Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: CanWest News Service Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) CONTROVERSIAL DRUG TRIAL BEGINS IN VANCOUVER Heroin paid for by Canadian taxpayers was given to addicts Monday and promptly injected. The three Vancouver users have become the first in North America to be given free prescription heroin as part of a controversial drug trial. The North American Opiate Medication Initiative, or NAOMI, plans to recruit 157 people for the two-year study. Participants will be split into two groups -- one receiving heroin, the other methadone -- to find out if heroin is better for addicts who have failed at methadone or abstinence. Heroin addicts will attend NAOMI's heavily-secured clinic in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside three times a day. They are given their fix and shoot it in a safe-injection room under supervision. Participants get free drugs and medical care and can make $150 over the trial by filling out a half-dozen questionnaires. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth