Local addiction experts eagerly awaiting new treatment drug

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – With drug overdoses, especially those involving fentanyl, taking a lot of lives, local physicians are looking forward to the approval of another form of treatment for addicts.

It’s called Probuphine and it would be implanted in the addict to cut down on cravings for more illicit drugs.

Methadone and Suboxone are typically the drugs currently administered to wean addicts off of opioids, but they need to be taken daily, which requires frequent visits to a pharmacist.

The Probuphine implant, on the other hand, is good for six months.

That’s a great benefit, says Dr. Jenny Melamed of the Alliance Medical Clinic in Surrey.

But it’s not for everyone, she cautions. Recovering addicts are like people with diabetes. Simply taking a drug is not going accomplish a cure. Treatment, she stresses, comes with lifestyle changes, counselling and support.

“It is not for Mr. Smith who walks into your office and he’s done no other work to address his addiction. It is specifically for people who are stable in their recovery. It is a great drug.”

She points out, though, the government won’t cover the cost of Probuphine, at least not for those not on government assistance.

“So what I’m saying to my patients is ‘Start putting some money way. It’s going to be worth it.'”

But she says the amount charged for Probuphine cannot be any higher than for the equivalent amount for similar drugs already on the market. And she stresses to her clients that because Probuphine is only administered once every six months, they’ll save money on pharmacy dispensing fees, which are charged everytime a prescription is filled.

Probuphine could be approved in the States as early as May. Approval by Health Canada is also believed to be imminent.