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@ Fabian Hamilton
Labour MP for Leeds North East
In light of the successful ten year long Swiss experiment offering maintenance doses of heroin to addicts in clinical settings, isn't it time the UK considered adopting a similar policy here on a larger... Show more »In light of the successful ten year long Swiss experiment offering maintenance doses of heroin to addicts in clinical settings, isn't it time the UK considered adopting a similar policy here on a larger scale? Heroin maintenance therapy has been proven to improve the quality and length of life for heroin addicts as well as drastically cutting down acquisitive crime committed by them to fund their habits. Initiation of new users has also been drastically reduced as the policy of prescription de-glamourises the drug and reduces the demand for the substance illegally. This experiment has also been successful in the Netherlands and Germany has recently voted to extend the policy federally. Show less »
Answered by Fabian Hamilton
I understand the clinical success of the Swiss experiment and the relief it must offer to addicts. However, I am not persuaded of the case for it to become routine. I am concerned about the group dynamic... Show more »I understand the clinical success of the Swiss experiment and the relief it must offer to addicts. However, I am not persuaded of the case for it to become routine. I am concerned about the group dynamic among drug users and the incentive for the criminal fraternity that continually seeks to interest particularly young people to experiment with addictive drugs. Apart from the 'virtual or imagined' pleasures of drug use the real prize is for suppliers to have more desperate customers who will then destroy their lives and resort to criminality in order to feed their addiction. Knowing that the state will then supply drugs as last resort is unlikely in my view to tackle the underlying problems. I would like to see research to look for a cure to addiction - a treatment that would stop the craving and prevent the drug working in the body again. Perhaps that is wishful thinking but it would kill the industry. In the mean time I support the efforts of the police and army worldwide to block trafficking, cut off the supply and imprison all those involved in serious criminality. I also look to see projects to improve transport infrastructure in places like Columbia and Afghanistan so that other cash crops can be grown and marketed and the rule of law applied. Show less »
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