Vancouver free herion project can't find enough junkies!

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jdude3

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Free heroin program still looking for addicts
Last updated May 24 2005 08:56 AM PDT
CBC News
VANCOUVER – A new program that would supply free heroin for hardcore addicts in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is having trouble recruiting addicts.

The North American Opiate Medications Initiative (NAOMI) project is being piloted in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto – at a total cost of $8 million.


* LINK: Background on NAOMI program

In Vancouver, officials are looking for 157 participants by November.

They've received about 300 phone calls of inquiry, but NAOMI's lead investigator Dr. Martin Schecter says only 21 people have been found who fit the requirements.

"We're just finding out that the criteria are very restrictive, and we're going to have to work harder to overcome that."

Addicts must have been on heroin for at least five years, must have tried methadone twice without success – and must be older than 25.

Also, the addict cannot currently be on methodone – and cannot have a criminal record.

* FROM OCT. 16, 2003: Heroin clinic provokes debate

Those selected will be given free heroin or an unrestricted amount of methadone for a year in a controlled clinical setting.

Organizers hope that by giving the heroin away, they'll reduce overdoses and HIV infections.

They say the free drugs mean the addicts won't need to turn to crime to pay for the drugs – and will be able to concentrate on counselling to help kick the habit.

Vancouver would be the first Canadian city to start the trial program.

http://vancouver.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=bc_naomi-heroin20050524&ref=rss
 
Those are some really strict criteria. Why older than 25? Id say that the majority of addicts that need help are under 25. And 5 years to be addicted to heroin is a long time to either be alive, still addicted, or not in jail. Seems like this would work better if the criteria were not so restrictive.
 
It's a tricky project. The program has taken a lot of criticism, both from rightwing politicians and from some other addiction health workers and researchers.

I've heard Dr. Shechter speak when he's bee in Toronto, and he's great and there seem to be some really good folks involved in the project. There area lot of people at various levels of government or public institutions (police and hospitals mostly) that are either wary of NAOMI or totally against it.

Because it is so innovative, and possibly precedent setting, it's important that the study be done right and the data as legitimate as possible. I saw a young woman being interviewed on the CBC last night who complained about he age restriction -- I think she was 21 and been using since she was 14. But the study is about older longer term users...

Let's just hope it's allowed to work.

Edited to add: I was unaware of the no criminal record restriction. STOOPID.
 
yep, u wont find many people that have been using heroin hardcore for over 5 years that dont have some type of criminal record..also, how do you prove u have been using for more than 5 years??can yu use street heroin in addition to the 3 clinic shots??there would no way to tell so...

i dunno where i stand when it comes to legalizing heroin...being a cop, or involved in goverment i could totally understand them looking down at this sort of thing..
 
well, law enforcements job is to get heroin off the street, whethr it be users or dealers or whatever..years and years of battling this problem, and yet now the government is seetting up a clinic s addicts can use legally!!!from a cops perspective i can see why they would be like WTF...in their eyes its like the city is giving up on the drug problem...

hey im for legalizing so..l
 
Jesus, I'd like to move to vancouver! Why doesn't the us have this kind of drug policy?
 
are the restrictions for testing only or will the apply once it passs and they are allowed to use this program on a regular basis?

I'm sure the would lower the requirments, but being it's in the "beta" mode, I can understand the ridiculous requirements.
 
Also, the addict cannot currently be on methodone – and cannot have a criminal record.
Click to expand...

LoL... Did they forget they were dealing with heroin addicts or what? If anything they SHOULD give it to the people with criminal records so it keeps them from robbing people on the street. Shit.
 
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