Addicts face fingerprint test to get methadone at chemist

RECOVERING drug addicts are having their photos and fingerprints taken at an Edinburgh pharmacy in the first move of its kind in the city to prevent methadone getting into the wrong hands.

Clark Pharmacy, on Lindsay Road, Leith, has installed a fingerprint reader to identify patients with controlled prescriptions.

It has been designed primarily for the heroin substitute methadone, but could be used to monitor other drugs such as morphine and anti-depressants.

The voluntary system sees customers having their fingerprints and photographs stored electronically to allow their identity to be verified each time they visit to pick up the prescription.

NHS Lothian today said the move would improve the security of methadone prescribing.

The "MethaMeasure" machine was installed by East Kilbride-based pharmacy wholesalers The Munro Group. The firm's director, Stephen Dickson, said it was the first of its kind in Edinburgh.

He said: "Dispensing methadone is a dangerous activity. It is easy to make a mistake and be fooled by someone pretending to be someone else. The MethaMeasure system prevents this."

The information commissioner's office, which deals with issues surrounding data protection, has sought an assurance that privacy safeguards are put in place and that all staff receive training.

However, Mr Dickson insisted the sensor stored only a very small amount of data. He added: "Even if the police were to impound a system, it is impossible to generate fingerprints from the data stored.

"All data stored in pharmacy computer systems is covered by the Data Protection Act 1998 and as such cannot be released without extremely exceptional circumstances. The fingerprinting system is not compulsory and patients can still ask to bring in their ID with them instead."

Further concerns have been raised by the father of a 28-year-old methadone patient.

The father, who didn't want to be named, said: "When my son got there about 15 or 20 methadone users were waiting and they weren't happy. The chemist never even told them who was wanting that information – the police, NHS or the chemist themselves. It raises all kinds of privacy issues."

Pat Murray, NHS Lothian's director of pharmacy, said: "This development could contribute to increasing security around methadone dispensing."

No-one from Clark Pharmacy was willing to comment today.