TEENS COULD GET FREE METHADONE

Methadone and other drug rehabilitation therapies could be provided free to
teenagers by the Victorian Government.

The Department of Human Services has also begun plans to lure an extra 144
doctors to prescribe methadone.

The assistant director of drugs and policy for the Department of Human
Services, Paul McDonald, said the government was "actively considering" the
subsidy to reduce financial barriers for young drug addicts, as cost was
the main reason they dropped out of programs.

"We need to ensure enough incentive and training for GPs and pharmacists to
prescribe. Secondly, we have to spread services evenly across the state.
Thirdly, we need to remove the financial obstacles that prevent people
continuing with methadone and other treatments."

About 300 people under 18 are currently on methadone.

It is believed if the subsidy is imposed for under-18s, it could act as a
guide for providing a subsidy for all participants on methadone programs
across the state.

A senior researcher at Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre, Nick
Lintzeris, said the measures were a step in the right direction, but a more
comprehensive approach was needed.

The Victorian chairman of the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners, David Dammery, said perceptions that methadone programs
created problems were largely unfounded.