CUTS TO ADDICTS' PROGRAM WORRIES DRUGGIST

BATHURST - A Bathurst pharmacist says methadone patients will suffer
should the provincial government make cuts to the dispensing fees for
the drug.

Steve Doucet is the owner of Shoppers Drug Mart in Bathurst, the only
pharmacy in the region to offer methadone. He said the pharmacy
assists 20 to 25 patients, and more are on a waiting list.

Doucet said cuts to dispensing fees will make it difficult for the
pharmacy to continue dispensing the drug.

"They want to cut it by about a third," he said. "Already it's
difficult to find pharmacies who want to provide the service, so by
cutting the fee it's obviously discouraging any new pharmacies from
getting on board with the program and the ones already doing it are
certainly looking at the worth of running the program in their store.

"We've taken a decision of not accepting any new patients...Unfortunately,
we're left with the responsibility of these patients and if we cut off
these methadone patients, what options do they have left? They either
have to find a pharmacy in Miramichi and travel there every day, which
is probably not feasible for most, or they're going to go back to
street drugs and that's obviously not a viable option either."

Methadone is used to help drug addicts overcome dependency on hard
drugs such as heroin and oxycontin. Patients are given dosages that
allow them to continue with their day-to-day life without going
through painful withdrawal.

"The methadone is a once a day," he said. "You get them up to a stable
dose and they are kept at that dose for a certain amount of time, and
that can be years and not just months."

Doucet said preparation and dispensing of methadone by pharmacists is
detailed and timely. He said the pharmacist has to observe the patient
taking the methadone and there are other intangibles to consider. He
noted that many pharmacies will not dispense methadone due to the
responsibility it entails.

"Each patient is on an individual dose and a mistake in a dose could
lead to death. It's a very powerful drug so there's a lot of
responsibility attached to that.

"It's difficult to get pharmacies to want to provide the service and
most don't. For example, we're the only ones doing it...and most
pharmacies don't want to get into the program."

Doucet said the New Brunswick Pharmacies Association has been meeting
with the provincial government to discuss the issue of possible cuts.

He said if pharmacies do end up having to cut back on methadone
treatment, there's likely one scenario that will occur for many patients.

"If I just cut them off the program, there's a good chance they'll go
back to illegal street drugs."