WATCHDOG TO GUARD METHADONE

The State Government moved yesterday to crack down on an emerging
blackmarket for methadone, the drug used to rehabilitate heroin users, by
announcing strict accreditation and monitoring of clinics.

In the face of concerns about abuse of methadone, which is the main weapon
against the crippling problem of heroin addiction in NSW, 41 methadone
clinics will be forced to gain accreditation every three years. The
Government will establish a watchdog over the expanding number of methadone
treatment services. The watchdog will develop uniform standards for the
clinics and carry out regular inspections to make sure they adhere to the
guidelines, the Minister for Health, Dr Refshauge, said yesterday.

>From next month, all clinics will have to abide by strict methadone dosing
rules designed to stop addicts taking away the heroin substitute and
selling it illegally on the streets.

Dr Refshauge said methadone clinics would be allowed to give out only two
takeaway doses per client at a time, and a maximum of four takeaway doses a
week.

But there is no limit on doses administered in the clinics.

The Government has found strong evidence that methadone, an opiate, works
over the long term to reduce a person's heroin use. But a review this year
had found weaknesses in the system that left it open to abuse.

"There's no doubt that methadone is one of the best weapons we have in our
fight against heroin," Dr Refshauge said.

But he said the program needed to be fine-tuned. The Government could not
detail the extent of the blackmarket or how much it was worth.

"Effective as methadone is, there remains key concerns over the operation
of the program," he said. "The NSW Government is directly addressing those
concerns by reforming the methadone program and making it even better."

The head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Dr Don
Weatherburn, welcomed the crackdown on methadone clinics, saying any move
to improve their operation would help the fight against drugs and
drug-related crime.

Thefts to buy heroin in Australia have recently been estimated as taking up
to $1.6 billion a year. Last month the Bureau of Statistics released
figures revealing a surge in heroin-related crimes, especially armed
robberies, which increased by 2,000 in NSW. In a study, Running the Risks,
four of Australia's leading drug researchers estimated that regular heroin
users stole between $500 million and $1.6 billion a year to support their
habit.

Dr Weatherburn said methadone treatment programs had helped reduce crime,
particularly break-ins and robberies with violence.

Methadone treatment began in Australia in 1969 and the first clinic in NSW
opened in 1970. There are now 15 private clinics and 26 public services.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan