News (Media Awareness Project) - Australia: Court Looks At New Aid For Drug Doctor |
| Title: | Australia: Court Looks At New Aid For Drug Doctor |
| Published On: | 2000-07-19 |
| Source: | West Australian (Australia) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 15:49:14 |
COURT LOOKS AT NEW AID FOR DRUG DOCTOR
HEROIN addiction specialist George O'Neil is expected to get a much-needed
funding injection from the State Government after meeting Premier Richard
Court later this week.
Dr O'Neil, who runs a detoxification clinic in Subiaco and will treat about
1800 patients this year, said yesterday he believed Mr Court had warmed to
his program recently.
He said Mr Court appeared to have been persuaded by the New South Wales
Government's decision to back a similar rapid detoxification program using
the opiate-blocking drug, naltrexone.
He believed the NSW Government's push had given Mr Court the confidence to
ignore advisers who appeared to have reservations about his treatment.
At a meeting on Friday, he would ask Mr Court to contribute about $1000
towards the $3000 total cost of treating each patient. The rest would be
paid for by donations and patient contributions.
The grant would be worth about $1.8 million a year.
It is understood the money would be separate from the $1020 the State
Government looks set to give him for each addict in a formal University of
WA trial of the program. The first trial patient was treated on Thursday.
Dr O'Neil has drawn significantly on his own resources since he started
treating addicts in 1997, prompted by his concern at the rising heroin death
rate.
Although most addicts cannot afford to pay the full cost of treatment, Dr
O'Neil said he had never turned away a patient.
Mr Court said on radio 6PR yesterday that he was considering giving Dr
O'Neil more money.
"We have always supported George's program," he said. "He's asked for his
level of support now to go up to a different level and that is exactly what
we are assessing right now."
He was impressed at his last meeting with Dr O'Neil and agreed with him that
there was no quick fix to drug addiction.
Mr Court's promise came after the Health Department refused to provide money
unless a proper trial was done first.
Dr O'Neil treated 361 patients in 1997, rising to 834 in 1998 and 1500 last
year.
At the same time, the number of addicts treated under the Government's
heroin program has stayed stagnant at 320.
Australian Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Perth Peter Carnley said last
week the State should give Dr O'Neil more money for his work.
HEROIN addiction specialist George O'Neil is expected to get a much-needed
funding injection from the State Government after meeting Premier Richard
Court later this week.
Dr O'Neil, who runs a detoxification clinic in Subiaco and will treat about
1800 patients this year, said yesterday he believed Mr Court had warmed to
his program recently.
He said Mr Court appeared to have been persuaded by the New South Wales
Government's decision to back a similar rapid detoxification program using
the opiate-blocking drug, naltrexone.
He believed the NSW Government's push had given Mr Court the confidence to
ignore advisers who appeared to have reservations about his treatment.
At a meeting on Friday, he would ask Mr Court to contribute about $1000
towards the $3000 total cost of treating each patient. The rest would be
paid for by donations and patient contributions.
The grant would be worth about $1.8 million a year.
It is understood the money would be separate from the $1020 the State
Government looks set to give him for each addict in a formal University of
WA trial of the program. The first trial patient was treated on Thursday.
Dr O'Neil has drawn significantly on his own resources since he started
treating addicts in 1997, prompted by his concern at the rising heroin death
rate.
Although most addicts cannot afford to pay the full cost of treatment, Dr
O'Neil said he had never turned away a patient.
Mr Court said on radio 6PR yesterday that he was considering giving Dr
O'Neil more money.
"We have always supported George's program," he said. "He's asked for his
level of support now to go up to a different level and that is exactly what
we are assessing right now."
He was impressed at his last meeting with Dr O'Neil and agreed with him that
there was no quick fix to drug addiction.
Mr Court's promise came after the Health Department refused to provide money
unless a proper trial was done first.
Dr O'Neil treated 361 patients in 1997, rising to 834 in 1998 and 1500 last
year.
At the same time, the number of addicts treated under the Government's
heroin program has stayed stagnant at 320.
Australian Anglican Primate and Archbishop of Perth Peter Carnley said last
week the State should give Dr O'Neil more money for his work.
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