PLAN TO PRESCRIBE HEROIN ON THE NHS

DRUG addicts could be prescribed heroin on the NHS under plans being
considered by the Scottish Executive.

Deputy justice minister Dr Richard Simpson said he wanted to have a
"grown-up debate" about the merits of allowing GPs to prescribe the drug to
known users.

At present, many heroin addicts are given methadone as a substitute, but
there is little evidence the programme works - methadone itself causes many
deaths and there is a thriving black market in the drug.

Prescribing heroin allows doctors to control both the amount and quality of
the drug addicts receive, as well as taking them out of the arms of dealers.

The Executive is examining programmes in countries such as the Netherlands
and Switzerland to see if they have been effective in helping addicts beat
their dependency.

Figures released in August showed the annual number of drug-related deaths
rose by 14% in 2001 to 332. Two-thirds of the deaths were attributed to
heroin and morphine.

Simpson said: "I understand the concerns that people would have. We would
need to proceed extremely cautiously. We would not proceed until other
experiments have come to a satisfactory result.

"We need to be looking at whatever new things are coming along and learn
from other pilot projects."