Free methadone call gets mixed response
Mark Smith
08Jul08
A CONTROVERSIAL push to make methadone treatments free for heroin addicts has been met with mixed reactions by Whittlesea health providers.
The debate has split providers dispensing the drug-replacement substance, raising discussion on whether the service would help those unable to afford the $30-a-week service or open the floodgates to users looking for a cheap "top-up".
The latest push comes from RMIT University's Dr James Rowe, who argues that methadone pharmacy dispensing fees should be subsidised by the Federal Government after his study found that many users struggling to meet the cost of methadone programs were relapsing into heroin addiction, crime and sex work after being cut off from treatment for bad debts.
Methadone is dispensed free under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, but carries a $5-a-day pharmacy dispensing fee.
Program users must usually pay upfront to use the service and can be cut off if they fall behind in payments, or miss dosage on a consecutive number of days.
Dr James claimed that many users on limited incomes were having their treatment discontinued against their will because they were unable to keep up with the dispensing fee.
The claims were backed by Plenty Valley Community Health psychologist Raul Foglia, who said he had seen the hardships of those struggling to pay first-hand. The drug and alcohol division clinical co-ordinator said many people couldn't afford the $30 a week.
"It may not seem like much to the Government, but it's a massive amount for our clients," he said.
Mr Foglia said the benefits of the program extended beyond methadone.
"It's about seeing clients regularly at the service," he said.
"With regular contact we can do a lot more with harm-minimisation work."
But Lalor pharmacist John Chapkoun fears a free service would be "detrimental" to the intentions of the program, attracting some users looking to "top up their heroin use".
He said the problem was that some people on the program were still using heroin. "It's better for them if we are stricter," he said.
"It helps bring them into line as they don't have $5 spare (a day) to waste on heroin."
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon failed to respond to Leader questions on the issue.
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