Pubdate: Wed, 20 Aug 2014
Source: Campbell River Mirror (CN BC)
Page: 12
Copyright: 2014 Campbell River Mirror
Contact:  http://www.campbellrivermirror.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1380
Author: Mike Davies
Referenced: OPHO report:
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pho/pdf/methadone-2012-13.pdf

TREATMENT PROGRAM IMPROVING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES

British Columbia's Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) system, which
replaces heroin and other illegal narcotics with medically prescribed
opiates such as methadone, is being touted as a success-but there's
still progress to be made.

A recent report published by the Office of the Provincial Health
Officer (OPHO) of B.C. has concluded that the increase in availability
of the treatment, as well as the increase in average duration of
treatment of OST patients has "helped contribute to the lower
incidence of HIV infection among those who inject drugs," as well as
decrease the mortality rate of those addicted to opiates.

The OPHO's report is a follow-up to the 2010 analysis from the Centre
for Addictions Research of BC, which recommended regular studies be
carried out on the program's progress after methadone treatment
initiatives between 1996 and 2008 were found to have declining
retention rates and distribution issues caused partially by a lack of
comprehensive implementation strategy along with accountability and
responsibility issues within the system.

Almost all of us are touched at some point in our lives by addictions,
whether it's someone we know personally or by the social repercussions
those struggling with these issues, according to Dr. Paul Hasselback,
Medical Health Officer for Vancouver Island Health (VIHA), and
anything we can do to change the culture of recognizing and respecting
addictions as a health issue and removing the stigma of addiction, the
further we'll be able to come in terms of dealing with it.

According to Hasselback, the number of people who have self-reported
that they have had a significant problem with substances other than
cannabis or alcohol "at some point in their lives" is in the range of
five per cent of the total population. Clearly, OST will not help all
those people, but the fact that Campbell River has seen an increase in
use of OST, and that the numbers have not leveled off, means that
there's still work to be done to reach those who could benefit from
it.

"The fact that we're seeing growth means that more people are actively
engaged in the rehabilitation stage," he said, which is a good
indicator that progress is being made in tackling this issue.

The next step, according to Hasselback, is to keep working towards a
truly comprehensive and coordinated approach to OST, improving local
access for patients in underserved areas-like "north of Campbell
River," according to Hasselback-and exploring the possible use of new
substitutes for those who are resistant to the ones currently is use.

The study concludes that though the outlook for the program is good
and the overall results are positive, especially in regards to
contributing to lower HIV and other blood-borne disease transmission,
"further work needs to be done on aspects of the system and indicators
such as psychosocial supports."  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D