Canadian government legalizes prescription heroin

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think by the sounds of it this is going to target extreme addicts who have very little chance of breaking their addictions, but this way they can still function and aren't dying in the streets or in jail.

Well, I guess if the cost of the drug and supplies is shouldered by the user, then it would have a positive impact by providing a safe injection site. But if it is meant to be taxpayer funded, they should be looking for better ways to fund it or the goal should be to get them to zero use after a year.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Well, I guess if the cost of the drug and supplies is shouldered by the user, then it would have a positive impact by providing a safe injection site. But if it is meant to be taxpayer funded, they should be looking for better ways to fund it or the goal should be to get them to zero use after a year.

If you just want to look at costs (there are obviously non-cost related benefits and concerns here as well) - you have to compare against the costs the costs of methadone and/or the costs of doing nothing - crime to get money to get their fix, medical when they overdose, etc. Its not a comparison between paying $0 or paying for prescription heroin.

[afc wimbledon]

I worked with more than a few addicts back in the seventies that were on long term maintenance heroin programs that held down full time jobs, their taxes alone paid for the program.
Some would eventually clean up completely, particularly as they get off the street, stabilize their life, get work, form relationships etc, it gives them the opportunity to normalize.

The point of the program though wasn't getting them off heroin per say, that was a bonus some times, the point was heroin is a very cheap drug, if that plus a little support and supervision gave an addict a chance to live a safer more stable life it made more sense than spending way more money on keeping them bouncing from jail to ER to the street with all the costs of crime, insurance, cops, probation officers and the like.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I worked with more than a few addicts back in the seventies that were on long term maintenance heroin programs that held down full time jobs, their taxes alone paid for the program.
Some would eventually clean up completely, particularly as they get off the street, stabilize their life, get work, form relationships etc, it gives them the opportunity to normalize.

I think people don't realize that big part of addiction for some of these people is the whole "what the hell else do I have to live for?" aspect that can stem from a lot of different things (mental illness, abuse/neglect, disillusionment, etc.).

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

I worked with more than a few addicts back in the seventies that were on long term maintenance heroin programs that held down full time jobs, their taxes alone paid for the program.
Some would eventually clean up completely, particularly as they get off the street, stabilize their life, get work, form relationships etc, it gives them the opportunity to normalize.

The point of the program though wasn't getting them off heroin per say, that was a bonus some times, the point was heroin is a very cheap drug, if that plus a little support and supervision gave an addict a chance to live a safer more stable life it made more sense than spending way more money on keeping them bouncing from jail to ER to the street with all the costs of crime, insurance, cops, probation officers and the like.

Most of my methadone patients are on it for maintenance, not withdrawal. Though if you ask each and every one of them, they're going to decrease and get off of it.

Unfortunately, so many end up in worse places when they do