DOCTORS will soon be able to prescribe heroin to addicts in a move which is sparking controversy in Bolton. But what do the experts in Bolton really think? Health reporter Gayle Evans reports....

IT'S an issue which is causing a flurry of debate in the town. Some say heroin on prescription will save lives and cut crime.

Others say the government is going soft of drugs saying politicians are walking on dangerous ground with these moves tantamount to legalising heroin.

But the question being largely asked in Bolton is "what will it really mean?"

Incredibly, health leaders, doctors and pharmacists remain in the dark about government plans to make heroin available on the NHS.

Many admit to seeing vague reports in the media but the government has yet to issue actual guidance to those who will be implementing the new policy, Bolton experts claim.

All they know is that GPs are to be given the licence to prescribe the Class A drug to addicts -- at a cost to the NHS (and ultimately the taxpayer).

Drug addicts will get their daily fix from a respectable chemist -- instead of from their dealer -- and have to inject it in special "shooting galleries" at the pharmacy.

But the initial knee jerk reaction to the move in Bolton seems to be one of good news.

Drug expert Gerrard Thomas, from Bolton's Step by Step Project -- a drop in service for drug users -- said the measure to to prescribe heroin was a "major move forward".

Mr Thomas, who sees between 20 and 30 heroin users each day, said: " I certainly think its a way forward for drug users and will go a long way towards cutting crime. I'm sure that heroin users will welcome this. Although security will obviously be an issue as to where these stores are held."

In Bolton, 1,225 heroin addicts used Bolton's Drug Action Team services last year with 84 per cent of these addicted to heroin.

New figures show that 41 children under the age of 16 are already addicted to heroin in Bolton.

Local GP Dr Ian James believes the effect will be felt by pharmacists not GPs.

Dr James, whose joint practice on Chorley Old Road is in the heart of the drug community, said: "Drug abuse is a problem here as it it across Bolton. I see this change as one which will increase a doctor's workload. But I'm presuming the drug will be dispensed by the Drug Action Teams directly.

"It will effect chemists more than doctors.

"I don't think there will be a risk of young children trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes though. People won't just be able to walk in the street and be prescribed heroin, it won't happen like that.

"But this policy ultimately will have a positive impact."

Dr James said police policies on tackling heroin crime were clearly not working and said: "These crime policies are obviously having very little effect with only 10 per cent of her oin stopped from coming into this countryiberal democrat Euro-MP Chris Davies has welcomed the new moves by the government to give bree heroin on prescription to addicts.

Bolton's Euro-MP, a long-standing critic of Government policies on drugs, says it will save lives.

Mr Davies, convicted earlier this year for possession of cannabis as part of a political protest to support the separation of soft and hard drugs, said: "Allowing doctors to prescribe them with safe quantities of the drug to which they are addicted will save lives, undermine the criminal dealers, and ensure that addicts no longer have to steal from the rest of the community in order to pay for their habit".

Home Secretary David Blunkett says his policy will mean heroin users will be given prescribed supplies of the drug in safe, medically supervised areas, using clean needles.

These developments will also apply to drug users in prison.

Bolton's Drug Action Team(DAT) leader Sandy Nesbitt expressed some reservations saying the government's policy may not be suitable for all heroin addicts.

The alternative treatment for heroin addiction is the drug methadone which is taken in tablet form.

Ms Nesbitt said that this was an important method of getting addicts away from the adiction of injecting.

Bolton's drugs policies receive just £1 million a year with the DAT still waiting funding for next year's initiatives.

But Ms Nesbitt said: "Prescribing heroin will be a more expensive way of doing things. This policy needs careful assessment."

The Government has also reaffirmed that it intends to reclassify cannabis as a class C drug, making its possession a non-arrestable offence, and it is to cease setting targets for reducing the numbers of people taking drugs.

It has also said that it wants to set up secialist centresto address Crack Cocaine.

Ms Nesbitt said that Bolton has a crack cocaine problem but said that figures have yet to be drawn up as to the exact picture.

Bolton will be putting in a bid to the government for extra funding to tackle the towns growing problem.

However, Tory Cllr Stuart Lever, says the move is a dangerous one by the government but admits that it may be usueful in reducing crime and the black market of heroin.

Cllr lever said: "The jury's still out on this one. The government seems to be putting out a dangerous message that heroin is legal. The wording is very vague.

"Cigarettes are just as addictive, does that mean they will be available on the NHS too.

"I'll give them their due though, the government seem to be trying to tackle the problem of drugs. But they seem to putting together a mis-match of policies."

Waiting for Bolton PCT and Bolton Pharmaceuutical Association