DENMARK PLANS TREATMENT WITH INJECTABLE HEROIN:

The above is the headline of an article in the Karlsruhe Nachrichten, 15 Oct. In a striking reversal of its long-standing opposition, the "Volkspartei" (People's Party) of Denmark has expressed its support for providing long-term opiate dependent individuals with heroin. This means there is now a parliamentary majority
for introduction of heroin treatment. The goal, according to a spokesperson: to enable addicts to have at least a "halfway normal life".

At least, that's the story. We have been warned:caveat lector, reader beware! Ultimate approval and implementation is far from assured, and some observors closer to the scene remain pessimistic. We'll see.

SCIENCE AND IDEOLOGY

Written by Dr. Stephen Hwang, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto --Science and Ideology -- has been published in the peer-reviewed, independent, open-access scientific journal Open Medicine. More than 130 prominent Canadian physicians, scientists, and public health professionals have endorsed Dr. Hwang’s commentary.

“The fact that a highly promising intervention for the management of substance abuse appears to have been judged by an entirely different standard than interventions for other common chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, suggests that scientific evidence is about to be trumped by ideology.”

The entire commentary can be accessed by clicking here.

CONFIRMING YET AGAIN THE EFFICACY OF METHADONE MAINTENANCE:

A recent publication confirms what has been demonstrated consistently for over 4 decades. "A different meta-analytical approach made it possible to confirm effects of methadone on retention and opioid abuse ... and document effect on criminality."

Full article: Johansson et al. Nord J Psychiatry 2007; 61(4):288-295.

THE [METHADONE] PATIENT BE DAMNED (Ireland):

This seems to be the theme in a dispute between the Health Services Executive and some 140 pharmacists who have "boycotted methadone dispensing service for a second day running" because of a pay dispute. Up to 3,000 patients are affected and many are being directed to a hospital in "an isolated rural area" that requires daily travel by train and bus.

Full story, under the headline, "Anger as HSE 'send addicts to village'": Irish Independent, 17 Oct.

MORE ON PLIGHT OF IRISH METHADONE PATIENTS: An Irish Independent editorial (Oct.18) notes, “People are on methadone because they recognise they have a heroin problem and have taken steps to address it.” The current dispute between pharmacists and the Health Service is complex, but the one service NOT at issue is methadone dispensing. Nevertheless, pharmacists are “…cynically using [methadone patients] as pawns in their industrial dispute.”

The article’s conclusion is eloquent – and depressing: “Suspending service to this group of people is callous, crude and contemptuous. It's a case of the strong throwing the weak to the wolves. Shame on the pharmacists.”

UK "SHADOW HOME SECRETARY" VOWS TO CURE, RATHER THAN MANAGE, ADDICTION:

David Davis pledged to introduce "abstinence-based treatment programs." In sum, his commitment is to introduce "a program that gets addicts off drugs, all drugs, for good . . . to kick all drugs instead of being prescribed methadone." If only it were that simple. Meanwhile, the misperceptions and stigma surrounding opiate agonist maintenance treatment will be heightened further.

Full story: Daily Post (Liverpool), Oct. 3, 2007