METHADONE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HARM REDUCTION

Richard Lochhead, North-East SNP MSP, claims that an increase in the number
of drug addicts receiving methadone indicates Grampian's methadone
programme is not working (March 28). Would Lochhead rather they used street
heroin? Because heroin is sold via an unregulated market, its quality and
purity fluctuate tremendously. An addict accustomed to low-quality heroin
who unknowingly uses near pure heroin will likely overdose. As far as crime
is concerned, addicts would not be committing crimes to support their
habits if not for artificially inflated black-market prices.

Methadone maintenance programmes have been proven to reduce drug use and
related crime, death, and disease among chronic heroin users. Contrary to
popular belief, methadone is able to stave off potentially deadly
withdrawal symptoms without producing a high that prevents patients from
living productive lives.

Methadone maintenance is a prime example of harm reduction, an alternative
approach to drug policy and treatment that seeks to minimise the adverse
effects of both drug use and drug prohibition. Drug abuse is bad, but the
drug war is worse.

Robert Sharpe, Program officer, Drug Policy Alliance