MORE ADDICTS 'TO BE PRESCRIBED HEROIN'

More drug addicts could soon be prescribed heroin on the
NHS.

The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse has published new
guidelines for doctors treating drug addicts.

It advises specialists on when and how they should prescribe heroin
and methadone to patients.

It is expected to lead to hundreds more addicts being prescribed
pharmaceutical heroin by doctors in specialist clinics across the country.

Last resort

Less than 500 people are currently prescribed heroin on the NHS - just
1% of heroin users in treatment.

Prescribing heroin is seen as a last resort and is generally only
offered to those patients who have not responded to other treatments.

But ministers believe it is an important part of the range of
treatments available to addicts.

They believe it can be used to help patients to manage their addiction
and curb criminal behaviour.

Doctors believe that being able to offer heroin could also encourage
more addicts to seek treatment on the NHS.

Many addicts are reluctant to seek treatment because they do not like
or have not responded well to methadone in the past.

Doctors hope that being able to offer them heroin could change
this.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has previously stated that he would
support such a move.

Addressing a GPs conference in May, he said: "Prescribing heroin is
all about what is right for the individual. It's about making it
available to all those with a clinical need."

The charity DrugScope said it hoped more people will be prescribed
heroin as a result of the guidelines.

Its chief executive Roger Howard said: "DrugScope hopes the guidelines
will lead to the situation found in other countries where there is an
increase in users potentially being prescribed heroin where other
treatments have failed."