Going cold turkey is worth a try

Published on Sunday 25 May 2008 21:16

WHAT part should abstinence programmes have in tackling drug addiction, and should the Scottish Government provide support? Such has been the remorseless increase in drug and alcohol abuse that the need for a radical rethink of strategy has become imperative.

Until recently, the prevailing wisdom has been that abstinence was impractical for drug addicts. Resorting to methadone became increasingly common, on the grounds that this at least helped to stabilise addicts. But methadone dependence has soared. Similarly, on alcohol abuse, the emphasis has been on drinking "sensibly" with little attempt to tackle resulting relapse. Alcohol dependence has rocketed.

As conventional approaches have had, at best, only limited success, the revamp of the administration's drug strategy, due this week, presents an opportunity for a serious rethink. Neil McKeganey, Professor of Drugs Misuse Research at Glasgow University, wants to see a two-year limit set for those on methadone. Methadone would still have a role to play, but we have far too many addicts on it for far too long, many of whom are continuing to use illegal drugs.

Elsewhere, a modest but significant development is the recent launch of LEAP, the Lothian and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme. Such initiatives should be encouraged and supported as part of a wider policy armoury to combat addiction.