Pubdate: Mon, 12 Feb 2001
Source: Courier-Mail, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2001 News Limited
Contact:  GPO Box 130, Brisbane Queensland  4001
Fax: (07) 3666 6696
Website: http://www.thecouriermail.com.au/
Author: Siobhain Ryan

EX-ADDICT JOINS PUSH FOR NALTREXONE FUNDS

AFTER spending a third of her life on heroin, one-time user Bibe Best has 
sworn off all drugs, except one.

And that's the one that helped save her almost a year ago.

Ms Best is a Naltrexone success story -- one of the many who have taken the 
controversial heroin detoxification drug and stayed clean 12 months later.

She was also one of up to 50 supporters who rallied yesterday at Parliament 
House in Brisbane to call for cheaper, easier access to the drug.

With a heroin habit that began at age 14, Ms Best had ``done detox'' and 
``done rehab'' before enlisting in the Naltrexone programme.

``I never had a problem with getting clean. It was staying clean,'' she said.

Since she finished a six-month treatment a year ago, Ms Best hasn't looked 
back.

But for others, the price tag for treatment -- an upfront $500 fee and $200 
monthly bill for tablets -- means they'll never have the chance to move 
forward, said Stuart Reece, principal doctor at Brisbane's biggest 
Naltrexone clinic. He said dozens of opiate addicts a week were being 
denied the chance to kick their habit because of the lack of government 
subsidies for the drug.

Federal authorities decided against subsidising Naltrexone for opiate 
addicts in December 1999, amid debate in the medical profession over its 
benefits and dangers.

Dr Reece said while Naltrexone wasn't a cure-all for addictions, it was a 
``gateway to freedom'' for many.
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