Pubdate: Thu, 23 Nov 2006
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 2006 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/454

SHOULD DRUG ADDICTS GET HEROIN ON THE NHS?

Drug Addicts Are Being Given Injections of Heroin on the NHS Under a 
Government-Backed Plan to Deter Them From Committing Drug-Related 
Crime to Fund Their Habit.

Up to 150 addicts are to take part in the trial and they will receive 
the drug daily under the supervision of doctors and nurses. News of 
the new trial was revealed as one of Britain's top police drug crime 
experts called for the prescription of heroin to be widely available 
for addicts.  Howard Roberts, deputy chief constable of 
Nottinghamshire and adviser to the Government on misuse of drugs, 
said that the cost of treating an addict  - UKP12,000 - would be 
outweighed by the cost of crime committed to fund the drug.  What do 
you think of the scheme? Will it reduce drug-related crime - and is 
this the best way to deal with addicts?
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MAP posted-by: Elaine