Methadone treatment for drug addiction saves lives and money: report
Posted August 7, 2014 5:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – A report from BC’s medical health officer says the provincial methadone program for treating addictions to heroin, morphine and oxycodone saves both lives and money.
Dr. Perry Kendall’s report says the mortality rate for people in opioid substitution treatment is about half of what it is for those using street heroin.
The report also says the annual per-patient costs for treatment programs in BC is about $4,200 compared with as much as $45,000 in Ontario and the United States for those with untreated opioid addictions.
The provincial treatment program now extends beyond Vancouver with 3,000 pharmacists participating.
The report says almost 16,000 BC residents were involved in the opioid substitution treatment program between 2012 and 2013, a 66 per cent increase from 2007 and 2008.
BC Health Minister Terry Lake says he’s encouraged by the findings in the report.
