RELAPSE RATES ARE LOWER FOR THOSE RECEIVING LONGER EPISODES OF CARE:

An LA Times article on Nov. 11 reported that relapse rates - after treatment of addiction - while still high - are lower for those receiving longer episodes of care. Obviously, though, those with different lengths of stay differ in a host of ways, and none is more critical than the ability to pay. Thus, the article cites Betty Ford Center charges $24,000 for one month and $8,000 for each subsequent month. The glib quote with which the article ends suggests a suprising disregard for reality: "Even if you have to lose a job, so be it" (A comment ignoring entirely the vast majority of users who have no jobs to begin with)

While facilities like Betty Ford seek to attract and retain patients who can pay their fees, society mustn't forget those who desperately want and need - but can't afford - help for their drug problems.

MALAYSIA: STRONG, AUTHORITATIVE SUPPORT FOR METHADONE MAINTENANCE:

(Malaysian National News Agency, 23 Nov. 08)
An “eminent addiction psychiatrist,” head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Malaysia, has urged strongly that addiction be treated “just like any other disease, such as diabetes or hypertension, where long-term drug therapy is required …” Dr. Mohamad Hussain Habil noted that the current zero-tolerance national policy relies overwhelmingly on 26 long-term “rehabilitation” centres costing over $US82 million annually, with a failure rate in excess of 75%. By contrast, he stated that methadone treatment costs 90% less per patient, and a nationwide study found that most patients gained employment within six months and gave up high-risk behaviour. Methadone is now available in Malaysia and Dr. Mohamad Hussain – whose department has trained about 1,000 local doctors in both the private and public sectors, “hoped that its use would be expanded to benefit dadah [heroin] addicts and the nation as a whole.” There are estimated to be 800,000 heroin addicts in Malaysia. For full story,
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=373760

NIMBY WINS BUT WHY?

From Taunton , MA: the local zoning board sided with “overwhelming public sentiment” and denied permission for the establishment of a methadone clinic because the proposed site is 1,000 feet (roughly 4 blocks) from an elementary school. When told that another methadone clinic in Brockton, 17 miles from Taunton, had been operating without incident across the street from an elementary school a zoning board member is quoted as saying, “I don’t care…” Even those of us who have seen these fears expressed for decades must still wonder just what it is that opponents fear patients receiving methadone (or perhaps those who provide it) will do to the elementary school kids, and what evidence there is that in the past 40-plus years any school kid has been harmed, anywhere in the country, by the neighborhood presence of a methadone treatment facility.
For the full article click here

SCOTTISH OPPOSITION PARTY CONTINUES TO BATTLE METHADONE MAINTENANCE:

“'Action needed' on methadone use” reads the BBC-News headline of 16 Nov. The leader of the Tories, Ms. Goldie, complained that “… the country is ‘over-dependent’ on methadone... [and that] urgent action needs to be taken over the ‘escalating’ use of the heroin substitute.” It is hard to imagine what alternative(s) the Tories have in mind for the tens of thousands (!) of patients receiving methadone today – especially when, according to Ms. Goldie, “… we still have addicts waiting for over two years to get other forms of rehabilitation.” Truly difficult to comprehend the thinking. For the full story read the BBC article

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS:

The headline in Telegram.com (Worcester, MA) dated 15 Nov reads: “Police Chief ok with methadone clinic.” Great. The bad news: he’s quoted as saying, “I don’t know a lot about the treatment, other than it’s a pill,” he explained. “They just come in, take a pill and go. That’s all they do on site. There’s no needles, no injections, none of that stuff.” Difficult to be too optimistic when the endorsement of a Police Chief is coupled with such extraordinary misunderstanding. Full story click here.

PENNY WISE...

The NY Times reported on 7 Nov that Governor Paterson has proposed "scaling back drug-abuse programs for ex-convicts" because of the fiscal criasis. That crisis, of course, is just one more compelling reason why these programs are essential. The interests of the community - including its financial interests - are in total synch with the needs of those who are re-entering society, and who without help will unquestionably have a high rate of recidivism, re-arrest and re-incarceration.

CONTEMPLATING SUBOPTIMAL TREATMENT OPTIONS:

Preserving "the good" when the alternative is "the worst. "Treatment centers brace for impact of financial crisis" - that's the sobering but hardly surprising headline of a publication aimed at those working in the field (Addiction Professional, 1 Oct 08). Anyone who believes addiction treatment providers will be spared during these times of fiscal crisis and severe cutbacks is probably smoking some heavy stuff - or perhaps should be. The question: are providers considering seriously ways to markedly curtail the "comprehensive" nature (and costs) of their services in order to be able to continue providing at least some assistance to those who desperately need it? In other words, to paraphrase Voltaire, are they figuring out how they might be able to continue offering "the good" rather than to resort to "the worst" - abandonment?

US VOTERS' VIEWS ON DRUG WAR - ANYONE GOING TO LISTEN?

According to CesarFax (Nov 3) a recent national survey found 76% of Americans believe the "war on drugs" is failing (an additional 13% "weren't sure"). Maybe the next administration will conclude it's time for a change.