Pubdate: Wed, 03 Jan 2007
Source: Peterborough Evening Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2007 Johnston Press
Contact: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/contactus.aspx
Website: http://www.peterboroughet.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/961
Author: Kirsty-Nicolson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

COSTS DOUBLE FOR DRUG TREATMENT

THE cost of medication used to wean city addicts off heroin has 
almost doubled in the past two years. Peterborough's health authority 
spent UKP46,657 on drugs such as methadone - a synthetic substance 
used by addicts to kick their habit - between October 2005 and 
September 2006. It compares to UKP26,205 spent in the previous period.

The amount spent on methadone itself jumped from UKP13,673 to 
UKP22,055, while cash used to buy buprenorphine, another drug used to 
treat heroin addiction, rose from UKP10,713 to UKP22,055.

Both drugs usually have to be taken by users under the supervision of 
a pharmacist.

However, experts say that the increase in the amount of money spent 
on the drugs indicates that treatment is more widely available in the 
city, rather than there being a massive increase in heroin users.

Chief executive of Bridgegate Drug Services, in Broadway, 
Peterborough, Lindsey Barrows-McGill said: "I would say this 
indicates that the National Treatment Agency Strategy, which aims to 
get more people prescribed treatments, is working very well."

A total of 1,117 people attended Bridgegate over the past year for treatment.

The centre helps people who are hooked on all sorts of drugs, 
including heroin, cannabis and crack cocaine, and offers a range of 
treatments, such as counselling and community work.

Medicines management and prescribing manager at the city's Primary 
Care Trust (PCT) Sharron Patrick said: "There are a number of reasons 
as to why more money is being spent on these drugs.

"More people may be asking for help, the population is increasing and 
we have recently acquired the prison, which may house some people who 
need to use these drugs."

She added that drugs such as methadone are also used in palliative 
care, to help people suffering from certain types of cancer, and the 
PCT was unable to break the figures down to tell how much was spent 
on addicts and how much was used in hospitals

Regional manager of the National Treatment Agency for Substance 
Misuse (NTA) East of England, Janaka Perera, said: "More people in 
Eastern England are receiving the treatment they need and more are 
staying in treatment longer, which increases the chances of their 
treatment being effective.

"Effective drug treatment delivers benefits to individuals, reduces 
the spread of blood-bourne viruses, such as HIV and hepatitis, within 
the community and improves safety by reducing drug-related crime."

Figures released by the NTA reveal that 13,748 drug misusers in the 
region received specialist drug treatment in 2005 to 06, an increase 
of nine per cent on 2004 to 05.

The most frequently reported drugs which are misused by adults in the 
Peterborough area are heroin (57 per cent), cannabis (12 per cent), 
crack or cocaine (14 per cent) and methadone or other opiates (nine per cent).

- - Bridgegate Drug Services can be contacted by calling 01733 314551.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman