BMJ 1996;313:45 (6 July)

Letters

Directly observed treatment for tuberculosis

Could be provided by community pharmacists supervising consumption of methadone

EDITOR,--Increasing rates of tuberculosis are cause for concern.1 Since increasing rates are reported in homeless people and those with HIV infection, intravenous drug users are at risk. While there is no evidence of high rates of tuberculosis in British drug users, rising rates have been reported in other European countries.2 Britain needs effective strategies for prevention and for treating those affected. A drug user with an unstable lifestyle is unlikely to comply with six months of oral antituberculous chemotherapy. Strategies to improve compliance will be crucial in ensuring that those affected are properly treated.

The provision of methadone for harm reduction in drug users has grown rapidly in the past decade. There is good evidence of its efficacy in reducing heroin use, injecting behaviour, and criminal activity, and this form of treatment is well established.3 Most people who are prescribed . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Directly observed therapy for tuberculosis
Dale I Morse
BMJ 1996 312: 719-720. [Extract] [Full Text]

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