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