Pubdate: Tue, 13 Mar 2012
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2012 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Frank Luba
Bookmark: www.mapinc.org/topic/NAOMI
Study: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/03/12/cmaj.110669

STUDY SAYS HEROIN MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN METHADONE

A study published Monday contends medically prescribed heroin is more 
cost-effective than methadone for treating long-term heroin users.

The people given the medically prescribed heroin in the form of 
diacetylmorphine were also likely to live longer than those on 
methadone maintenance.

They stayed in treatment longer and spent less time in relapse than 
methadone users. Those results are associated with less criminal 
activity and lower health-care costs.

An average lifetime societal cost of $1.14 million was predicted for 
people in the methadone study group. But those in the 
diacetylmorphine group were projected to cost $1.09 million over 
their lifetimes.

The costs were based on treatment expenditures, drug therapy costs 
and costs to the justice system.

The study by researchers at Providence Health Care and the University 
of B.C. was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. It 
was based on findings from the North American Opiate Medication Initiative.

Health Canada will be reviewing the report, said Steve Outhouse, 
director of communications to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

"We believe that the system should be focused on preventing people 
from becoming drug addicts. That is why the National Anti-drug 
Strategy focuses on reducing and preventing the use of illicit drugs; 
treating those with drug dependencies; and combating the illicit 
production and distribution of drugs," he said.

Previously, the Conservative government had brought the issue of 
Vancouver's "safe injection project" to the Supreme Court of Canada. 
In September 2011, the court ruled in favour of the Insite program 
where drug users can safely inject intravenous drugs with clean needles.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom