EDUCATION KEY TO DEALING WITH DRUG ABUSE, SAYS DOCTOR

SYDNEY - While methadone is a drug treatment available to deal with a
prescription drug abuse problem, it should not be viewed as a
cure-all, says a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine.

Dr. Tom Crawford says while he supports the creation of a methadone
maintenance clinic in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to deal
with the rising tide of addicts, he cautions it will not solve the
long-term problem.

"Methadone is an important part of the treatment mix but not the most
important part. The most important part is patient motivation," he
says.

In addition, Crawford says the first step in dealing with such abuse
is education.

"Understand that addiction is a disease," says Crawford, in attempting
to reach out to those in the community who feel that addiction is a
choice or something that can be easily dealt with through any
assortment of medications.

Crawford has been prescribing methadone for two years for some of his
patients who have sought treatment at the in-house treatment facility
at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney.

His patients stay on the drug for about 10 days to two weeks.

"Most patients do not need long-term methadone treatment," he says.

He says while it works for some, it doesn't for others, and there are
newer drugs now on the market which are equally as effective as
methadone, which eases the withdrawal associated with giving up a
particular drug.

"You don't want to be an addict, but once an addict always an addict,"
says Crawford, in describing the complexities of the disease.

A number of community groups and agencies have banded together to make
a formal pitch for the creation of a methadone maintenance clinic here
on the island. The only other such facility is located in Halifax.

Many hope the Department of Health will look favourably on the request, in
light of a sobering statistic reported by Cape Breton Regional Police: 18
deaths in 15 months in the municipality have been attributed to prescription
drug abuse.

Crawford says he has a strict criteria when it comes to placing
patients on methadone, which includes proper diet, attending all
recommended counselling meetings, doctor appointments and other therapies.

A special task force consisting of police, a host of community
professionals and other representatives has been formed to help find
solutions to the problem.

Doctors are meeting as well to discuss among themselves the problems
associated with prescribing such highly addictive drugs as OxyContin
which appears to be a favourite choice among local addicts.

Another sign of drug abuse is showing up in local courts which are now
filled with accused claiming their crimes were a direct result of
their addictions to prescription drugs.