Should Govt "Hand Out Methadone and Free Needles?
Readers respond to Melbourne (Australia) newspaper query: should govt "hand out methadone and free needles"? Nice to see the positive responses. It's interesting, though, to speculate on applying this question to the response to other chronic medical conditions - e.g., should govt provide insulin and sterile needles to diabetics? Should govt provide Lipitor to folks who can't/won't control their cholesterol levels? Etc. Anyway, the question posed by the paper is timely, and the responses encouraging; my hunch is that there would be an overwhelming negative attitude expressed by readers in the US. rgn
Copyright 2005 Nationwide News Pty LimitedHerald Sun (Melbourne, Australia)November 29, 2005 TuesdaySECTION: LETTERS; HEADLINE: Should the State Government continue to hand out methadone and freeneedles to drug users?
FIONNA GRATTON 33, Point Cook Yes. I don't think it is encouraging drug use. I see it as a sensible way of managing a health issue rather than a moral issue.
ALAN BOYLE 60, East Doncaster Yes, because I think it's the lesser of the two evils. Supplying users with acontrolled drug is better than them getting it illegally.
BRENT OTTLEY 45, Montrose Yes, definitely. It's a continuing problem and the only way to deal with itis to help them. They're not criminals and they shouldn't be treated as such.
CHRISTOPHER WHELAN 58, Echuca Yes. It's a way to try to get them off heroin and the harder drugs, and it'sa safe way for them to do it.
CHRISTOPHER MASON 40, Seddon As a part of a national management program, yes I do. It's a multifacetedproblem with no simple solution. It won't ever be solved, but it should bemanaged.
posted by RGNewman, MD @ 4:31 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
As a recovering addict, I agree that drug addiction is a disease such as diabetes or cancer. I also believe that addiction does have a greater and more harmful effect on society as a whole, and that administering a "free" program such as a NES has a greater social benefit than providing insulin to diabetics or other drugs for high cholesterol. You don't have to go underground to get treatment for most other types of disease.
My name is Giulia White and i would like to show you my personal experience with Lipitor.
I have taken for 9 years. I am 60 years old. I took 20 mg for 9 years and I told numerous physicians about my pain and stiffness and was told that I had arthritis and to keep taking it. I left it at home by accident when we went on vacation and within 3 days, the pain in my legs began to go away. After 2 weeks I knew it was a very dangerous medication. I went to my new physician and he wanted me to try Pravachol. Afer 4 days on it, I was in a fog and thought I had the flu. I have been off it for just 36 hours and feel better. I am an RN and should have known that I was experiencing side effects with Lipitor, but you listen to your Doctor because you trust him. I now tell my patients to trust what their bodies are telling them. Statins can't be good for anyone but the drug companies!!!!!!!!!! They keep lowering the recommended levels so that almost everyone is considered to have "high" cholesterol. If someone is 30 and on this for 30 or 40 years there is not telling what the long term effects will be.
I have experienced some of these side effects-
Joint and Muscle Pain / Stiffness.
I hope this information will be useful to others,
Giulia White
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