Opioid replacement programmes benefit society overall

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The Scottish Drugs Strategy Delivery Commission has set out it's recommendations and vision for methadone policy in the future north of the border. Sir Harry Burns, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, has acknowledged the effectiveness of opioid replacement therapy and the use of methadone in reducing the spread of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis.

A community pharmacist myself in Scotland, I am, unapologetically, a strong supporter of the methadone programme and opioid replacement therapy in Scotland. It benefits patients and the public. Patients benefit from it because they receive therapy through a legal source. In nearly all cases, patients receive their therapy from a community pharmacy where pharmacists can supply the medicine in accordance with a legally valid prescription signed by a legally appropriate prescriber. It benefits the public because such programmes have been shown to bring a reduction in crime, as demonstrated in the tablet on page 24 of the report. Those who say that such programmes should never exist need to imagine what the serious consequences of abolishing those programmes would bring to society. On this issue, you've got to be careful for what you wish for.

But despite my support for opioid replacement therapy, I can totally understand some of the criticism that is made of such programmes. There has always been a common assertion from many that patients are left "parked" on methadone. There is no denying that in such cases that patients have been enormously let down and questions will have to be raised as to why this is happening in some parts of the country. The report released today certainly suggests, under 'recommendations 1-2' on page 107, that there should be a focus on increasing the cohesion the different approaches in order to reduce drug misuse. I agree. I have to admit that all of us in healthcare should be doing more to work together in tackling the ongoing issue. Success of those programmes should always be based on how many patients we can get drug free rather than just how many people we can get on it in the first place.

The report mentioned the word "enmity" on page 106. None of use can afford to engulf ourselves in any form of enmity with regard to opioid replacement therapy. Doing this is dangerous and benefits absolutely nobody. And it will certainly hinder any future progress that is needed in order to improve the quality of services that are provided to patients who need all the support necessary in order to help improve their lives.

All patients who use opioid replacement therapy are human beings after all and should never be snubbed by society. Rehabilitating those people who are suffering with substance misuse brings economic benefit, reduces crime and makes our country a much safer place to live.