Monday, November 21, 2005

WAITING LISTS FOR METHADONE

Unacceptable is the conclusion of the opposition party in the State of Tasmania, Australia, where 600 patients receive methadone maintenance in facilities that are now "closed" to further enrollment because "capacity" has been reached.

It's good to see outrage expressed over making applicants wait for addiction treatment, all the while endangering their own lives and that of others.

2 Comments:

At 7:03 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are active steps being taken in NZ to eliminate wait-liats for MMT altogether. In Auckland we have about a 14 day wait from first contact to first dose and are working on same day response.
Its best practice for clients and the resourcing more than pays for itself.If you consider that, taking criminal activity alone, that people on wait-lists are estimated to be committing $1200 pw of offences per week.

 
At 8:58 AM, Blogger RGNewman, MD said...

Right you are, and New Zealanders have a right to be proud of the rational commitment to prompt treatment that you describe. Sadly, in most countries (including America!), this is the exception rather than the rule. RGN

 

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