Methadone therapy open to abuse

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Private clinics should not be allowed to sell methadone to drug addicts to help them wean off from hard drugs.
“It should only be sold by government clinics. It should not be available over the counter at private clinics as this practice can be abused,” Persatuan Pengasih Malaysia president Mohd Yunus Pathi told newsmen yesterday after a Pengasih-organised Aidiladha Korban event where three cows and three sheep were sacrificed.
“Some private clinics do not follow the proper protocol when dispensing methadone, they are only interested in profit-making.
“Methadone alone cannot solve the problem – drug addicts need counselling and support groups as well.
“Also, methadone is only suitable for heroin users to kick their habit. If an addict is a syabu or ‘ice’ user, then methadone is not suitable for that person as it is not an opiate-based drug,” he said, adding that methadone should only be administered in the presence of a doctor.
It was earlier reported that drug addicts were buying methadone from private clinics – not only for themselves but also to sell to fellow addicts.
“As methadone can easily be bought, many addicts might resort to using it as a substitute when they are short on heroin,” Mohd Yunus said.
“But when they have heroin, they go back to it, which defeats the whole purpose of the Methadone Replacement Therapy Programme.”
According to Mohd Yunus, in Hong Kong, a methadone pill is available for less than US$1 (RM3.55), but in Malaysia the price differs from one clinic to another – RM10-RM30 for 80mg-160mg.