HEROIN MAY HELP DRUG ADDICTS, SAYS MSP

NORTH-EAST MSP Brian Adam is calling on the Scottish Executive to
consider treating drug addicts with heroin rather than methadone.

The former hospital biochemist said the war against drugs is being
lost so all alternatives must be considered.

According to Mr Adam, programmes in Europe to prescribe heroin to
addicts rather than methadone appear to have both medical and social
benefits.

Mr Adam has tabled a Parliamentary motion calling on the Executive to
consider the benefits and dangers of prescribing heroin. A recent
pilot project in the Netherlands has shown that addicts prescribed
both heroin and methadone experienced 23-25% more "clinically relevant
improvements" than those on methadone alone, he said.

The improvements included better social contacts and less criminal
behaviour.

Mr Adam added: "We must investigate every avenue to try and get heroin
addicts to break their habits.'