Publisher's Synopsis
Opiate dependence is a major public health problem which incurs high social and criminal costs. Efforts to reduce the impact of illicit heroin use have largely centred on drug substitution treatment, most commonly the prescription of methadone. The prescribing of heroin has also been considered.;Prescribing heroin is controversial and elicits much debate both nationally and internationally. However, there is now considerable political interest in the expansion of heroin prescribing in the UK, and the Home Office and the Department of Health are currently exploring options. The UK continues to be highly unusual from an international perspective and until recently, Britain was in the unique position of being the only country where pharmaceutical heroin could be prescribed for the treatment of opiate dependence. Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Australia however have all either undertaken a heroin trial or are planning one.;This book reviews current evidence and considers the benefits from an expansion of heroin prescription in the UK. It outlines the history and current practice of heroin prescribing, the legislative and policy framework, the feasibility of expanding its provision, the possible impacts of making it more readily available, and suggests who would most benefit from receiving a heroin prescription.
