Source: Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) Contact: http://www.smh.com.au Pubdate: 22 Aug 1998 Author: Ardyn Bernoth WATCHDOG TO GUARD METHADONE The State Government moved yesterday to crack down on an emerging blackmarket for methadone, the drug used to rehabilitate heroin users, by announcing strict accreditation and monitoring of clinics. In the face of concerns about abuse of methadone, which is the main weapon against the crippling problem of heroin addiction in NSW, 41 methadone clinics will be forced to gain accreditation every three years. The Government will establish a watchdog over the expanding number of methadone treatment services. The watchdog will develop uniform standards for the clinics and carry out regular inspections to make sure they adhere to the guidelines, the Minister for Health, Dr Refshauge, said yesterday. >From next month, all clinics will have to abide by strict methadone dosing rules designed to stop addicts taking away the heroin substitute and selling it illegally on the streets. Dr Refshauge said methadone clinics would be allowed to give out only two takeaway doses per client at a time, and a maximum of four takeaway doses a week. But there is no limit on doses administered in the clinics. The Government has found strong evidence that methadone, an opiate, works over the long term to reduce a person's heroin use. But a review this year had found weaknesses in the system that left it open to abuse. "There's no doubt that methadone is one of the best weapons we have in our fight against heroin," Dr Refshauge said. But he said the program needed to be fine-tuned. The Government could not detail the extent of the blackmarket or how much it was worth. "Effective as methadone is, there remains key concerns over the operation of the program," he said. "The NSW Government is directly addressing those concerns by reforming the methadone program and making it even better." The head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Dr Don Weatherburn, welcomed the crackdown on methadone clinics, saying any move to improve their operation would help the fight against drugs and drug-related crime. Thefts to buy heroin in Australia have recently been estimated as taking up to $1.6 billion a year. Last month the Bureau of Statistics released figures revealing a surge in heroin-related crimes, especially armed robberies, which increased by 2,000 in NSW. In a study, Running the Risks, four of Australia's leading drug researchers estimated that regular heroin users stole between $500 million and $1.6 billion a year to support their habit. Dr Weatherburn said methadone treatment programs had helped reduce crime, particularly break-ins and robberies with violence. Methadone treatment began in Australia in 1969 and the first clinic in NSW opened in 1970. There are now 15 private clinics and 26 public services. - --- Checked-by: Pat Dolan