Pubdate: Wed, 26 Mar 2014
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Dene Moore
Page: A7

ADDICTS FIGHT FOR CONTINUED HEROIN PRESCRIPTION

A group of chronic drug addicts is asking a Vancouver judge for an
injunction against the federal government that would allow them
continued access to prescription heroin until the court hears their
legal challenge.

Joseph Arvay, the lawyer representing five addicts, told a judge the
four men and one woman were part of a clinical trial that provided
them with pharmaceutical-grade heroin until last year. When they left
the study, with the recommendation of their doctors, they applied for
- - and were granted - special access permits from Health Canada to
receive the prescription drug, diacetylmorphine.

Federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose responded by announcing immediate
changes to prevent Health Canada from approving prescription heroin
under the program.

"The health minister comes out in a press release and essentially
saying, 'Over my dead body'," Arvay told B. C. Supreme Court Judge
Christopher Hinkson. "The regulation that flowed from that obviously
was not done on the basis of any pre-existing research or science.
"

Heroin addiction is a chronic disease which, left untreated, can be
fatal, he told the judge. His clients all took part in clinical trials
conducted by Providence Health Care.

The first, the North American Opiate Medication Initiative, took place
in Vancouver and Montreal from March 2005 to July 2008. The blind
study compared the effectiveness of pharmaceutical grade heroin, known
as diacetylmorphine, and oral methadone. Two plaintiffs were
participants.

The second, the Study to Assess Longer term Opioid Medication
Effectiveness, began in 2011. The study compares the effectiveness of
hydromorphone, a synthetic drug approved for use to control pain, and
pharmaceutical heroin in treating severe addiction. All five
plaintiffs took part .

All five were among 21 people approved by Health Canada for
pharmaceutical heroin after leaving the study, but none received any
after Ambrose introduced the amendments to bar heroin, cocaine and
ecstasy from the program.

Ambrose issued a written statement Tuesday that said Health Canada
staff granted the approvals through a loophole that needed to be closed.

"Heroin is a dangerous drug that destroys lives," the statement
said.

In court, Arvay told the judge the federal government made the same
arguments against medical marijuana before the courts forced
legalization of the drug for medicinal use.

Depriving these chronic addicts of effective treatment is a violation
of their charter rights, he said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt