Pubdate: Tue, 13 Mar 2012
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2012 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Frank Luba
Bookmark: www.mapinc.org/topic/NAOMI
Study: http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/03/12/cmaj.110669

HEROIN BETTER THAN METHADONE FOR ADDICTS: STUDY

Treatment More Economical, Users Likely to Live Longer, Research Shows

VANCOUVER - A study published Monday contends medically prescribed 
heroin is more cost effective than methadone for treating long-term 
street heroin users.

The people given the medically prescribed heroin in the form of 
diacetylmorphine were also likely to live longer than those on 
methadone maintenance, according to the study by researchers at 
Providence Health Care and the University of B.C.

Addicts stayed in treatment longer and spent less time in relapse 
than methadone users. Those results are associated with less criminal 
activity and lower health-care costs.

An average lifetime societal cost of $1.14 million was predicted for 
people in the methadone study group. But those in the 
diacetylmorphine group were projected to cost $1.09 million over 
their lifetimes.

The costs were based on treatment expenditures, drug-therapy costs 
and costs to the justice system. Published in the Canadian Medical 
Association Journal, the study was based on findings from the North 
American Opiate Medication Initiative, North America's first clinical 
trial of prescribed heroin.

Health Canada will be reviewing the report, said Steve Outhouse, 
director of communications to Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq, in an 
email to Postmedia News.

"We believe that the system should be focused on preventing people 
from becoming drug addicts. That is why the National Anti-drug 
Strategy focuses on reducing and preventing the use of illicit drugs; 
treating those with drug dependencies; and combating the illicit 
production and distribution of drugs," he said.

Previously, the Conservative government had brought the issue of 
Vancouver's "safe injection project" to the Supreme Court of Canada. 
In September 2011, the court ruled in favour of the controversial 
Insite program where drug users can safely inject intravenous drugs 
with clean needles. Patients would also receive health care and 
addiction treatment advice.

Meanwhile, Liberal health critic Hedy Fry said she was doubtful that 
the government would be adopting the results of the study. "I don't 
think that's going to happen because we saw how this government 
fought the results of Insite," said Fry, who is a doctor.

The research took place in Vancouver from 2005 to 2008. The study 
also used administrative data from around British Columbia. 
Researchers said the study was limited by its data on opioid users 
who stopped using altogether and data on long-term patterns of 
treatment and relapse of heroin users.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom