Heroin better than Methadone for hard-core drug addicts: Study

Chicago, August 20: A key ingredient of heroin could be the safest and most effective treatment than methadone or other treatments for hard-core heroin addicts, a new study by Canadian researchers has found.

The study, titled North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI), found giving pure, pharmaceutical heroin to hardcore drug addicts at a supervised clinic could lead to a higher rate of recovery than giving them methadone, a substance that has been used for decades by some addicts to try to control their heroin cravings.

Diacetylmorphine more effective than methadone
The NAOMI report, published Thursday in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that the key ingredient in heroin- diacetylmorphine – is more effective in treating longtime addicts than methadone.

In the study, addicts who received injections of prescription heroin were more likely to stay in treatment than those who got methadone.

The study participants who were treated with the diacetylmorphine were 87 percent more likely to stick with rehab compared to 54 percent on the methadone program.

“It showed that heroin works better than methadone in this population of users, and patients will be more willing to take it,” said Dr. Joshua Boverman, a psychiatrist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

Dr. Boverman believes the reason why the methadone treatment is not taken by many addicts is that they “don’t want to take it; they just don’t like it”.

To reach their findings, the Canadian researchers conducted a trial in which 226 long-term addicts, who had failed at least twice to kick the heroin habit, were involved.

The researchers divided the study participants into two groups-addicts in the first group were injected with diacetylmorphine while addicts in the other group were given oral methadone, the most widely used treatment.

Study Findings
After one-year of follow-up, the researchers in Canada found that 88 percent of those receiving the heroin compound were still in the study, and 67 percent of them had significantly reduced their drug use and illicit activities.

In the methadone group, 54 percent were still in the study and 48 percent had curtailed their illicit activities.

In addition, the study has found that addicts who were treated with diacetylmorphine “had greater improvements with respect to medical and psychiatric status, economic status, employment situation, and family and social relations”.

“The main finding is that, for this group that is generally written off, both methadone and prescription heroin can provide real benefits,” concluded Martin T. Schechter, a professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, and the senior author of NAOMI report.

three upcoming conferences

Drug Policy

2009 INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY REFORM CONFERENCE
The biennial conference of the Drug Policy Alliance

November 12-14 , 2009
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Full info on the web site: http://www.reformconference.org/index.php
Reduced rate for ‘early-bird’ registration, until October 9

Every two years, people committed to drug policy reform from across North America and around the world come together at the Drug Policy Alliance conference to listen, to learn, to network. Right now, there is a growing realisation that the 'War on Drugs' has failed and that to continue it is folly. Concurrently, world wide, there is unprecedented momentum toward positive change. Clearly it is time to meld these two streams, to strategise, to act.

If you’re committed to bringing about drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights, if you're working in any area of drug policy reform, or want to be, you have to be part of this conversation. There is no better crash course in drug policy than this three-day event.

Canadian delegates will have the opportunity to caucus at this event.

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Addiction / Treatment

ISSUES OF SUBSTANCE 2009
'PATHWAYS AND BRIDGES TO CHANGE'
The biennial conference of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

November 15–18, 2009.
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Full info on the website: http://www.issuesofsubstance.ca/Eng/Pages/Home.aspx
Reduced rate for ‘early-bird’ registration, until September 18

The theme for this conference draws inspiration from the National Treatment Strategy (NTS). Released in November 2008, the NTS sets out a vision and action plan for improving Canada’s substance abuse treatment system. The conference theme explores the personal "pathways to change" that individuals can pursue into and through a tiered model of treatment that strives to ensure services and supports are matched to individual needs, are provided in a timely fashion, and are evidence based. The conference will also examine "system bridges"—some established and others yet to be developed—across the range of services that are important to ensure tightly coordinated care experiences.

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Harm Reduction

HARM REDUCTION 2010
'HARM REDUCTION - THE NEXT GENERATION'
The 21st annual conference of the International Harm Reduction Association

April 25 - 29, 2010
Liverpool, England

Full info on the website: www.ihraconferences.net
Reduced rate for ‘early-bird' registration, until January 21st 2010

This conference will look at issues such as the adequacy of existing harm reduction models for low- and middle-income countries, stimulant users and young people, the integration of harm reduction into health systems, and how harm reduction intersects with drug control systems and fields such as human rights, security and development.

A dynamic gathering of academics, activists and people with lived experience

More than 200 heroin addict prisoners forced to go 'cold turkey' win £4,000 damages each for human rights breach

Last updated at 00:37am on 18.04.08

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197 prisoners claimed compensation when they were forced to come off heroin in jail

MPs condemned the Government after it was revealed that nearly 200 prisoners received £3,807 each in compensation - because they were forced to give up heroin in jail.

The convicted criminals claimed their human rights were infringed when they were deprived of the heroin substitute methadone and had to go "cold turkey".

A High Court test case involving six prisoners was given the go-ahead but the Government agreed to settle out of court and pay £750,000 to 197 inmates.

When lawyers' fees are taken into consideration, the total cost to the taxpayer is well over £1million.

The payouts were branded "disgusting" today as full details of the settlement emerged for the first time.

Andrew Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford, said: "This is astonishing. It's an outrageous waste of public money.

"You go to prison to receive punishment and drug addicts are supposed to be taken off drugs."

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It's disgusting that law-abiding taxpayers are being forced to pay money to these drug-addled criminals.

"If you are in jail of course you should be forced to be clean. The prison system is failing precisely because meddling bureaucrats and foolish legislation stops prison guards doing their job."

The former heroin addicts claimed the cash from prisons around the country.

The prisoners had all been using methadone - paid for the the Government - to combat their addictions.

They claimed their human rights were breached when this approach was ditched in favour of a cold turkey detox.

The group claimed breaches under Articles 3 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights - which ban discrimination, torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment - and Article 8, which enshrines the right to respect for private life.

They also claimed they were the victims of trespass in the form of unwanted treatment and accused the Prison Service of "clinical negligence".

A test case involving six of the 197 prisoners was given the go-ahead after a preliminary hearing at the High Court in May 2006.

The prisoner's barrister Richard Hermer, a human rights lawyer specialising in group actions against the Government, told the court: "Many of the prisoners were receiving methadone treatment before they entered prison and were upset at the short period of treatment using opiates they encountered in jail.

"Imposing the short, sharp detoxification is the issue."

Inmates claimed their drug treatment was "handled inappropriately" so they suffered "injuries and had difficulties with their withdrawal".

The full month-long hearing was due to take place in November 2006 but the Government settled out of court shortly before it was due to begin.

The money was then paid out through a set up called the "opiate dependent prisoner litigation scheme".

Among those to receive payouts are six inmates at HMP Altcourse in Fazakerley, near Liverpool, seven at Blakenhurst, near Redditch, Worcestershire, nine at Exeter, Devon, and 11 in Hull.

A Prison Service spokeswoman yesterday said the payments made were a minority of the claims made against the Government by lags but refused to give out details.

She said: "We successfully defend the majority of contested claims.

"We make payments only when we are instructed to do so by the courts or where strong legal advice suggests that a settlement will save public money.

"Each compensation claim received by the Prison Service is treated on its individual merits.

"Legal advice is sought and, on the basis of that advice, a decision is made on whether or not the claim should be defended.

"We cannot therefore comment on individual cases or the reasons that they were settled, as the terms of each settlement vary and may be subject to confidentiality clauses."

There are legal precedents to the settlement. In 2004, Lord Bonomy awarded armed robber Robert Napier awarded £2,400 for enduring the same treatment at Barlinnie prison in Glasgow.

During the same year, gunman George Knights, 46, given nine life sentences for shooting three police officers, repeatedly sought compensation after being refused extra luxuries for his cell.

The Government has paid out £9million in compensation to convicted offenders for a huge range of claims over the last few years.

Pay-outs were made for incidents including assaults by fellow lags, medical negligence and even sporting injuries while exercising in jail.

Government spends £4m on methadone vending machines for prisons

Ministers are spending £4 million on a programme to install 'vending machines' in prisons to supply drug-addicted offenders with methadone, a substitute drug used to wean addicts off heroin.

The Conservatives claimed the figures showed that ministers were prepared to "manage offenders' addiction" rather than tackle the problem.

Phil Hope, a justice minister, told MPs that vending machines have so far been installed in 57 prisons. The machines allow prisoners to receive a personalised dose of methadone automatically by giving a fingerprint or iris scan.

The plan is to have the machines in 70 out of the 140 prisons in England and Wales.

Dominic Grieve, the the shadow justice secretary, said: "The public will be shocked that Ministers are spending more on methadone vending machines than the entire budget for abstinence based treatments."

"Getting prisoners clean of drugs is one of the keys to getting them to go straight. We need to get prisoners off all drug addiction - not substitute one dependency for another. The Government's approach of trying to 'manage' addiction is an admission of failure."

A spokesman from the Department of Health said that the department spends around £240 million on offender health each year – with £40million going on drug treatment programmes.

He said: "Methadone dispensers are a safe and secure method for providing a prescribed treatment. They can only be accessed by the person who has been clinically assessed as needing methadone and that person is recognised by a biometric marker, such as their iris."

2009 INTERNATIONAL DRUG POLICY REFORM CONFERENCE

November 12-14
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Every two years, people committed to drug policy reform from across North America and around the world come together at the Drug Policy Alliance conference to listen, to learn, to network.

Right now, there is a growing realisation that the 'War on Drugs' has, in every respect, failed and that to continue it is folly, pure and simple. Concurrently, world wide, there is unprecedented momentum toward positive change. Clearly it is time to meld these two streams, to strategise, to act.

If you’re committed to bringing about drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights, you cannot afford to miss this extraordinary gathering. If you're working in any area of drug policy reform, or want to be, you have to be part of this conversation.

Simply stated, there is no better crash course in drug policy than this three-day event.

Full info on the web site: http://www.reformconference.org/index.php

Reduced rate for early-bird registration

THE "WAR ON DRUGS" CAUSES UNNECESSARY HARM TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD.

The spread of HIVand Hepatitis C and the incarceration of hundreds of thousands of people are all direct results of completely misguided policies driven by dogma. The International Network of People Who Use Drugs (INPUD) calls for an end to this war on our people and for a new period of peace and intelligent open debate.

INPUD - The International Network of People Who Use Drugs - is a global network of people who believe that citizens do not forfeit their humanity and human rights simply because they choose to use substances covered by the international drug control system.

Through collective action, INPUD fights to change existing local, national, and international drug laws and to help formulate an evidence-based drug policy that respects human rights and dignity. Click here to download the position statement for the 52nd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

To join the growing movement for peace in the "War on Drugs", please click here: http://www.druguserpeaceinitiative.org/

The drugs do work – for a lot of people

One in three adults in the UK have taken them, as have the last three US presidents, so it's time to remove the stigma around drugs, and talk openly towards more effective, safer policy

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The Nice People Take Drugs ad campaign for drugs policy reform. Photograph: Release

Nice People Take Drugs – it's not a controversial statement. We all know people who have. The last three US presidents have admitted to it. Much has been suggested about the likely next UK prime minister. Nowadays if a politician admitted to it, the tabloids would struggle to make a story stick let alone generate a scandal. The fact is, a lot of people from all walks of life have at some point taken drugs and it's time we got real about it.

That's why this week we have launched a new campaign called Nice People Take Drugs. Buses will be travelling across London carrying this slogan in an attempt to get people talking about drugs and kickstart a drug policy debate.

Over one third of the adult population of England and Wales has used illegal drugs and almost 10 million people have smoked cannabis. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, one in eight Britons under 35 has taken cocaine. Some will have experimented with drugs with little apparent consequence, some will continue to use them on occasions.

The situation where people have to deny, hide or, if found out, regret their drug taking is simply absurd. The public is tired of the artificial representation of drugs in society, which is not truthful about the fact that all sorts of people use drugs. If we are to have a fair and effective drug policy, it must be premised on this reality.

It is time for the public to challenge the mantra adhered to by politicians and much of the media that society must continue to fight a war on drugs, as if they are an enemy worth fighting and ones that can be defeated. The implication that drugs are evil and that users of them ought to be made to feel ashamed suits this status quo, but in fact does not reflect most people's experience of drugs.

We all know that, for a minority, drugs and alcohol can have disastrous consequences – but ones that are only exacerbated by the current laws and are better addressed with robust and comprehensive public health campaigns.

Aside from the occasional tinkering with the outdated classification system, drugs and drug policy do not get properly discussed and politicians are afraid to debate the possibility of meaningful reform.

The government is reluctant to tackle the subject firstly because of the culture of fear of drugs that is used as justification for the zero-tolerance approach, and also due to politicians' uncertainty about how to make the transition from failed to improved drug policies.

The Nice People Take Drugs campaign is needed so that the public can give politicians the confidence that they need to abandon the ridiculous 'tough on drugs' stance and instead focus on finding real and effective ways to properly control drugs and manage drug use. This would make drugs much less dangerous and, critically, less available to children.

The current system has brought us powerful drugs like crack cocaine, skunk and methamphetamine; it has ravaged countries from Afghanistan to Colombia and has cost billions in a war on people who use drugs. Governments have next to no control over drugs and they are arguably more available and cheaper than ever before. In the UK it is often far easier for a 14-year-old to get cannabis than alcohol.

Breaking the taboo on drugs is the first step to reducing the harm that they can cause. By far the greatest risk to the majority of people who use drugs is criminalisation and stigmatisation. To simply ban substances and arrest those who use them is no more than a complete abdication of policy makers' responsibility to protect the health and well being of its people.

We must start a debate about the kind of drug policy that this country wants to see. The UK does not want drug laws that benefit massive drug cartels and are politically convenient for politicians, but ones that deal effectively and maturely with drugs and make our society a safer place for our children.