Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 The Edmonton Journal
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: CanWest News Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

VANCOUVER HEROIN TRIAL A FIRST

VANCOUVER - Vancouver heroin users have become the first in North America 
to be given free prescription heroin, as part of a controversial drug trial 
that began Monday.

The North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI) started treating 
just three drug users, but will eventually recruit 157 people for the 
two-year study.

They will be split into two groups -- one receiving heroin, the other 
methadone -- to find out if heroin is better for addicts who have failed at 
methadone or abstinence.

The heroin users will attend the heavily secured clinic three times a day, 
seven days a week, to be given their fix in a safe-injection room. 
Methadone users will come twice a day to drink their heroin substitute.
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