Pubdate: Thu, 03 Feb 2005
Source: Herald, The (UK)
Copyright: 2005 The Herald
Contact:  http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/189
Author: Damien Henderson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

LONG-TERM HEROIN USE 'CAN BE SAFE FOR SOME'

HEROIN can be taken on a long-term basis without a destructive impact
on the users' health, work or family life, drug researchers said yesterday.

Some users of the class-A drug held down jobs and achieved educational
results comparable with non-drug users, researchers at Glasgow
Caledonian University said.

The study, by Dr David Shewan and Phil Dalgarno, focused on 126
long-term heroin users in the Glasgow area who were not receiving
treatment over a four-year period.

The findings alarmed some campaigners, who warned it might send the
wrong signal about the dangers of heroin.

Dr Shewan said the group exhibited patterns of drug abuse but also of
planned and controlled drug use. He said: "The important thing about
the study is that it shows, while there are heroin users with
problems, there are also heroin users without problems."

There are currently 55,800 heroin addicts receiving treatment in
Scotland. The number of people taking heroin in this controlled way
may be larger and required further study, Dr Shewan said.

The study sample comprised 94 men and 32 women, with the majority in a
relationship and 74% employed.

Full-time higher education students made up 11% of the group, 64% had
progressed to levels of education beyond secondary school and only 5%
had no qualifications.

Professor Neil McKeganey, director of the Centre for Drug Misuse
Research at Glasgow University, said he was not convinced that heroin
could be taken on a long-term basis without harmful impact

He said: "The big question to ask is, are these individuals having
little or no adverse effect on their lives or on the road to becoming
problematic drug users." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake