Addicts can't afford Methadone

A new study has revealed that methadone is too expensive and is driving some people back to heroin addiction.

The
study, conducted by Dr James Rowe from RMIT University in Melbourne, in
partnership with the Salvation Army has found that the $60 a fortnight
needed to pay for methadone is costing users up to 20% of their
fortnightly income.

In Victoria, where methadone is
only available at pharmacies and is not provided for free at methadone
clinics, those who can’t afford it are turning to prostitution or crime
to continue to pay for their treatment.

Dr Rowe says
that it’s unfair that other health issues, attributed to people’s past
lifestyles, like type 2 diabetes or alcoholism, have their medication
subsidised while heroin addiction does not.

He says the program must be fully subsidised under the PBS in order to stop driving people back to heroin.

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