There's something positive in the matter of dealing with drug addiction that isn't better appreciated by most people - Drug Substitution Therapy (DST). For the benefit of the layman, this is in using medication to help get drug addicts off opiates, especially through the prescription of methadone and buprenorphine (subutex/subuxone).
Prior to 2003, addicts were expected to "just heck it". Many, if not most, couldn't... Or, after a lot of pain, they might get off the physical addiction after undergoing withdrawal after abstaining for a couple of weeks. But then most would relapse again. And so the cycle continued...
Fortunately, the government
finally decided to listen to people who have a lot better understanding of the problem instead of letting damn politicians and armchair `experts' decide on policy. And it had indeed done the right thing, if this report in the
New Straits Times accurately reflects the situation on the ground:
NST Online 'Methadone does help addicts'Based on its data, the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) said "getting hardcore drug addicts to give up the habit by administering methadone as a substitute has a 92 per cent success rate.The agency believes "this treatment works in preventing relapses among older and heavier drug users."
Some people might argue that "
using methadone is just substituting one drug with another". And the problem with this is... WHAT? Go back to the old, ultra-conservative policy of not providing any medication "and instead strengthening their
pegangan agama dan kerohaniah"? That's vague - how about something specific? If you can't provide a better - and proven - alternative, then just let the experts get on with their work.
"It costs a lot of money!", others might exclaim. Okay, how much? Actually, the cost of methadone is very low comparatively. Or, do you consider housing addicts in pusat serenti and prisons cheaper?...because that's where many will be had it not been for the DST programme.
Another argument is:
"If this programme is effective, why are there still addicts everywhere?"
Now this isn't realistic - if you are hoping for zero addiction to illegal drugs, then you'll have to wait until Doomsday. See it this way instead - even if you say addicts are still around, just imagine what it would be like had it not been for this programme. If you see 100 addicts now, without this programme it might be 500. Or more. Who knows? But what is sure is that it won't be the same, or less.
Here's the full item from
NST. See also
Methadone - Rawatan Penagihan Dadah at the AADK's blog.
2010/02/13
PUTRAJAYA: Getting hardcore drug addicts to give up the habit by administering methadone as a substitute has a 92 per cent success rate. The National Anti-Drug Agency believes this treatment works in preventing relapses among older and heavier drug users. Its deputy director-general (operations), Prof Dr Mahmood Nazar Mohamed, said 617 drug users, registered with the agency, were undergoing the Methadone Drug Substitution Therapy (MDST). He said the success rate was seen in the last 18 months. Dr Mahmood dispelled the negative perception of the treatment -- which suppresses the craving for the "high" found in heroin and also helps to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases through needle sharing -- that it was supporting the problem rather than helping the addicts. It was reported that a large majority of doctors who treated drug users stopped offering the treatment because people grew suspicious when drug addicts came to clinics to get their dose of methadone. "This is a treatment. It is to make sure a person stops taking illegal drugs and is able to go to work, raise a family and continue living a normal life."
According to Dr Mahmood, Nada selects the people for the therapy and refers the list to a doctor, who would then make the final decision.
After the first dose is prescribed, a pharmacist takes over the administering of methadone while the doctor monitors all users every few months to determine the required dosage.
He said drug users who were taking methadone could continue with the treatment for an indefinite time frame.
"Sometimes they are on it for life. If the person is a hardcore user, it is difficult to get rid of the habit completely. But there is a small group which eventually ask to stop methadone treatment."
He said methadone would not be prescribed to a young person, who was usually told to go on a "drug abstinence" treatment for two years.
"This is like taking medicine for diabetes. You can't stop a diabetic from taking sugar, but you can give him medication to control his sugar level."
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