CALL FOR GP DRUG SUPPORT

Welfare agencies have called on doctors to participate in the state's
methadone program, claiming that a shortage of doctors prescribing
methadone in certain areas was discouraging some drug users from beating
their addiction.

The chief executive of the Youth Substance Abuse Service, Mr Paul McDonald,
said there was a shortage of doctors prescribing methadone in the eastern
suburbs, outer-western suburbs, the CBD and in rural Victoria.

He said doctors had a community responsibility to prescribe methadone to
heroin addicts.

Despite strains on the methadone program, a record number of nearly 6000
Victorians were taking methadone daily to combat heroin addiction, The Age
reported yesterday. In recent years, the program has grown at a rate of up
to 20per cent annually.

Mr McDonald urged doctors' groups such as the Australian Medical
Association and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to
audit their members to see how many were prescribing methadone.

And he called on more pharmacists to become registered to dispense methadone.

``It's up to doctors to put their hands up on this,'' he said. ``Some of
the dry spots in Melbourne and regional areas is having a direct impact on
people accessing the program.''

Some metropolitan residents had to travel 20 to 30kilometres to a
registered methadone prescriber and country residents were forced to travel
much further, Mr McDonald said.

``If people want to see drug abuse as a community issue then GPs have a
responsibility to ensure that there's an even spread of doctors willing to
prescribe methadone,'' he said.

Mr McDonald called on pharmacists to reduce the price they charged for
methadone - usually about $30 a week per person - and urged doctors to bulk
bill the consultations of people seeking a methadone prescription.

The Victorian chairman of the Royal Australian College of General
Practitioners, Dr Chris Hogan, said the college supported methadone therapy.

``We are happy to encourage doctors to become involved in what we consider
to be a worthwhile enterprise with proven benefits to the community,'' Dr
Hogan said.

``We are suffering from a lack of doctors at the moment, not an excess ...
there's just too much work and not enough doctors to do it.''

Meanwhile, the Australian Drug Foundation welcomed the call from the
Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, for uniform drug enforcement, treatment and
education programs.

The foundation's chief executive officer, Mr Bill Stronach, said it was a
sensible idea but more action was needed in the field rather than more
policy discussion.