The provision of methadone, if some politicians and newspapers are to be believed, is no better than handing out illegal drugs. Paul Hayes, Chief Executive of the National Treatment Agency, clarifies the changes afoot for the substitute drug Fluid policy (PDF)
Tag Archive for methadone
Druglink article 2010 – A dose of reality by Liz Hughes and Peter Phillips
Are prisons a methadone free-for-all where offenders are barred from actually getting clean? Liz Hughes and Peter Phillips say the reality is far removed from the picture painted by those guided by abstentionist beliefs. A dose of reality (PDF)
Druglink news item – Prison’s opiate reduction regime ‘endangered lives’ by Max Daly
A prison’s attempt to reduce high levels of opiate prescribing resulted in an “unsafe” drug treatment regime which led to inmates being put on suicide watch and others at risk of overdose, a report by the prisons watchdog has revealed. The findings by HM Inspectorate of Prisons…
Druglink article 2011 – Kabul’s heroin injectors by Max Daly and Sandra Calligaro
A Paris-based human aid organisation is aiming to expand its drop-in centres by building a carpet factory, while Kabul’s injecting underclass are left to squat in the city’s underbelly. Opium amounts to half of Afghanistan’s GDP, employs 12 per cent of its citizens…
Druglink article 2003 – Prescription for disaster by Neil McKeganey
Is the increase in methadone prescribing fuelling the rise in cocaine use in Scotland? Prescription for disaster (PDF)
Druglink article 2003 – Methadone: the drugs do work – so long as you prescribe enough by Colin Brewer
For any drug to work properly the dose has to be high enough. Invariably this will differ from patient to patient. With methadone, argues Colin Brewer, the dose could be as high 1100mg a day. Methadone: the drugs do work…
Druglink article 2003 – Upping the ante: getting the dose right for pregnant drug users by Chris Lofty
A pregnant woman on a methadone script tests negative for the drug. Obviously, she is selling it on. Or is she? Chris Lofty examines why some pregnant women are being refused methadone, when in fact they may need more. Upping…
Druglink Findings 2012 – Has methadone been rehabilitated?
The use of substitute medications such as methadone in treatment for opiate dependency has always been controversial. But what does the clinical evidence say? Mike Ashton takes a look at where things currently stand… Has methadone been rehabilitated? (PDF) Additional keywords: methadone…
Druglink letter 2001 – Alternatives to licensing doctors
Recent proposals to license doctors who treat drug users with controlled drugs other than oral methadone mixture, will deter doctors from working in this area. THis was excatle why a similar licensing proposal was rejected in 1984. Alternatives to licensing…
Druglink article 2013 – Mother’s milk by Rebecca Lees
High profile media stories highlight the potentially fatal consequences of children drinking methadone. What can be done to help prevent such tragedies? Mother’s milk (PDF)