METHADONE HAS TO BE PART OF SOLUTION TO DRUG CRISIS

News of an HIV infection among injection-drug users in the Downtown
Eastside last fall prompted the Vancouver/Richmond Health Board to commit
$4.6 million to the problem. The need is indisputable.

The horrendous cost in human life and to the healath care system and the
pervasiveness of property crime, mostly stemming from drug users' need for
buckets of money, give all of society an interest in solving the problem.

There is no one answer. But part of the answer is methadone treaatment for
heroin addicts. It doesn't work for cocaine addicts, or for all heroin
addicts, but for those who respond, this cheap, synthetic drug is taken
orally (no disease-spreading needles), blocks the craving for heroin and
lasts longer. It creates the possibllity of stability in the addict's
life-a job and a permanent home may become realities. A place to stay away
from temptation, support and job counselling have to accompany the doses of
methadone.

It is disapppointing, therefore, that only about $150,000 of that $4.6
million will be spent on methadone treatment. The rest will go for more
street workers, nurses, expansion of the needle program, community
development and so on. Doctors who actually treat addicts complain they
weren't consulted.

The health board agrees more should be done, but it has to work with the
other players-the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which administers the
methadone program, pharmacists and the health ministry. They should get on
with it. And the B.C. Medical Association should release its overdue
repoort on drug addiction. This blight on the city won't disappear by
itself.