Pubdate: Sat, 11 Mar 2006 Source: Edinburgh Evening News (UK) Copyright: 2006 The Scotsman Publications Ltd Contact: http://www.edinburghnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1626 Authors: Jane Bradley, and Stewart Cooper Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) 3000 LOTHIANS HEROIN ADDICTS TAKE LETHAL METHADONE HOME AROUND 3000 heroin addicts are regularly allowed to take methadone home with them in the Lothians despite fears of another tragedy like the death of toddler Derek Doran. The two-year-old died after swallowing his parents' methadone at home in Elphinstone, near Tranent, in a case which has highlighted the risks of unsupervised use of the drug. The dangers are widely thought to be limited by a system which forces many addicts to drink their methadone in front of pharmacy staff. But health chiefs said today the "vast majority" of the 3100 registered methadone users in the Lothians take their medication home at least one day a week. Even some of the most unstable addicts can take methadone away on Sundays because most pharmacies are shut. The system of supervised methadone use is primarily designed to prevent addicts selling the drug on the black market, but it was also thought to have afforded some protection to children living with addict parents. It is not clear exactly how many addicts take methadone home with them or how many of them have children living with them as the NHS does not collate such figures centrally. The Scottish Executive is carrying out a review of methadone use in the wake of Derek's death and said today that a clearer picture needed to be gathered of how methadone was being given out. The Conservatives today called for an urgent investigation into how many addicts were being allowed to take the dangerous drug home where it could fall into the hands of children. Toxicology reports were made public last week which showed Derek Doran died from drinking methadone. The toddler was found dead in his bed by his 25-year-old mother Lisa Dodds. Derek, whose parents were both methadone users, is believed to have drunk the heroin substitute thinking it was a soft drink. Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health medicine at NHS Lothian, said circumstances meant the vast majority of addicts were allowed to take methadone home at least once a week. She said: "Virtually all methadone users will take it at home at least one day a week due to the vast majority of pharmacists being closed on Sundays." Many addicts are also given the option of taking methadone home with them every day. All new methadone users have to take it under supervision for the first three months of the treatment programme. However, unless pharmacists raise concerns, they can normally choose to take it at home after that, returning to be supervised for only two weeks of every year. NHS Lothian is currently looking at plans for a renewed awareness campaign to warn addicts about the risk of leaving methadone unattended at home. The campaign was being planned before Derek's death. Tory health spokeswoman and former GP Nanette Milne said the rules should be tightened. "It would be my preference that people do not take methadone at home and take it in a supervised way - that is without doubt the best way to help keep children away from it," she said. Edinburgh's Liberal Democrat social care spokesman Councillor Tom Ponton said: "I think the law should be changed to ensure that methadone is only taken in supervised conditions." The Executive earlier this week pledged to undertake a review of guidelines on the clinical management of methadone. An Executive spokesman said: "There are deficiencies in information - for example, we do not know how long people are taking methadone for and where they are taking it. That is something we are looking to improve on." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom