Govt ignores opiate users

Your front-page report "Doctor's terror in surgery attack" (December 20) highlighted the failure of the Labor Government to implement its election promise to provide a full range of pharmacotherapies to dependent opiate users.

Why are GPs still unable or unwilling to provide services to opiate-dependent people?

Opiate users in the Territory are in dire straits.

Since the election of the Labor Government, the methadone reduction program has ceased, the detox centre at Coconut Grove has been abolished and more doctors have been persecuted for treating opiate dependent people.

It is still illegal in the Territory for GPs to treat opiate dependent people with opiates.

This means GPs are simply refusing to see "Schedule 8" patients. Many practices have now put up signs in their windows, warning: "No S8 drugs will be prescribed here."

The new "withdrawal" service based at the hospital is totally inadequate, with huge waiting lists and a restrictive regime that doesn't allow for flexibility.

This is especially difficult for people with full-time jobs.

People must pick up their dose from the hospital between 11am and noon. If they are late, they miss out.

People are being forced into using the relatively unproven drug buprenorphine instead of being offered a range of treatment options.

Gary Meyerhoff
Ludmilla

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Source: Northern Territory News
Pubdate: 3rd January 2003
Author: Gary Meyerhoff
Website: http://www.ntnews.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Copyright: 2003 Northern Territory News