UK researchers have suggested that intravenous ‘medical’ heroin should be given with medical supervision to hardened addicts. The research included a trial of 127 addicts, out of which many were finally able to drop the use of heroin when aided through withdrawal. All of the addicts included in the study had failed for several months before to stay clean.
A government spokesman stated that they would consider the findings.
About five to ten percent of all heroin addicts fail when treated with conventional treatments, which include the use of methadone.
Those who were part of the trial had been using the drug for about 17 years and had been in and out of treatment for drug use for around ten years. Those in the trial were under the use of methadone treatment, but in addition were still purchasing and using street heroin on a significant ongoing basis.
Researchers from Brighton, South London, and Darlington clinics found that those who were given the ‘medical’ heroin from nurses were much less likely to use street heroin than those that were not. Most improvements were seen within six weeks of starting treatment.
Professor John Strang from King’s College London who was the study leader stated that the supervised programme allows patients to clear their minds and start to think about how they can take responsibility for their lives again, as well as thinking about employment and rejoining their families.
Strang stated that the treatment is meant for use on addicts that ordinary treatments have been proven ineffective for so that they can be placed on a positive constructive recovery trajectory.
He added that the latest trial added to the results of other studies shows that this treatment should be used more often.
