Pubdate: Wed, 03 Mar 2004
Source: Charleston Gazette (WV)
Copyright: 2004 Charleston Gazette
Contact:  http://www.wvgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/77
Author: Dr. Robert Newman
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n313/a08.html?24851

DON'T ABANDON DRUG ADDICTS

Editor:

Regarding your Feb. 20 methadone editorial: Earlier this month, the federal 
government issued a report concluding unequivocally that 
methadone-maintenance patients and the programs that treat them "are not 
the culprits" responsible for the recent wave of overdoses associated with 
this medication. Furthermore, it is simply not possible for programs to 
"pay little attention to their customers, merely sending them home with 
bottles of methadone." Every provider is obligated to adhere to a battery 
of standards imposed by nationally certified accreditation agencies - just 
as is true of hospitals.

With a terrible problem like drug addiction, the very worst response is to 
abandon those who want and can benefit from availability of treatment services!

Dr. Robert Newman

Director

Baron Edmond de

Rothschild Chemical

Dependency Institute

Beth Israel

Medical Center

New York
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