A shameful veto - Methadone refusal is unacceptable

ANY person trying to shake off the chains of an addiction is involved in a life or death challenge.

That struggle can have an emotional, psychological or physical impact that sometimes proves too much for an individual or the family supporting that person. Any addict who can muster the gumption to confront their alcoholism, enslavement to gambling or need for prescribed or illegal drugs has taken the first step to reclaiming their life and should be supported.

This makes the decision by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union to support 140 of its members in their refusal to dispense methadone utterly unacceptable.