Evo Darla probacu da ti objasnim moje vidjenje situacije sa Harm reductionom. Negde pocetkom 2001., dok sam jos bio na pocetku svog lecenja, organizacija GOD je dobila ponudu da radi taj program u Beogradu. Sa nama su pricali ljudi iz "Medecins du Monde", predstavali ceo projekat,objasnili o cemu se radi. Nije nam trebalo dugo da odbijemo ucesce u tome, iz sledecih razloga:
- Pitanje savesti, u ruke narkomana dajemo "oruzje" koje moze da ga dovede do smrti. Da li da cekamo da posle overa dodje otac i pita zasto smo njegovom detetu dali spric u ruke. Dzaba posle bilo kakvo objasnjavanje i opravdanje toga...
- Mala populacija narkomana koja moze da bude obuhvacena projektom, Veza koja danas to radi na prostoru Beograda ima kontakt sa mozda samo 0,5% zavisnika, njihov kombi se pojavljuje povremeno na nekim lokacijama, koje brzo dodju na los glas i medju komsilukom a i medju samim narkomanima zbog straha od policije. Ideja drop in centra prakticno neizvodljiva. A i da li mislis da bi se neko iscimao makar i kilometar, posebno u krizi, da bi samo dobio cist pribor?
- U programu u Beogradu vecinom ucestvuju ljudi koji su i dalje aktivni narkomani ili na metadonskom odrzavanju, poruka koja se salje korisnicima je da je izlecenje skoro nemoguce i da je metadon najbolje resenje (video liflet koji dele, kao neka reklama za metadon)
- Sam motiv za pokretanje ovakvog programa nije briga za zivot zavisnika, nego ispitivanje buduceg trzista za metadon i razne druge lekove, celokupnu statistiku vode ljudi koji vode program, to im je obaveza. Nema tu puno brige i ponude resenja za narkomaniju, samo dobra marketinska kampanja. Program se finansira samo par godina od strane "medicinara", posle se prebacuje na drzavne jasle.
- O samom Harm reductionu se i dalje vode brojne rasprave u svetu, medju strucnjacima, zbog brojnih kontraverzi vezanih za to (neke clanke cu da okacim i ovde, da se ne ispadne da ceo zapad podrzava metadon, sto Beobandit stalno inputira)
- Neraskidiva veza Harm reductiona i metadona, tj. famaceutske mafije, sto sam gore vec naveo.
Osnovna ideja tog programa, smanjenje stete i smanjenje sirenja zaraza je ok, samo po meni ima boljih nacina, koji su jos uvek u praksi tesko izvedivi. Kada bi recimo, u Beogradu postojalo pedesetak mesta, na kojima bi zavisnici mogli da dolaze da dobiju cist pribor i kada bi se njima nudili i konkretni saveti za lecenje a ne samo za metadonsko odrzavanje i kada bi u tim centrima radilo strucno osoblje, mozda bi i bilo vidljivih rezultata. Ovako je sve obesmiljeno, kada u tome ucestvuje zanemarljiv broj korisnika. Druga ideja je da se zakonski omoguci da spricevi u apotekama mogu da se uzimaju besplatno, bez ikakvog donosenja iskoriscenih pribora i slicnih gluposti. Na zalost, obe ideje su jos uvek daleko od realizacije.
Uskoro cu da obrazlozim i svoje negativno misljenje o metadonskom i slicnim odrzavanjima.
SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Moderator: sanela
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
SAMO CEO ŽIVOT...
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Drug policy in Switzerland 2005
Switzerland has one of the most liberalised drug policies not only in Europe, but in the whole world. That is why it is very interesting to have a look at what is going on in this country. Questions arise like: Which are the consequences of this liberal drug policy? How is the situation in Switzerland now? Did the liberal drug policy help to reduce drug-related problems? Did the heroin distribution program help the addicts to free themselves from drug dependence? Which was the impact of this policy on the public opinion? How does police intervention and law enforcement work? Which are the problems the Swiss authorities and the politicians are involved in now?
The present situation concerning drug use among young people, drug use at parties and the heroin distribution can be seen as a direct consequence of the liberal drug policy.
Alcohol abuse and marijuana use grow at a staggering rate
Switzerland, together with England, Ireland and Spain, has the highest rate of alcohol and drug use among people under twenty in Europe. This is the effect of the confusing and ambiguous message about drugs in the media and the lack of a clear message against drug use and the belittlement of the harmful effects of drugs.
Testing Ecstasy pills
The organisation ‘Rave and Eve’ tests pills for safety. After a one year break this organisation has restarted to test Ecstasy pills at youth parties. New and alarming is the fact that now a pharmacy is carrying out these tests. Every young person could bring Ecstasy pills, bought from a dealer, to be tested, in order to verify if there is no other dangerous substance in them.
Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT)
Heroin distribution began in 1993 and is still going on in Switzerland with about 1300 addicts in these, mostly, lifelong programs.
The number of patients has stabilised. The average age of the patients involved is 38.5; the oldest patient is 55 years old. There are facilities for heroin assisted treatments in 6 cities all over the country. Additionally, 18 000 addicts are in methadone programs.
The additional intake of alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines is the most critical point of this ‘treatment’. 40 percent of the patients use cocaine regularly.
Many addicts return to methadone programs because they feel more independent. They can take the methadone dosage for a whole week with them and do not have to go twice a day to a distribution facility at a fixed time. Other addicts take their evening dosage of heroin home, but many of them inject it instead of swallowing the pill. As everybody can imagine, no patient has ever left this distribution program drug free. Most addicts are unable to work and, therefore, rely on social benefits.
No more scientific studies are being carried out or news circulated in the media. This fact might reveal that nobody wants to admit the real extent of the program’s failure.
Ritalin for cocaine addicts
Last year a ‘scientific’ project was started in which Ritalin is distributed to cocaine addicts. This scheme provides 64 people with daily dosages of Ritalin in the heroin based treatment facilities of Berne and Basel with the aim to reduce the patients’ daily consumption of cocaine. The results of this project will be evaluated in 2005.
Changes in Public Opinion
Drug problems are no longer present on the media as they were 10 years ago. Holding a referendum on heroin distribution, as it occurred in the Canton of Zurich last year, no longer sparks any political controversy. The Swiss are relieved not to see needle parks any longer as they did ten years ago, which does not mean that heroin distribution is successful as some people might tend to think. As time went by public opinion changed considerably.
The publications of SFA, an institution for prevention of alcohol problems, had years ago a really astonishing position concerning marijuana and other drugs. They were always on the side of the drug liberalising organisations and political parties supporting drug liberalisation.
Their recommendations for marijuana use were the following:
1. Rule: Do not use marijuana if you feel uneasy.
2. Rule: Never use marijuana in situations in which you need concentration and attention like when you are driving.
3. Rule: To avoid a dependence on marijuana, do not use it too often and use every time only a little dosage.
At present, their position is different. They have recently published warnings on marijuana use. However, they have no clear position against drug use. Interestingly, last year the Health authorities launched a campaign against cigarette smoking with the same arguments we use against drugs.
An important fact influencing the ever-changing public opinion in Switzerland was the release of a paper from the Swiss Teachers’ Association in 2003. They reminded the population that the situation in the schools had changed dramatically due to the increase of students’ marihuana smoking. Teaching became increasingly more difficult because of discipline problems. They claimed that schools are not detoxification and recovery facilities for dizzy students. This Teachers’ Association, which some years before had welcomed a drug liberalizing policy, has realised in the meantime the sorrowing consequences of false tolerance.
Police interventions and law enforcement
Regarding police intervention, it can be said that when young people are found in the street with small amounts of drugs on, they have to pay a fine. Sometimes they are sent to a drug advice centre to be informed about the harmful effects of drugs. Mostly, the parents will be informed if these people are under age.
Alco-pops
So called alco-pops are drunk at parties in great amounts, often mixed with ecstasy and amphetamines. Last year the Swiss government raised the tax on this special form of alcoholic beverage to help to reduce its consumption. The measures taken are now showing the first positive effects. The amount of alco-pops sold last summer went down drastically.
Hemp shops have been closed all over the country
In many cities in the German and the Italian speaking part of Switzerland there have been drug raids in hemp shops and hemp planting areas. Most of the retailers were closed and the crops found were confiscated and burned.
In Basel the police closed 28 of 32 shops last year. The same happened in Berne and two years before in the Italian speaking Canton Tessin. The immense production of hemp plants, which was partly exported to the north of Italy, was confiscated and the persons responsible were charged with of drug producing and trafficking.
Driving under marijuana influence
From January 1st, 2005 Switzerland has had a law on drug use and driving. From now on there is zero tolerance policy for marijuana users when driving a car. Drivers have to undergo blood testing, if there is a suspicion of drug influence on driving. If drug concentration in the tested blood is more than 1.5 micrograms per millilitre, the licence is confiscated.
Hemp as food for cattle forbidden
To promote marijuana some planters had the idea to feed their cattle with hemp. After some tests which proved that THC was found in the milk, the Swiss authorities have forbidden to feed cattle with hemp in order to protect consumers.
Course of Political events
Last year, the rejection of a drug liberalising law proposal was a great victory. However, it was not a checkmate of the drug lobby, as some want to believe. Drug liberalisers are still active.
New referendum to legalize marihuana
As a reaction to the rejection of the law proposal, the drug promoting political parties, especially the Green one, have launched a new initiative for a referendum to legalize marijuana. They need the support of 100,000 voters. At the moment, they have collected about 70,000 signatures. But only 40,000 are proven signatures. The organisation has problems to engage helpers and they have great financial difficulties.
If this initiative is successful, the procedure of changing the law will start again. It will be in two or three years that the Swiss population will have to say yes or no to a new law proposal.
Proposal to distribute Cocaine
In June 2004 the Health Authorities organized a National drug conference, to which only drug liberalisers were invited. One group proposed distributing cocaine to the clients of heroin distribution programs, if they should have troubles with additional cocaine intakes. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health did not oppose such a project, but did not lend support to it either.
New initiative of the parliamentary commission on social affairs and health
A group of members of parliament wants to launch a new proposal to change the law on drug use. Some members of this group want liberalisation but there are also forces to make the new law more restrictive, especially to forbid hemp production. They want a clear distinction between industrial hemp with 0.3 % of THC and the drug hemp, which will not be allowed to be produced anymore.
The representatives of the Green and left parties in this commission advocate for drug liberalisation, the Christian Democrats are again taking a strict position against any liberalisation of marijuana. Nobody dares to reactivate any proposal for liberalising other drugs, as it was discussed in the rejected law proposal.
Conclusions
The high rates of lifelong drug use and monthly drug use among people under age is a consequence of the permissive drug policy. Thus, the argument that the liberalisation of drug policy would reduce drug problems was proven wrong. The contrary happened as the figures now show.
Heroin distribution programs had no positive effects. They failed to help addicts to get away from drugs. Those who are not drug free had to undergo abstinence oriented treatment. Unfortunately, most patients left heroin programs went back to methadone programs and so wasted more years of their life to drug dependence.
However, drug liberalisers do not give up. Instead of changing the policy because it failed, they propose more of the same medicine i.e. not only to give addicts heroin, but also ritaline or cocaine, if drug patients are unable to stop cocaine intake. This new instance of administering more of the same but false medicine will fail too.
As a consequence of enlarged methadone programs and heroin distribution, many abstinence oriented drug rehabilitation centres had to be closed because of a lack of drug addicts who want to undergo stationary treatment.
Jet, some positive effects of heroin distribution on public opinion can be referred too. Now heroin is seen as a loser drug and fewer drug users start to take heroin. In this sense, heroin distribution has helped to deter young people from starting to use heroin.
The liberal drug policy has helped to make the scales fall from the eyes of many concerned citizens who hoped to help addicts by supporting heroin distribution.
Koeppel Hans, M.D.
Chair Scientific and Advisory Board of Eurad,
Board Swiss Physicians against Drugs,
Board Youth against Drugs
Scientific Forum Drug Free America Foundation
2004-12-07
Switzerland has one of the most liberalised drug policies not only in Europe, but in the whole world. That is why it is very interesting to have a look at what is going on in this country. Questions arise like: Which are the consequences of this liberal drug policy? How is the situation in Switzerland now? Did the liberal drug policy help to reduce drug-related problems? Did the heroin distribution program help the addicts to free themselves from drug dependence? Which was the impact of this policy on the public opinion? How does police intervention and law enforcement work? Which are the problems the Swiss authorities and the politicians are involved in now?
The present situation concerning drug use among young people, drug use at parties and the heroin distribution can be seen as a direct consequence of the liberal drug policy.
Alcohol abuse and marijuana use grow at a staggering rate
Switzerland, together with England, Ireland and Spain, has the highest rate of alcohol and drug use among people under twenty in Europe. This is the effect of the confusing and ambiguous message about drugs in the media and the lack of a clear message against drug use and the belittlement of the harmful effects of drugs.
Testing Ecstasy pills
The organisation ‘Rave and Eve’ tests pills for safety. After a one year break this organisation has restarted to test Ecstasy pills at youth parties. New and alarming is the fact that now a pharmacy is carrying out these tests. Every young person could bring Ecstasy pills, bought from a dealer, to be tested, in order to verify if there is no other dangerous substance in them.
Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT)
Heroin distribution began in 1993 and is still going on in Switzerland with about 1300 addicts in these, mostly, lifelong programs.
The number of patients has stabilised. The average age of the patients involved is 38.5; the oldest patient is 55 years old. There are facilities for heroin assisted treatments in 6 cities all over the country. Additionally, 18 000 addicts are in methadone programs.
The additional intake of alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines is the most critical point of this ‘treatment’. 40 percent of the patients use cocaine regularly.
Many addicts return to methadone programs because they feel more independent. They can take the methadone dosage for a whole week with them and do not have to go twice a day to a distribution facility at a fixed time. Other addicts take their evening dosage of heroin home, but many of them inject it instead of swallowing the pill. As everybody can imagine, no patient has ever left this distribution program drug free. Most addicts are unable to work and, therefore, rely on social benefits.
No more scientific studies are being carried out or news circulated in the media. This fact might reveal that nobody wants to admit the real extent of the program’s failure.
Ritalin for cocaine addicts
Last year a ‘scientific’ project was started in which Ritalin is distributed to cocaine addicts. This scheme provides 64 people with daily dosages of Ritalin in the heroin based treatment facilities of Berne and Basel with the aim to reduce the patients’ daily consumption of cocaine. The results of this project will be evaluated in 2005.
Changes in Public Opinion
Drug problems are no longer present on the media as they were 10 years ago. Holding a referendum on heroin distribution, as it occurred in the Canton of Zurich last year, no longer sparks any political controversy. The Swiss are relieved not to see needle parks any longer as they did ten years ago, which does not mean that heroin distribution is successful as some people might tend to think. As time went by public opinion changed considerably.
The publications of SFA, an institution for prevention of alcohol problems, had years ago a really astonishing position concerning marijuana and other drugs. They were always on the side of the drug liberalising organisations and political parties supporting drug liberalisation.
Their recommendations for marijuana use were the following:
1. Rule: Do not use marijuana if you feel uneasy.
2. Rule: Never use marijuana in situations in which you need concentration and attention like when you are driving.
3. Rule: To avoid a dependence on marijuana, do not use it too often and use every time only a little dosage.
At present, their position is different. They have recently published warnings on marijuana use. However, they have no clear position against drug use. Interestingly, last year the Health authorities launched a campaign against cigarette smoking with the same arguments we use against drugs.
An important fact influencing the ever-changing public opinion in Switzerland was the release of a paper from the Swiss Teachers’ Association in 2003. They reminded the population that the situation in the schools had changed dramatically due to the increase of students’ marihuana smoking. Teaching became increasingly more difficult because of discipline problems. They claimed that schools are not detoxification and recovery facilities for dizzy students. This Teachers’ Association, which some years before had welcomed a drug liberalizing policy, has realised in the meantime the sorrowing consequences of false tolerance.
Police interventions and law enforcement
Regarding police intervention, it can be said that when young people are found in the street with small amounts of drugs on, they have to pay a fine. Sometimes they are sent to a drug advice centre to be informed about the harmful effects of drugs. Mostly, the parents will be informed if these people are under age.
Alco-pops
So called alco-pops are drunk at parties in great amounts, often mixed with ecstasy and amphetamines. Last year the Swiss government raised the tax on this special form of alcoholic beverage to help to reduce its consumption. The measures taken are now showing the first positive effects. The amount of alco-pops sold last summer went down drastically.
Hemp shops have been closed all over the country
In many cities in the German and the Italian speaking part of Switzerland there have been drug raids in hemp shops and hemp planting areas. Most of the retailers were closed and the crops found were confiscated and burned.
In Basel the police closed 28 of 32 shops last year. The same happened in Berne and two years before in the Italian speaking Canton Tessin. The immense production of hemp plants, which was partly exported to the north of Italy, was confiscated and the persons responsible were charged with of drug producing and trafficking.
Driving under marijuana influence
From January 1st, 2005 Switzerland has had a law on drug use and driving. From now on there is zero tolerance policy for marijuana users when driving a car. Drivers have to undergo blood testing, if there is a suspicion of drug influence on driving. If drug concentration in the tested blood is more than 1.5 micrograms per millilitre, the licence is confiscated.
Hemp as food for cattle forbidden
To promote marijuana some planters had the idea to feed their cattle with hemp. After some tests which proved that THC was found in the milk, the Swiss authorities have forbidden to feed cattle with hemp in order to protect consumers.
Course of Political events
Last year, the rejection of a drug liberalising law proposal was a great victory. However, it was not a checkmate of the drug lobby, as some want to believe. Drug liberalisers are still active.
New referendum to legalize marihuana
As a reaction to the rejection of the law proposal, the drug promoting political parties, especially the Green one, have launched a new initiative for a referendum to legalize marijuana. They need the support of 100,000 voters. At the moment, they have collected about 70,000 signatures. But only 40,000 are proven signatures. The organisation has problems to engage helpers and they have great financial difficulties.
If this initiative is successful, the procedure of changing the law will start again. It will be in two or three years that the Swiss population will have to say yes or no to a new law proposal.
Proposal to distribute Cocaine
In June 2004 the Health Authorities organized a National drug conference, to which only drug liberalisers were invited. One group proposed distributing cocaine to the clients of heroin distribution programs, if they should have troubles with additional cocaine intakes. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health did not oppose such a project, but did not lend support to it either.
New initiative of the parliamentary commission on social affairs and health
A group of members of parliament wants to launch a new proposal to change the law on drug use. Some members of this group want liberalisation but there are also forces to make the new law more restrictive, especially to forbid hemp production. They want a clear distinction between industrial hemp with 0.3 % of THC and the drug hemp, which will not be allowed to be produced anymore.
The representatives of the Green and left parties in this commission advocate for drug liberalisation, the Christian Democrats are again taking a strict position against any liberalisation of marijuana. Nobody dares to reactivate any proposal for liberalising other drugs, as it was discussed in the rejected law proposal.
Conclusions
The high rates of lifelong drug use and monthly drug use among people under age is a consequence of the permissive drug policy. Thus, the argument that the liberalisation of drug policy would reduce drug problems was proven wrong. The contrary happened as the figures now show.
Heroin distribution programs had no positive effects. They failed to help addicts to get away from drugs. Those who are not drug free had to undergo abstinence oriented treatment. Unfortunately, most patients left heroin programs went back to methadone programs and so wasted more years of their life to drug dependence.
However, drug liberalisers do not give up. Instead of changing the policy because it failed, they propose more of the same medicine i.e. not only to give addicts heroin, but also ritaline or cocaine, if drug patients are unable to stop cocaine intake. This new instance of administering more of the same but false medicine will fail too.
As a consequence of enlarged methadone programs and heroin distribution, many abstinence oriented drug rehabilitation centres had to be closed because of a lack of drug addicts who want to undergo stationary treatment.
Jet, some positive effects of heroin distribution on public opinion can be referred too. Now heroin is seen as a loser drug and fewer drug users start to take heroin. In this sense, heroin distribution has helped to deter young people from starting to use heroin.
The liberal drug policy has helped to make the scales fall from the eyes of many concerned citizens who hoped to help addicts by supporting heroin distribution.
Koeppel Hans, M.D.
Chair Scientific and Advisory Board of Eurad,
Board Swiss Physicians against Drugs,
Board Youth against Drugs
Scientific Forum Drug Free America Foundation
2004-12-07
SAMO CEO ŽIVOT...
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Drug Watch International, Inc. â„¢
PO Box 45218 Omaha, NE 68145-0218 Phone: (402) 384-9212 Fax: (402) 397-3309
e-mail: DrugWatch6@aol.com http://www.DrugWatch.org
In a message dated 8/14/2007 5:40:34 A.M. Central Daylight Time, Dr. Stuart Reece, DW
Delegate from Australia, writes:
see link: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/in ... 1599132006
Sun 29 Oct 2006
Methadone: a 97% failure rate.
Picture: Toby Williams
Methadone fails 97% of drug addicts
EDDIE BARNES POLITICAL EDITOR ( ebarnes@scotlandonsunday.com )
A KEY government drugs policy has been exposed as a shocking failure after it emerged that
giving methadone to heroin addicts has a 97% failure rate.
In a damning indictment of the Scottish Executive's 'softly softly' approach to managing the
heroin problem, research found that three years after receiving methadone only 3% of addicts
remained totally drug-free.
The same study, by Scotland's leading drugs expert, found that there was a 29% success
rate among addicts who went 'cold turkey' in a rehabilitation centre.
The research also spelled out the wider social benefits of coming off drugs. Those free of
addiction were seven times less likely to commit crime than addicts and were far more likely
to be in work or education.
Methadone has been used since the 1980s in Scotland as a controlled and supposedly safe
heroin substitute.
But the programme, which costs around £12m a year, has proved increasingly controversial.
The number of addicts receiving methadone quadrupled in a decade and there have been
tragedies involving children overdosing on the drug.
The new figures - which show methadone use is only marginally better than doing nothing at
all - are a severe embarrassment for ministers and last night triggered demands for a tougher
drugs policy. Executive sources last night admitted that they were frustrated by the lack of
progress and would review current practice.
The report was compiled by Neil McKeganey, Professor of Drug Misuse Research at the
University of Glasgow, and one of the most authoritative figures on drugs in Scotland. His
survey is the first major assessment of the Executive's methadone programme.
McKeganey told Scotland on Sunday: "The remarkable figure is that if we weren't giving them
anything at all, after three years some people would have come off anyway. Around 1% or 2%
would have stopped, just because they had had enough.
"You have to ask yourself: the methadone programme is estimated to cost around £12m a
year.
"If all you are doing is getting 3% of people off drugs after three years - you may say that it is
a cheaper programme than residential rehabilitation - but is it justified when it gets so few
people off?"
He added: "When you compare people on methadone with addicts who have abstained from
drugs, their lives are in a better state, they are more likely to be in employment; they are
doing a lot better."
McKeganey's report was based on interviews with 695 drug users who began treatment for
their addiction in 2001. The majority were given methadone-based care, while a small
percentage were placed in residential rehabilitation.
The authors then interviewed them 33 months afterwards to find out whether, over a 90-day
period, they had come off drugs.
For those on the most common form of treatment - methadone maintenance - only 3.4% were
clear. For those who had been in residential rehabilitation or gone 'cold turkey', often for up to
nine months and without any methadone, the figure was 29.4%.
The research also proved the clear social benefits of getting addicts off drugs. Of those who
were 'clean', some 59% were in employment or taking an education course, as opposed to
only 29% of those who were still on drugs.
A total of 79% of those who were drug-free said they felt better, as opposed to 47% of drug
users.
The biggest difference, however, was on crime. Only 13% of those who were drug-free
admitted to committing any crime. The figure for those who were on drugs was a staggering
91%.
McKeganey concluded: "In Scotland at the present time, approaching 20,000 drug users are
thought to be receiving methadone. By comparison, there are relatively few residential
rehabilitation services - indeed on the basis of information provided by the Scottish Executive,
only 2% of drug users initiating drug abuse treatment in Scotland are provided with residential
rehabilitation. There may well be a case for ensuring greater access to residential
rehabilitation services within Scotland than is currently the case."
A spokesman for Jack McConnell said he backed McKeganey. "The First Minister respects
the work of Neil McKeganey. He is in no doubt that these issues are among the most pressing
in Scotland and he is as frustrated as the public about people being in long-term programmes
rather than becoming drug-free."
Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Tories, who has been campaigning for more rehab
centres, seized on the findings. "This study underpins everything we have been saying in
recent years. Methadone, which was meant to be a bridge, is no such thing, as these findings
sharply and disturbingly reveal.
"Clearly, the way forward if we are serious about reducing drug addiction in Scotland and
helping to keep more people off drugs, is to expand rehabilitation facilities."
She added: "Taking addicts off drugs is not just good for them, it is good for their families and
the whole of society as drug misuse fuels so much of the crime in this country."
However, there was a backlash from official drug agencies last night.
David Liddell, the director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, which is backed by the Scottish
Executive, said: "It is depressing to see the debate being manipulated so that drugs treatment
becomes a question of either abstinence and residential rehabilitation versus methadone and
community-based services.
"There is a need for more rehabilitation services. But what is needed is a wider range of
services which best meet people's needs when and where they are most likely to benefit from
it."
McKeganey's report will be published in full next month.
Hard habit to break
METHADONE was first produced in the late 1930s by German scientists looking for a
painkiller that would be easier to use than morphine.
It began being used to treat addiction in the late 1940s.
Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, it also acts on the opioid receptors in the brain
and thus produces many of the same effects as these drugs. It also lasts in the body for a
relatively long time, up to 26 hours, making it useful in efforts to keep addicts off harder drugs.
In Scotland, prescriptions for methadone have risen from 98,131 in 1994 to 411,339 in 2005.
The annual cost to the Scottish NHS of methadone is about £12m. Addicts are given their
methadone to drink at a clinic or chemist and must consume it there and then. However some
addiction experts believe that making patients drink their dose in full view of the general public
stigmatises those who are trying to wean themselves from drugs.
In addition, methadone can have destructive side effects on unborn children.
A recent Scottish Executive study of clinicians' attitudes to methadone found many believed
the drug was a long-term treatment rather than a short-term step towards "going clean" and
that some addicts could expect to be years on methadone.
PO Box 45218 Omaha, NE 68145-0218 Phone: (402) 384-9212 Fax: (402) 397-3309
e-mail: DrugWatch6@aol.com http://www.DrugWatch.org
In a message dated 8/14/2007 5:40:34 A.M. Central Daylight Time, Dr. Stuart Reece, DW
Delegate from Australia, writes:
see link: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/in ... 1599132006
Sun 29 Oct 2006
Methadone: a 97% failure rate.
Picture: Toby Williams
Methadone fails 97% of drug addicts
EDDIE BARNES POLITICAL EDITOR ( ebarnes@scotlandonsunday.com )
A KEY government drugs policy has been exposed as a shocking failure after it emerged that
giving methadone to heroin addicts has a 97% failure rate.
In a damning indictment of the Scottish Executive's 'softly softly' approach to managing the
heroin problem, research found that three years after receiving methadone only 3% of addicts
remained totally drug-free.
The same study, by Scotland's leading drugs expert, found that there was a 29% success
rate among addicts who went 'cold turkey' in a rehabilitation centre.
The research also spelled out the wider social benefits of coming off drugs. Those free of
addiction were seven times less likely to commit crime than addicts and were far more likely
to be in work or education.
Methadone has been used since the 1980s in Scotland as a controlled and supposedly safe
heroin substitute.
But the programme, which costs around £12m a year, has proved increasingly controversial.
The number of addicts receiving methadone quadrupled in a decade and there have been
tragedies involving children overdosing on the drug.
The new figures - which show methadone use is only marginally better than doing nothing at
all - are a severe embarrassment for ministers and last night triggered demands for a tougher
drugs policy. Executive sources last night admitted that they were frustrated by the lack of
progress and would review current practice.
The report was compiled by Neil McKeganey, Professor of Drug Misuse Research at the
University of Glasgow, and one of the most authoritative figures on drugs in Scotland. His
survey is the first major assessment of the Executive's methadone programme.
McKeganey told Scotland on Sunday: "The remarkable figure is that if we weren't giving them
anything at all, after three years some people would have come off anyway. Around 1% or 2%
would have stopped, just because they had had enough.
"You have to ask yourself: the methadone programme is estimated to cost around £12m a
year.
"If all you are doing is getting 3% of people off drugs after three years - you may say that it is
a cheaper programme than residential rehabilitation - but is it justified when it gets so few
people off?"
He added: "When you compare people on methadone with addicts who have abstained from
drugs, their lives are in a better state, they are more likely to be in employment; they are
doing a lot better."
McKeganey's report was based on interviews with 695 drug users who began treatment for
their addiction in 2001. The majority were given methadone-based care, while a small
percentage were placed in residential rehabilitation.
The authors then interviewed them 33 months afterwards to find out whether, over a 90-day
period, they had come off drugs.
For those on the most common form of treatment - methadone maintenance - only 3.4% were
clear. For those who had been in residential rehabilitation or gone 'cold turkey', often for up to
nine months and without any methadone, the figure was 29.4%.
The research also proved the clear social benefits of getting addicts off drugs. Of those who
were 'clean', some 59% were in employment or taking an education course, as opposed to
only 29% of those who were still on drugs.
A total of 79% of those who were drug-free said they felt better, as opposed to 47% of drug
users.
The biggest difference, however, was on crime. Only 13% of those who were drug-free
admitted to committing any crime. The figure for those who were on drugs was a staggering
91%.
McKeganey concluded: "In Scotland at the present time, approaching 20,000 drug users are
thought to be receiving methadone. By comparison, there are relatively few residential
rehabilitation services - indeed on the basis of information provided by the Scottish Executive,
only 2% of drug users initiating drug abuse treatment in Scotland are provided with residential
rehabilitation. There may well be a case for ensuring greater access to residential
rehabilitation services within Scotland than is currently the case."
A spokesman for Jack McConnell said he backed McKeganey. "The First Minister respects
the work of Neil McKeganey. He is in no doubt that these issues are among the most pressing
in Scotland and he is as frustrated as the public about people being in long-term programmes
rather than becoming drug-free."
Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Tories, who has been campaigning for more rehab
centres, seized on the findings. "This study underpins everything we have been saying in
recent years. Methadone, which was meant to be a bridge, is no such thing, as these findings
sharply and disturbingly reveal.
"Clearly, the way forward if we are serious about reducing drug addiction in Scotland and
helping to keep more people off drugs, is to expand rehabilitation facilities."
She added: "Taking addicts off drugs is not just good for them, it is good for their families and
the whole of society as drug misuse fuels so much of the crime in this country."
However, there was a backlash from official drug agencies last night.
David Liddell, the director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, which is backed by the Scottish
Executive, said: "It is depressing to see the debate being manipulated so that drugs treatment
becomes a question of either abstinence and residential rehabilitation versus methadone and
community-based services.
"There is a need for more rehabilitation services. But what is needed is a wider range of
services which best meet people's needs when and where they are most likely to benefit from
it."
McKeganey's report will be published in full next month.
Hard habit to break
METHADONE was first produced in the late 1930s by German scientists looking for a
painkiller that would be easier to use than morphine.
It began being used to treat addiction in the late 1940s.
Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, it also acts on the opioid receptors in the brain
and thus produces many of the same effects as these drugs. It also lasts in the body for a
relatively long time, up to 26 hours, making it useful in efforts to keep addicts off harder drugs.
In Scotland, prescriptions for methadone have risen from 98,131 in 1994 to 411,339 in 2005.
The annual cost to the Scottish NHS of methadone is about £12m. Addicts are given their
methadone to drink at a clinic or chemist and must consume it there and then. However some
addiction experts believe that making patients drink their dose in full view of the general public
stigmatises those who are trying to wean themselves from drugs.
In addition, methadone can have destructive side effects on unborn children.
A recent Scottish Executive study of clinicians' attitudes to methadone found many believed
the drug was a long-term treatment rather than a short-term step towards "going clean" and
that some addicts could expect to be years on methadone.
SAMO CEO ŽIVOT...
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Izvinjavam se sto su tekstovi na engleskom, oni koji se ne snalaze dobro mogu da skinu razne programe koji postoje za prevod celog teksta na srpski.
SAMO CEO ŽIVOT...
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Bojim se da je beobandit u pravu.Ako nista onda za vecinu Ovisnika.
To sto nekoliko procenata zalijeci svoju bolest Vjerom,ili AN koracima ili se izvuce iz narkomanije na neki nacin(ima i onih sto im bude furka droga,pa se saberu za godinu-dvije) nije nesto ohrabrujuce,ali je svakako pozitivno.Kad jos tom procentu dodamo ljude koje godinama apstiniraju,a duboko su nesretni,da ne kazem ne funkcionalni i pate razmisljajuci svakodnevno o opijatu,onda bi trebalo ipak biti tolerantniji po pitanju lijecenja substitutom,pa cak i dozivotnom odrzavanju.
Ovaj stav sve vise zastupam,posebno od kada se lijecim uz pomoc strucnog kadra.Na zalost bolesti ovisnosti ce u buducnosti biti jos masovnija pojava,a i za to postoji odgovor,kao sto postoji i medicinsko objasnjenje sta se to sa nama dogodilo,koje promjene u mozgu su nam izazvali opijati,pa i zasto smo neki poceli.Ovaj dio oko "zasto smo u opste i poceli",koji je mozda i najbitniji,mozemo odgonetnuti uz pomoc psihologa i psihoanalize.Ko je bar malo citao u vezi Ovisnosti i bar se malo dotakao TransakcioneAnalize moze neke stvari da shvati.
Da ne budem pogresno shvacen,ideal svakog bolesnog covjeka,pa i nas bolesnih od ovisnosti,je da jednog dana bolest iskorjenimo.Ali,ako ne pomognu razna skidanja,komuna,AN i druge alternativne metode,ako osoba nije u stanju prihvatiti Vjeru ili iskreno raditi na nekom Programu,sta mu drugo ostaje osim da se obrati zvanicnoj medicini?!
Da ne budem pogresno shvacen 2.put,misljenja sam da ovisnik prvo treba da proba sve oblike lijecenja bez pomoci metadona,bupronorfina i sl.substituta,ali isto tako i da se konacno skine stigma s ljudi koji nisu uspjeli tim putem.
Iskreno se nadam da ce nas vecina prezivjeti sa ovog Foruma,pa za nekih 10 godina citati ovo sto danas pisemo i uporedjivati neke stvari.
PS: ne kontam zasto postoji ovoliko tema u vezi metadona i sl. vidova lijecenja ?
To sto nekoliko procenata zalijeci svoju bolest Vjerom,ili AN koracima ili se izvuce iz narkomanije na neki nacin(ima i onih sto im bude furka droga,pa se saberu za godinu-dvije) nije nesto ohrabrujuce,ali je svakako pozitivno.Kad jos tom procentu dodamo ljude koje godinama apstiniraju,a duboko su nesretni,da ne kazem ne funkcionalni i pate razmisljajuci svakodnevno o opijatu,onda bi trebalo ipak biti tolerantniji po pitanju lijecenja substitutom,pa cak i dozivotnom odrzavanju.
Ovaj stav sve vise zastupam,posebno od kada se lijecim uz pomoc strucnog kadra.Na zalost bolesti ovisnosti ce u buducnosti biti jos masovnija pojava,a i za to postoji odgovor,kao sto postoji i medicinsko objasnjenje sta se to sa nama dogodilo,koje promjene u mozgu su nam izazvali opijati,pa i zasto smo neki poceli.Ovaj dio oko "zasto smo u opste i poceli",koji je mozda i najbitniji,mozemo odgonetnuti uz pomoc psihologa i psihoanalize.Ko je bar malo citao u vezi Ovisnosti i bar se malo dotakao TransakcioneAnalize moze neke stvari da shvati.
Da ne budem pogresno shvacen,ideal svakog bolesnog covjeka,pa i nas bolesnih od ovisnosti,je da jednog dana bolest iskorjenimo.Ali,ako ne pomognu razna skidanja,komuna,AN i druge alternativne metode,ako osoba nije u stanju prihvatiti Vjeru ili iskreno raditi na nekom Programu,sta mu drugo ostaje osim da se obrati zvanicnoj medicini?!
Da ne budem pogresno shvacen 2.put,misljenja sam da ovisnik prvo treba da proba sve oblike lijecenja bez pomoci metadona,bupronorfina i sl.substituta,ali isto tako i da se konacno skine stigma s ljudi koji nisu uspjeli tim putem.
Iskreno se nadam da ce nas vecina prezivjeti sa ovog Foruma,pa za nekih 10 godina citati ovo sto danas pisemo i uporedjivati neke stvari.
PS: ne kontam zasto postoji ovoliko tema u vezi metadona i sl. vidova lijecenja ?
narkoman sam al' najlepsi.
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Ako meni vise priznatih neuropsihijatara koji nemaju veze sa ispitivanjem trzista i farmaceutskom mafijom obrazloze zasto je metadon najbolji lek za mene, ko bi mene mogao da ubedi u suprotno kada ljudi koji su najstrucniji za oblast zavisnosti tako kazu i tu je kraj bilo kakvim raspravama. To su ljudi koji su se dokazali kao najbolji u svojoj oblasti, imaju po 30-40 godina prakse sa najrazlicitijim slucajevima zavisnosti i njihova rec za vecinu doktora je amin. Uvek ce postojati oni koji ne priznaju supstituciju, ali kada stavite na sto izvestaj lekara ciji potpis para oci, i gde jasno pise obavezno prepisati metadon ili morfin, tu je kraj raspravi ma koliko se taj lekar protivio svemu tome. A sto se tice bivsih ili kao bivsih narkomana koji se nesto bune i nije im po volji to stvarno nije bitno pomena.
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
Al Kaloid, ja se uopste ne bunim, samo iznosim svoje misljenje.
Ne znam o kojim strucnjacima pricas. Ja isto tako mogu da navedem imena ljudi koji su protiv metadona, za mene takodje cenjena. Ali sve je to glupost, najbolja svedocanstva sta je metadon su zivoti onih koji su vec godinama u tom ropstvu...A znam ih puno, veruj mi. Nadam se da ces se izleciti jednog dana i upoznati radost zivota ciste i normalne psihe.
Ne znam o kojim strucnjacima pricas. Ja isto tako mogu da navedem imena ljudi koji su protiv metadona, za mene takodje cenjena. Ali sve je to glupost, najbolja svedocanstva sta je metadon su zivoti onih koji su vec godinama u tom ropstvu...A znam ih puno, veruj mi. Nadam se da ces se izleciti jednog dana i upoznati radost zivota ciste i normalne psihe.
SAMO CEO ŽIVOT...
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Param-parcad
- Posts: 605
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:44 pm
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
dok sam konzumirao suboxon imao sam razne nus pojave...od svih pojava me je najvise zabrinjavala vrtoglavica i osecaj da sam kao u snu na momente...u tim trenutcima bi mi srce kucalo 200 na sat.nisam uzimao veliku kolicinu,od 1 do 1.5 miligram na dan.iskreno,to me je najvise navelo od svega da prestanem sa njim.puls mi je bio nonstop oko stotke...a i pritisak mi je skocio tada.zasto je to tako,pitam ja tebe vojo,sveznadare vujaklijo? 
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Param-parcad
- Posts: 605
- Joined: Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:44 pm
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
NE ZNAS??Precenio sam te neznadare vojaklijo...
Re: SUBOXON JE SRANJE!
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Last edited by Voyager on Sat Feb 04, 2012 1:55 am, edited 1 time in total.