Methadone

[nailit]

Story from my local paper,
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/cash-strapped-council-set-cut-1450514

The local council are planning on saving £751,000 by cutting methadone prescriptions for heroin addicts and if it happens here it will happen elsewhere.
Interested in hearing your thoughts on denying treatment to addicts?
I personally think its both cruel and short sighted. Surely if addicts are denied appropriate treatment, then they will only end up costing us more in the long run with increased crime?

[aelmpvw]

of course they shouldn't be denied treatment but three quarters of a million quid for one council is frightening ...

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds an ill-advised move but we are told budgets are tight across the board: and they are hoping it will result in reduced, not ceased, use of methadone. I've insufficient experience to speak with certainty, but if addicts are to get off drugs altogether, properly managed it may even help.

[maggiebee]

From what I've read, but will stand corrected, methodone is not the answer to getting people off drugs. From what I understand they can become addicted to methodone and so the circle continues. Councils seem to be damned if they do and damned if they don't but cuts have to be made somewhere.

[nailit]

//From what I understand they can become addicted to methodone and so the circle continues//
But methadone is controlled and given under medical guidance whereas heroin is illegal, leads to crime and is often 'laced' with god only knows what.

[EDDIE51]

It needs to do something about Stoke having the highest number of registered addicts in the UK ( as said in the link) Sort out the cause of the problem . Possibly the council are thinking that cutting methadone prescriptions will force addicts to move to another area so solve the problem that way.
I have heard that addicts routinely demand more than they really need and sell the surplus . So if they are cutting down the amount prescribed to each addict that could be a good plan.

[maggiebee]

Agree nailit, but taking a prescribed dose of methodone daily does not preclude taking other drugs at the same time.

[nailit]

//I have heard that addicts routinely demand more than they really need and sell the surplus//
How do they do that EDDIE when they have to drink it in the chemist?

[ummmm]

I might have been misinformed but I believe they are made to take it in front of the pharmacist.

[ummmm]

Crossed posts, Nailit.

[jennyjoan]

I see kids all the time in my chemists taking it

[andres]

Make them pay something for it out of their benefits.

[ummmm]

Andres...you know there is high functioning addicts?

[nailit]

That's an interesting point ummmm. If someone was working and taking methadone, would they have to pay, like anyone else would, for a prescription?

[ummmm]

Probably. I have monthly meds which would cost £57 a month. I pay £10.40 a month by DD and it covers all my meds.

[andres]

^^^^ and if not-why not?

[dave50]

Just put them in a padded room, just give them water, remove all drugs and wait a few days until they have recovered from their 'cold turkey'. Job done.

[nailit]

I can assure you dave, addictions don't work that way.

[mallyh]

my son is on subutex ,don.t know if this is cheaper than methadone . Dave locking them in a room may get them off the drug for a while but it's what is in their heads that needs sorting .I speak from experience as we have spent thousands on our son for rehab .