Page 918 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 17 June 1992
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low cost service to the methadone dependent person. Given the 6.5 per cent decrease in general purpose funding handed down by the Commonwealth last Friday, it is difficult to expect that there will be any substantial new public funding for the methadone program at Woden Valley Hospital. Distribution through community pharmacies represents a real alternative solution. It actually adds to the current program.
Most importantly, clients like it. Pharmacies are not institutions. The treatment that they are able to provide is not intrusive. The people receiving treatment are able to meet and mix with other people. They are treated like real human beings with problems and feelings, like all other members of the community who have a medical problem. They strike up and maintain good relationships. They feel that the chance of relapsing at a community pharmacy is demonstratively less likely than is the case at an institution. Recently a study was carried out in Victoria of 234 methadone addicts who were receiving their methadone through pharmacy. One of the questions in this survey was, "What would you do if there was no program available through pharmacies?". Forty-four per cent of this 234 sample - a fairly big sample in this sort of arena - said that they would go back to using heroin. Twenty-one per cent said that they would seek their methadone through an institution or clinic. Four per cent even claimed that they would suicide.
A clinic or institution was seen by these people as a bad alternative, since these places were often difficult to get to. It was said to be difficult to hold down a job, given the style of treatment available at these centres. If space was available, these people indicated that they would much prefer local supply. In the same survey 101 of the 234 respondents had actually spent time in gaol because of their use of drugs. Only nine of the respondents now admitted being involved in any type of illegal activity. In fact, 93 of the respondents were now in full-time employment. This survey categorically shows the very real place that pharmacy has in the methadone program. Australia-wide, over 800 pharmacies are involved every day in providing methadone through programs in their various States.
It was over two years ago that discussions started in the ACT about using pharmacies as methadone distribution points. Indeed, Mr Berry announced details of a pilot scheme in August last year. It was said at that stage that the extension of the program to pharmacies would allow the number of places on Canberra's methadone program to almost double, from 107 to 200 - something that is sorely needed. Currently the waiting list for the methadone program in the ACT can be up to three months. It is totally unsatisfactory to have a person in crisis present at the methadone clinic only to be told, "We will assess you now, but unless you are pregnant or have HIV you will have to go on the waiting list". This is especially soul destroying, given the monumental decision that the addict has just made to seek a course of treatment and to sort out his or her often shattered life.
Unfortunately, the necessary legislation to allow the extension of the methadone program to pharmacies was never brought forward in the last Assembly, and it is this legislation that I present today. The legislation that I present today was foreshadowed last year and the year before as well. This legislation in no way pre-empts the findings of the Select Committee on Drugs, which will bring down its report on methadone, hopefully, in August. What this legislation does is allow a platform whereby any decisions that are made can actually be put into place.
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