Heroin treatment ‘can help addicts’

IRELAND should consider giving heroin legally to addicts, a leading charity said yesterday.

Merchants Quay Ireland said health authorities should examine the benefits of alternative drug treatments, like heroin, to compliment the existing substitute methadone.

“Drug substitution treatments are an effective way of working with problem drug users and can be an important step on the road to a life without drugs,” said Tony Geoghegan, director of MQI.

“Methadone, while useful for some, has its limitations and there is a value in exploring other substitution therapies, including buprenorphine and heroin, to see if they would be effective in attracting hard-to-reach drug users into treatment and in minimising drug related harm.”

He said heroin maintenance programmes were being explored in a number of other countries.

“Research shows that heroin maintenance lowers the risk of overdoses and other medical complications as well as the risk of drug users committing crimes to support their habits,” said Mr Geoghegan.

“Those involved in such programmes are more likely to maintain contact with drug treatment and other services, and more able and likely to stabilise their lives and become productive citizens.”

Methadone is the only substitute drug legally available for heroin addicts in Ireland and MQI estimated there are at least 6,145 heroin users on methadone treatment programmes in the country.

The charity said methadone maintenance was associated with:

lLower rates of heroin use, reduced levels of crime and improved social functioning.

lLower risk of death or infection from HIV or Hepatitis C.

The agency said substitution treatments such as buprenorphine and LAAM were being used in Europe. Mr Geoghegan said these were longer acting than methadone and had a reduced risk of overdose. A study commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs last year recommended buprenorphine as a treatment option here.

It said the drug was as effective as other treatments in withdrawal and was as least as effective as methadone in the maintenance of heroin addicts.

Minister of State Noel Ahern, who has responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, said a pilot project would be set up to test the drug.

Today is the final day of MQI’s Dealing with Drugs campaign.