EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Responsible introduction of heroin treatment

Responsible introduction of heroin treatment

Introduction

The Committee on Introductory Aspects of Treatment of Heroin Addicts (De Commissie Invoeringsaspecten Behandeling Heroïneverslaving (CIBH)) has written a proposal for the responsible introduction of heroin treatment in the Netherlands. The conditions under which the heroin treatment is to take place are included in the proposal.

Description

The number of heroin addicts in our country has been fairly stable for a number of years. Methadone programmes are part of the usual assistance offered. However, the maintenance dose of methadone is insufficient for a substantial group of some 8000 addicts, although this methadone maintenance does bring them into contact with relief services. Heroin treatment is an exceptional intervention and as such does not form an extention to the broad supply of care facilities which is available for all. In this report the Committee on Introductory Aspects of Treatment of Heroin Addicts (CIBH) investigated how a sustainable and qualitatively responsible method of heroin treatment can be introduced in the Netherlands.

Conclusions

Controlled treatment with heroin results in health benefits for long term heroin addicts. Patients who have undergone this type of treatment are in the course of time physically and psychologically better off. This was the conclusion of an experiment carried out between 1998 and 2001 in six big cities.
The treatment is aimed at Dutch heroin addicts using methadone. In addition they should be classed as therapy resistent. The objective of the proposed treatment is to improve their physical and mental health and their social and societal behaviour. The latter can have a positive effect upon the nuisance caused by some patients in public.
The committee anticipates approx. one thousand patients each year. Treatment units in eleven regions will reach these patients as quickly as possible. More units may be needed in some of the bigger cities. The committee concludes that units must treat at least 25 patients and no more than between 75 and 100 patients.
Given the expertise that is required, the committee suggests that the treatment units be brought under the usual system of care for addicts. This will also effect costs favourably.
The annual costs of the proposed treatment will run to approximately fifteen million euro. However, there are also benefits for the patients involved and for society. A careful estimate suggests that the benefits will outweigh the costs. The committee suggests the financing be integrated in one single statutory framework. The General Act on Exceptional Medical Expenses (AWBZ) currently offers the best basic premises for this.

Contact info

Central Committee on the Treatment of Heroin Addicts (CCBH)
ccbh@med.uu.nl

Publication date

15/05/2003

Researcher

Committee on Introductory Aspects of Treatment of Heroin Addicts (CIBH)

Links

Central Committee on the Treatment of Heroin Addicts (CCBH)

Extra care. A proposal for the introduction of a sustainable, qualitatively responsible, medical heroin treatment (PDF, Dutch, 608KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services