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Monday, June 13, 2005
Can Prescription Heroin Cost Society Less? The British Medical Journal believes the answer is resoundingly yes. In a recent study, prescribing methadone plus heroin to chronic, treatment resistant addicts, is less costly than methadone alone because it reduces criminal behaviour. The study analyzed data from 430 patients over a one year timeframe and involved treatment resistant heroin addicts taking part in methadone maintenance programs in six cities in the Netherlands. Prior to study entry, the heroin addicts frequently engaged in illegal activities to acquire money or drugs. Not surprissingly, the dual prescription of heroin was found to provide a better quality of life measures. And, although the costs of co-prescription were considerably higher, they were offset by lower costs of law enforcement and reduced costs of crime against property. The average total net savings amounted to ~$16,122 per patient per year. While, at first glance, this data may seem positive, however, this still leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Of course the quality of life is better if people are getting the heroin and the methadone. They are getting their drugs for free and justifying it in the name of cost savings. How utterly stupid. Footnote: Medical News Today bmj.com Dean Reese blogs at Todays Democracy. Blogger News Network is advertiser-supported, and your visits to our advertisers help BNN to meet its expenses. Help keep us afloat! posted by BNN Archive at 7:55 PM |
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