Australian reports into drug use and the possibility of heroin maintenance

Official Australian reports into drug use reveal a high level of agreement over the nature of drug use and the problems associated with drug use. We examine the lines of argument which make up the shared approach of past reports into drugs, and assess to what degree the connections between these lines of argument are changing. This assessment reflects on the possibility of arguing that heroin should be made available for the treatment (including maintenance) of heroin-dependent users. This paper is derived from a report prepared for a feasibility study which examined whether or not heroin should be made available in the Australian Capital Territory in a controlled manner. After a close reading of a number of official reports, we conclude that it is possible to argue that heroin should become available.