-borne viruses.

He said drug users needed to know how to inject properly and dispose of needles safely.

"If people are going to engage in detox we need to have some way of getting to these sorts of people," he said.

He said university researchers for many years had paid drug users and gamblers to get information which was used in education programs.

"We stand by what we do. We do accept that we should pay for these people to present this information."

Mr Manu said the organisation had anecdotal information the program was effective, with more people appearing at their needle exchange services knowing how to use needles cleanly.