Pubdate: Thu, 13 Jun 2002
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2002 BBC
Contact: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

DISPENSER COULD CUT HEROIN DEATHS

Addicts Would Get Carefully Controlled Doses

Drugs deaths could be cut by using a dispensing device designed to prevent 
overdoses.

The government is backing a trial of new technology designed to carefully 
measure drug doses.

Officials hope it will can be used to reduce the number of heroin deaths 
and cut crime.

It should also cut the number of people injecting their drugs and the rise 
of diseases like Hepatitis and Aids spread through sharing dirty needles.

The new technology was first designed to provide carefully measured doses 
of cannabis-based medicine for the treatment of conditions like multiple 
sclerosis.

Controlled Doses

But it is hoped that the Advanced Dispensing System, designed by GW 
Pharmaceuticals, will help Britain's 250,000 heroin users take their drugs 
in a more controlled way ensuring they get the correct doses each time.

People taking part in the trial will self administer either heroin or 
methadone using programmable inhalers.

The devices will be set in advance and will not be able to be broken into 
or tampered with.

There have been concerns about the current prescribing and dispensing of 
methadone.

Methadone is currently the standard treatment for heroin addicts, but as 
more than a third of prescriptions are given in large weekly instalments 
there have been a number of overdoses.

There are 250,000 heroin users in Britain

Professor John Strang, director of the National Addiction Centre, London, 
where the trial is taking place, said: "There are overwhelming medical and 
financial needs for the better treatment of people with opiate dependence.

"We want to offer a realistic alternative to black market drugs and help a 
greater number to achieve stability and recovery in their lives.

"At the same time, the security of the device will mean less need for 
supervision, leading to cost savings and increased throughput.

"We are looking for a major increase in safety and effectiveness of 
treatment alongside a dramatic increase in the number of people being 
treated - without any increase in the cost per patient."

It is also hoped that the use of the system will help reduce the risks for 
addicts by replacing needles.

Security

Dr Philip Robson, medical director of GW Pharmaceuticals said he hoped they 
would have the new system in addiction centres within the next three years.

"Our security technology has the potential to revolutionise the 
prescription and dispensing of controlled drugs.

"The government's own figures show that every pound spent on the effective 
treatment of heroin addicts saves UKP 3 in crime-related areas."

Roger Howard, chief executive of DrugScope said: "DrugScope warmly welcomes 
the new trial which has the capacity not only to save lives and reduce 
overdose, but to reduce the current cost of prescription services and the 
risks of seepage into the black market.

"We eagerly await the results of the pilots and hope that if successful, 
the government will consider extending it."

Lesley King-Lewis, chief executive of the charity Action on Addiction, 
said:"The trial of this new device could radically change treatment for 
heroin addicts.

"We hope the device will help drug addicts manage their habit in a 
controlled way without the risks found in the current prescribing system.

"When we treat heroin addiction the levels of criminal behaviour drop by up 
to 80% as do the levels of injecting and the risk of overdose. So if the 
device is successful it will not only vastly improve the quality of life of 
the heroin addict, it will also improve the quality of life of society at 
large by reducing the level of drug related crime."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager