British Prisons Dispense Self-Service Methadone
How’s this for a snack-time quandary: Doritos, Snickers, or methadone? The synthetic opiate is commonly used to quash the cravings of heroin junkies, but dispensing the stuff involves red tape, and there’s always the risk that human error will lead to an overdose. So prisons in the UK are turning the task over to vending machines. Automated dispensers scan the fingerprints or irises of preauthorized cons, then squirt an individualized dose of the syrupy goo into a plastic cup. A watchful health care professional makes sure the prisoners swallow instead of cheek-pouching it for resale. “The treatment can only be given to the right person, at the right time, in the right dose,” declares an official statement from the UK Department of Health.
At least 57 lockups have installed the machines so far. Conservative critics, of course, are in a tizzy. At a total price of some $6.5 million, they point out, installing the dispensers costs more than is being spent on abstinence programs. “Drug dependency is a real driver to crime,” says member of Parliament Gary Streeter. “Providing methadone dispensers is merely managing the problem rather than solving it.” Sheesh. Next thing you know, these killjoys will be trying to take away conjugal visits.
#1 by ruthann on December 22, 2009 - 6:27 am
There is never going to be a “SOLUTION” to drug addiction. I can’t beleive how stupid some ppl are! As long as there is drugs out there, legal prescription medications or illegal street drugs, there will always be a drug problem.
I am glad to see that the prisions are at least acknowledging this and trying to “MANAGE” the problem rather than let it continue on at it’s full throttle pace.
Would I rather see traditional treatments (non medicated assited) work?? YES! But from my own personal experience that isn’t always the case, and I am so glad there are programs like methadone treatment and suboxone treatment to help those of us who traditional treatment did fail. Otherwise I would probably be dead or one of those in prison.