Pubdate: Fri, 22 Mar 2013
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2013 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Perry Kendall
Page: A17
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n128/a12.html

COSTS OF DRUG USE

Columnist Jon Ferry asks why the B.C. government spends so much time, 
energy and money on harm-reduction services, compared with abstinence programs.

This assertion is actually incorrect. Substance use prevention and 
treatment money is not, in fact, focused predominantly on harm 
reduction, nor are abstinence-based treatment modalities denied 
funding as a provincial policy.

The amount of money spent on harm-reduction services by regional 
health authorities is estimated to be about one-10th of that spent 
overall on substance use.

In 2004, when the government released its planning framework for 
problematic substance use and addiction, it was estimated that 
120,000 British Columbians had a high probability of alcohol 
dependence, another 224,000 had some indication of dependence and 
around 33,000 had a dependence on illicit drugs.

About two-thirds of this latter group were dependent on heroin, and 
injection drug use had clearly emerged as a very effective way of 
transmitting HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

In 2004, there were some 8,000 individuals engaged in treatment with 
methadone. The province engaged with the BCMA, the B.C. College of 
Physicians and Surgeons and the B.C. College of Pharmacists to expand 
access to this treatment, and in 2012 the numbers had increased to 
nearly 14,000.

Methadone as maintenance clearly has its detractors, but, coupled 
with adequate psychosocial supports and counselling (some of it of 
the kind provided in many otherwise abstinence-based programs), it is 
for many heroin-dependent persons the most effective treatment available.

Perry Kendall,

provincial health officer, Victoria
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom