DRUG USERS WAITING A YEAR FOR TREATMENT

Nearly 20 people are having to wait up to a year for methadone treatment in
Nelson, Drug and Alcohol Service regional manager Eileen Varley says.

"Basically it means that if we can't get these people on the methadone
programme, they will keep taking drugs and keep committing crimes to pay for
it," Ms Varley said.

A newly-released Health Ministry report says the number of people waiting
for methadone treatment nationally has reached crisis level.

The waiting list and waiting time for treatment was described in the report
as "intolerable".

Ms Varley said the waiting times being experienced in Nelson were similar to
other regions.

About 125 people in Nelson are currently receiving methadone treatment. Ms
Varley said it was nearly impossible for people to remain on the programme
if they were shifting from one region to another.

"It's not like being a diabetic where if you move you can go along to
another doctor and get a prescription," she said.

"Liquid handcuffs they call it."

Ms Varley said many drug users don't choose to become addicts and, like
people with any other illness they should be able to move around.

The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board was very aware of the problem
and the service was receiving extra funding each year, she said.

"But like everything in the health service, there's not enough money to go
around.'

More than 3770 people receive methadone treatment annually in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Health report found that Christchurch had the biggest drug
problem in the country with 110 on the waiting list seeking treatment.