3000 LOTHIANS HEROIN ADDICTS TAKE LETHAL METHADONE HOME

AROUND 3000 heroin addicts are regularly allowed to take methadone
home with them in the Lothians despite fears of another tragedy like
the death of toddler Derek Doran.

The two-year-old died after swallowing his parents' methadone at home
in Elphinstone, near Tranent, in a case which has highlighted the
risks of unsupervised use of the drug.

The dangers are widely thought to be limited by a system which forces
many addicts to drink their methadone in front of pharmacy staff. But
health chiefs said today the "vast majority" of the 3100 registered
methadone users in the Lothians take their medication home at least
one day a week.

Even some of the most unstable addicts can take methadone away on
Sundays because most pharmacies are shut.

The system of supervised methadone use is primarily designed to
prevent addicts selling the drug on the black market, but it was also
thought to have afforded some protection to children living with
addict parents.

It is not clear exactly how many addicts take methadone home with
them or how many of them have children living with them as the NHS
does not collate such figures centrally.

The Scottish Executive is carrying out a review of methadone use in
the wake of Derek's death and said today that a clearer picture
needed to be gathered of how methadone was being given out.

The Conservatives today called for an urgent investigation into how
many addicts were being allowed to take the dangerous drug home where
it could fall into the hands of children.

Toxicology reports were made public last week which showed Derek
Doran died from drinking methadone. The toddler was found dead in his
bed by his 25-year-old mother Lisa Dodds.

Derek, whose parents were both methadone users, is believed to have
drunk the heroin substitute thinking it was a soft drink.

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health medicine at NHS
Lothian, said circumstances meant the vast majority of addicts were
allowed to take methadone home at least once a week.

She said: "Virtually all methadone users will take it at home at
least one day a week due to the vast majority of pharmacists being
closed on Sundays."

Many addicts are also given the option of taking methadone home with
them every day.

All new methadone users have to take it under supervision for the
first three months of the treatment programme. However, unless
pharmacists raise concerns, they can normally choose to take it at
home after that, returning to be supervised for only two weeks of every year.

NHS Lothian is currently looking at plans for a renewed awareness
campaign to warn addicts about the risk of leaving methadone
unattended at home. The campaign was being planned before Derek's death.

Tory health spokeswoman and former GP Nanette Milne said the rules
should be tightened. "It would be my preference that people do not
take methadone at home and take it in a supervised way - that is
without doubt the best way to help keep children away from it," she said.

Edinburgh's Liberal Democrat social care spokesman Councillor Tom
Ponton said: "I think the law should be changed to ensure that
methadone is only taken in supervised conditions."

The Executive earlier this week pledged to undertake a review of
guidelines on the clinical management of methadone.

An Executive spokesman said: "There are deficiencies in information -
for example, we do not know how long people are taking methadone for
and where they are taking it. That is something we are looking to improve on."