DETAINEE GIVEN ALMOST TWICE METHADONE DOSE

Simple human error was to blame for a 28-year-old Sydney man being given
almost twice his normal methadone dose at the Belconnen Remand Centre
yesterday, the director of the Alcohol and Drug Program of ACT Community
Care, Julie Perrin, said.

ACT Health Minister Michael Moore and Justice and Community Safety Minister
Gary Humphries said there would be a review of procedures to make sure it
did not happen again.

Detainee William Roy Warry, of Parramatta, was given 70mg of methadone,
rather than his usual 40mg.

Ms Perrin said the program's nurse at the centre had been distracted,
because of an earlier incident, when she gave Warry his methadone at about
8.10am.

A spokesman for ACT Corrective Services said there had been an altercation
between two detainees at the centre at about 7.35am. One detainee required
medical attention, from the nurse, and was taken to hospital with minor
injuries before returning to the centre.

Ms Perrin said the nurse immediately noticed she had made a mistake and
sought help.

She said if there was going to be an adverse reaction with an overdose of
methadone, it would peak within six hours. By yesterday afternoon, Warry
had shown no signs of intoxication and had just been 'a bit sleepy'.
However, Warry would continue to be monitored hourly until 7pm, to be on
the safe side.

Ms Perrin said there was no need for an investigation into the overdose, as
she had already looked into it.

Warry was later taken to the ACT Magistrates Court for a previously
scheduled meeting with the drug-treatment assessment panel.

Warry is awaiting sentencing on charges relating to the January 27 burglary
of a Gowrie supermarket. He has pleaded guilty to the offence.

Mr Moore said human errors did occur, 'and we have to make sure the
processes are in place to minimise those errors'.

A spokeswoman for Mr Humphries said 'a review of the administration
procedures of methadone to detainees will be conducted'.

ACT Opposition corrections spokesman John Hargreaves said the incident was
'an appalling situation' that raised serious questions, mainly how it
could have happened.