Pubdate: Fri, 08 Aug 2014
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Times Colonist
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html
Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Lindsay Kines
Page: 5

DRUG PROGRAM SAVING LIVES: REPORT

Patients in B.C. up 66 per cent over five years

A program that treats illicit drug users by giving them methadone or
another substitute is saving lives and money, the provincial health
officer said Thursday.

Dr. Perry Kendall released a report showing that increased numbers of
B.C. patients take methadone or suboxone to treat an addiction to
heroin, morphine or Oxy-Contin.

"We're seeing the hospitalization costs come down, which means that
people are probably less sick when they're being hospitalized," he
said. "The mortality rate is coming down, which is really good news. =C2=85

I thought that overall the information was encouraging."

The report shows that the number of patients in the program has jumped
66 per cent over five years. There were 15,754 in the program in
2012-13, including 2,787 on Vancouver Island.

That's compared to the estimated 40,000 people who abuse heroin and
other opioid drugs in B.C., Kendall said.

"The program is growing, but it's growing against what might be seen
as a growing potential need," he said.

The program's expansion stems in part from an increase in the number
of pharmacists dispensing methadone and suboxone, particularly outside
the Lower Mainland. The number on Vancouver Island has grown from 396
in 2007-08 to 564 in 2012-13.

Kendall said that means people are able to receive treatment in their
home communities. "If they're trying to get back into the workforce or
stay in the workforce, this enable them to do that more easily."

At the same time, the report also shows the mortality rate for
patients in the program has dropped to 1.1 deaths per 100 person years.

Mortality rates among heroin users are estimated to be double that at
2.09 per 100 person years, the report said.

Kendall said methadone and suboxone treatment also helps reduce costs
associated with illicit drug use, such as the increased risk of HIV
and hepatitis C infections. In addition, many addicts get involved in
crime to support their habit.

Two studies pegged the annual cost of untreated drug addiction at
about $40,000 to $45,000 a decade ago, he said.

By comparison, his report says the per-patient costs of methadone or
suboxone treatment average about $4,200 a year, including physician,
pharmacy and drug costs.

"It's a good value for society," Kendall said. "Plus there's a good
opportunity for those people to either be weaned eventually off their
opioids, or, if they can't get weaned off, at least they're on a cheap
prescription medication that is relatively safe."
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MAP posted-by: Matt