Needle and condom plan put on hold

The plan to give away needles and condoms to drug addicts has been put on hold.
However, the pilot programme to use methadone, a synthetic drug, to treat hardcore addicts will start next month.
These were among the decisions made at a National Anti-Drug Committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi here yesterday.
National Drug Agency director-general Datuk Hamzah Abdullah said the plan to provide free needles and condoms to addicts has been deferred to next year.
He added that the plan would be implemented as it was based on harm reduction, which was more acceptable to the ulama.
“This is not seen by the ulama as something that will encourage drug addiction,” Hamzah said at the end of the two-hour meeting at the Internal Affairs Ministry here.
On the methadone programme, he said the Government would allocate RM2.39mil for a six-month pilot project.
The Government has appointed 10 clinics for the pilot project, each capable of handling 120 addicts for the duration of the project.
“Strict protocol will be introduced to prevent abuse.
“Only hardcore addicts who are currently undergoing treatment in community centres and receive full emotional support from their families will be considered.
“The addicts will not be allowed to take away the methadone prescribed to them and will be required to take the dosage on the spot at the selected clinic,” Hamzah said.
Source