Pubdate: Sun, 03 Nov 2002 Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK) Copyright: 2002 The Scotsman Publications Ltd. Contact: http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/405 Author: Christopher Claire PLAN TO PRESCRIBE HEROIN ON THE NHS DRUG addicts could be prescribed heroin on the NHS under plans being considered by the Scottish Executive. Deputy justice minister Dr Richard Simpson said he wanted to have a "grown-up debate" about the merits of allowing GPs to prescribe the drug to known users. At present, many heroin addicts are given methadone as a substitute, but there is little evidence the programme works - methadone itself causes many deaths and there is a thriving black market in the drug. Prescribing heroin allows doctors to control both the amount and quality of the drug addicts receive, as well as taking them out of the arms of dealers. The Executive is examining programmes in countries such as the Netherlands and Switzerland to see if they have been effective in helping addicts beat their dependency. Figures released in August showed the annual number of drug-related deaths rose by 14% in 2001 to 332. Two-thirds of the deaths were attributed to heroin and morphine. Simpson said: "I understand the concerns that people would have. We would need to proceed extremely cautiously. We would not proceed until other experiments have come to a satisfactory result. "We need to be looking at whatever new things are coming along and learn from other pilot projects." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens