METHADONE PROGRAMMES FOR DRUG ADDICTS EXTEND TO HEALTH CENTRES

A change has occurred in the treatment of drug users. A bill coming into
effect in July has been passed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health,
under which methadone programmes will be made available for heroin users at
all university hospitals and health centres throughout Finland.

The primary intention of the new proposal is not necessarily to wean addicts
off the drug, but rather to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases
such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis and to reduce crime. It is supposed that drug
users under the methadone treatment - which has proved to be effective in
helping heroin addicts get off the drug - will no longer have to commit
crimes in order to support their expensive habit. The Ministry also believes
that it is necessary to provide intravenous drug users with clean syringes
and needles.

Methadone programmes have already begun at the university hospitals of
Helsinki, Kuopio and Oulu. Follow-up treatment should also be provided by
health centres, polyclinics, prisons and other places.

The sharp increase in the number of heroin users is explained as the reason
for the new treatment programme. Heroin causes dependency, deaths and the
spreading of infectious diseases. In Finland there are at least 10,000
intravenous drug users, 60 % of who are homeless.