Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jun 2003 Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2003 The Dominion Contact: http://www.dominion.co.nz/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/128 Author: Grant Fleming Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) HIDDEN COST OF DELAYED TREATMENT FOR ADDICTS Some drug addicts in the Wellington region are waiting more than a year for methadone treatment, complain drug and alcohol workers. Capital and Coast opioid treatment service team leader Christine McCarrison said 47 drug addicts are waiting to be treated with methadone - several have been on the list for at least 12 months. Methadone is widely used to treat opiate dependency by acting as a substitute for drugs such as heroin or morphine. Ms McCarrison said Health Ministry funding for the region's methadone service was capped at 410 patients, so the service was unable to meet demand. "It leaves them in a situation where they are under pressure and sometimes their families are under pressure to support their habit so they don't go into withdrawal," she added. Ms McCarrison said that without methadone to ease withdrawal addicts were more likely to use unsafe "homebaked" drugs or resort to crime to finance their several hundred dollar-a-week addiction. "It is far cheaper to treat these people than just leave them." A study done four years ago by Christchurch School of Medicine associate professor Doug Sellman found that addicts on methadone waiting lists committed $2500-worth of crime each week in support of their habit. By comparison, it costs approximately $6500 a year to treat someone with methadone. The Health Ministry estimates between 13,500 and 26,600 New Zealanders are addicted to opiates. Drug Foundation spokeswoman Sally Jackman said such waiting lists were a national problem. Delaying treatment creates stress for addicts and their families and makes no financial sense when weighed against the cost of crimes committed by addicts, she said. Health Ministry spokesman Todd Krieble said district health boards decide the number of methadone places funded based on the Mental Health Commission's 1998 blueprint. In the 2001-2002 financial year the Government spent $8 million treating 3761 people with methadone, including 772 people in Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Wanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Tararua and Wellington regions. "People who require immediate access to methadone treatment services include pregnant women and people with serious medical conditions such as HIV-Aids who can be stabilised or improved," Mr Krieble said, adding that health boards could give priority admission to addicts with children. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk