The Swiss heroin trials

BMJ 1998;317:1011 ( 10 October )

Letters

The Swiss heroin trials

Trial is needed comparing decriminalisation of heroin with existing policy of prohibition

Further studies of heroin treatment are needed

Authors' reply

Trial is needed comparing decriminalisation of heroin with existing policy of prohibition

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ Farrell and Hall seem to have misunderstood the importance of the Swiss trials of heroin on prescription for addicts.¹The call for a clinical trial of heroin versus methadone is irrelevantas these drugs cater for different segments of the addict population;no one suggests stopping methadone clinics. It is self evidentthat prescribing heroin will attract addicts who need the "buzz"and will not switch to methadone. These include dealers and pushersand those who succeed in obtaining funds through crime. Methadoneclinics attract newer rather than hard core addicts. A logicalpolicy for decriminalising heroin under medical supervision wouldhave four steps: giving prescriptions of heroin to all addictsin or out of prison (which would gradually put criminals out ofbusiness); providing methadone clinics for those who will switch;weaning the addicts off the drugs; and providing a follow up programmeto minimise relapse. The . . . [Full text of this article]