http://www.betweenthelines.net.au/blog See the latest blog comments from Between the Lines Fri, 18 May 2012 19:13:1337332395 EST EN-AU http://www.betweenthelines.net.au/blog/hero-or-heroin-a-history#comment_2311 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:01:1283871709 GMT As far as I know the MSIC in Kings Cross is still operating, and never actually gives out heroin itself. Rather, users obtain their own drug on the street and the injecting centre simply provides a sterile and supervised environment for safe injection. The MSIC is still under a 'trial status' despite 9 years of successful operation and not a single fatality, but is definitely still operating.<div><br></div><div>There have been "heroin trials" in Europe where addicts have been prescribed a daily dose of the drug to stop them from having to resort to crime to fund their otherwise expensive habit, but this has not happened in Australia yet. The ACT was considering a similar heroin trial in the 1990s; 6 out of 9 officials on the committee including law enforcement and medical personnel supported the trial, but John Howard vetoed the program in line with his zero-tolerance drug policy.</div>