CRIME THREAT IF GPS QUIT ADDICTS SCHEME

THOUSANDS of heroin addicts across Scotland could be left without methadone
when new GP contracts are introduced next month, creating an upsurge in
crime as drug users steal to fund their habit.

Senior health sources have warned that addicts denied their prescription of
the heroin substitute will turn to crime to feed their dependency - at
great cost to the taxpayer.

The contracts, which come into force in April, will allow GPs to opt out of
providing methadone programmes, raising fears that users will be forced to
buy heroin on the black market.

NHS insiders have told The Scotsman that a confidential survey of GPs has
revealed many no longer want to treat heroin addicts.

There are currently 2,000 methadone patients in the Lothians and, if
doctors opt out as predicted, as many as 600 patients will be left without
methadone, with the figure rising to thousands throughout the rest of the
country. An NHS source said: "From April, GPs can choose to opt out of
providing methadone. That would leave the addict with no methadone.
Inevitably, addicts will steal to get heroin, and that will be a major
problem."

The survey of GPs by the Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust has indicated that
many will stop prescribing methadone once the new rules are in place next
month.

"There is a possibility of 600 patients in the Lothians not having GPs
prescribing methadone to them," said a source.

"There are about 4,000 in Glasgow on methadone prescriptions. If the same
happens there, it could affect 1,200 people."

The impact of drug addicts on crime in Scotland is colossal. An estimated
55,000 addicts use hard drugs such as heroin, and some them steal up to
?40,000 a year to finance their habit.

Patients now find themselves at the centre of a funding row between GPs and
the Scottish Executive over the cost of providing the methadone programmes.
It is understood that GPs are preparing to ditch drug users because of the
costs associated with such high-maintenance patients.

GPs are reluctant to provide methadone, and the new contracts are likely to
act as a deterrent as concerns grow over the level of funding.

The Scotsman has learned that it was agreed that GPs would receive ?350 per
methadone patient per year, but the Scottish Executive is trying to reduce
that figure as negotiations continue with local trusts.

"Part of it is financial and the other is that GPs don't want to deal with
drug users," said a source. "Some GPs don't see it as their role to
prescribe methadone. These are quite time-consuming patients and they see
the GP 12 times more often than other patients."

Last night, Graeme Pearson, the director of the Scottish Drugs Enforcement
Agency, stressed there were important issues about access to treatment
which had to be resolved.

He said: "We would be concerned if there was an immediate withdrawal of
services from people who have drug problems. It's now March and one of my
concerns is that a policy change will affect us in less than three weeks' time.

"It's important that they receive their treatment."

Without the methadone, which helps to wean patients off heroin, users would
be left to find other sources of the opiate.

David Liddell, the Director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, called for urgent
action to ensure drug users did not drop out of the system and return to
injecting street heroin. "We have raised our concerns with the Scottish
Executive about the impact of these changes, particularly in the short term.

"Our understanding is that drug users may lose a service because some GPs
will now be able to opt out of treating drug users. This could seriously
affect the health of drug users."

A spokeswoman for Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust refused to reveal how many
GPs were intending to opt out, but said those with drug problems would
continue to receive the best care.