Pubdate: Sat, 23 Aug 2014
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Page: A1
Copyright: 2014 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact: http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Alyssa McMurtry

METHADONE TREATMENT ON THE RISE

SASKATOON - Nearly 3,000 people were on methadone treatment in
Saskatchewan in 2013 - more than double the number in 2008.

Experts say more addicts are seeking help and access to the drug has
been increased.

Methadone is a synthetic opiate mostly prescribed to wean addicts off
other opioids such as heroin, morphine, Oxycodone and Dilaudid.

Experts note the drug is cheap, saves lives and decreases the burden
addicts put on the health and justice systems.

Some regions still lacking

"There was a period of time when we could barely keep up with women
who were pregnant and people with HIV. I'm happy to say we can expand
beyond that now because we have increased capacity," said Dr. Peter
Butt, who works with the methadone assisted recovery program in
Saskatoon. Now, more doctors are able to prescribe methadone and a
former cap on the number of users has been removed.

Today, 86 physicians are licensed to prescribe methadone in
Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Kamsack have
methadone clinics where dispensing, prescribing and counselling are
all available.

In other areas, people can access methadone through a physician who
prescribes and a pharmacy that dispenses.

However, there is an unmet need to bring more wraparound treatment to
other parts of the province such as North Battleford and Yorkton, Butt
said.

Opiate use increasing

Another reason methadone programs are booming in the province is that
the number of addicts who need and seek the treatment is rising.

"I think it's safe to say with the economic boom, where there's money
we'll see more illicit drugs," said Dr. Morris Markentin, medical
manager of the methadone program for the College of Physicians and
Surgeons.

An influx of a new opioid called fentanyl is especially concerning, he
said.

The quantity of prescribed opioids has also skyrocketed. In 2005,
about 200,000 opiate prescriptions, not including methadone, were
submitted to the Saskatchewan Drug Plan. In 2008, that number rose to
245,000. In 2013, doctors wrote 300,000 prescriptions. Harm reduction
Methadone prevents physical withdrawal symptoms, without providing the
same effects as other opiates.

Since it's available in pharmacies, usually at no cost, it helps users
lead more stable lives by cutting out their need to find money to buy
drugs on the streets so they can fend off the crippling withdrawal.

"I do consider it being sober, because I'm not high; I'm going to
work. I'm functioning and stable," said Andrew Horn, who has been
using methadone for the past two years and currently works with the
South Saskatchewan AIDS program.

Horn and the prescribing doctors say methadone can help reduce the
province's HIV infection rate, which was nearly triple that of the
national average in 2012. That year, two-thirds of new HIV/ AIDS cases
resulted from injection drug use.

Horn and others working with methadone say they would like to see
further opportunities for harm reduction in the form of a safe
injection site. Small piece of the pie Horn said he thinks it's
positive that methadone is more available, but he knows some people
abuse the program, because Social Services provides financial
incentives to those who enrol.

"They say, 'If you get on this juice and this program, you'll get more
money,' and they're like, 'Oh shit, yeah, I'll do it.' They get signed
up and then it's like liquid handcuffs," Horn said.

Screening processes are in place to make sure users need the
treatment. Health care workers frequently check methadone users'
urine, and can discontinue treatment if the user comes in
infrequently. At the beginning of treatment, users must go to the
pharmacy each day for their dose.

Methadone is a small piece of the pie in treating addictions,
Markentin said.

"We need more rehab beds in our facilities, more access to counselling
and life skills training. Opiate addiction is not a choice. When
someone's addicted to the drug, it's a loss of control, and no
different than a diabetic who needs insulin ... We need to
destigmatize it."

Butt also suggests addicts first try a drug-free detox program. Horn
said he did try that, but has preferred the methadone route.

"The feeling you get when you quit is so ugly and horrendous, not to
mention painful. I didn't want to go through that again and I needed
to continue with life and daily tasks," he said.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D