Prison addicts get drug dispensers

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:37 AM EDT

Article Source: Independent.ie - Frontpage RSS Feed

world-news, failure, machine, fingerprint, methadone, addict-prisoners, drug-dispeners

Prisoner drug addicts are being given a heroin substitute -- through vending machines installed in jails, it was revealed yesterday. A £4m (€4.6m) scheme will see machines automatically dispensing methadone installed in half the 140 prisons in England and Wales.

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{"commentId":8241953,"authorDomain":"maddad0467"}

maddad

The machines, which allow prisoners to access the drug directly by scanning their fingerprint or iris, are already operating in 57 prisons. Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve, who uncovered details of the scheme, said it amounted to an "admission of failure" in attempts to get addicts clean.

{"commentId":8241953,"threadId":"627661","contentId":"3029726","authorDomain":"maddad0467"}

1 vote

#1 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:38 AM EDT

{"commentId":8248585,"authorDomain":"h-kuehn"}

Holly-348328

I was reading an article seeded yesterday about the rationing of healthcare that used the UK as an example. It basically stated that under the socialized medicine program, certain measures may not be taken to increase the lifespan of certain individuals because of the cost/benefit analysis. If I were a citizen of the UK, I would be screaming mad that money is being spent on prisoners' methadone instead of a productive citizen's healthcare.

That being said, I do believe that getting addicts clean is a losing battle. All you have to do is look at celebrities battling addiction to see that. So, what do we do with them? It probably does make more sense to give them the methadone so they don't steal to get their drugs and use dirty needles, thus increasing the infection rates of Hepatits and AIDS. I know in the Netherlands they have clinics addicts can go to because the rationale is that they are going to do it anyway, so let's at least make our other citizens safe and keep them from spreading disease.

{"commentId":8248585,"threadId":"627661","contentId":"3029726","authorDomain":"h-kuehn"}

1 vote

#2 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:49 PM EDT

{"commentId":8249650,"authorDomain":"maddad0467"}

maddad

That being said, I do believe that getting addicts clean is a losing battle.

i agree with this statement, when the addict does not want to stop. breaking an addiction requires first the desire to be clean, sober...whatever the word. if the person wants to use the drug more than they want to quit it is a loosing battle and imo a money pit with no return. on the other hand, once a person finds themselves at a crossroads and wants to end the cycle of destruction, treatment is not only possible but many times a success. i am not an expert, but it seems in the case of methadone...(and i was addicted to oxys after my 3rd back surgery and got off of them eventually, the methadone road in my case just prolonged the pain of withdrawal)...it seems to just substitute one drug for another, same chemical compound.

{"commentId":8249650,"threadId":"627661","contentId":"3029726","authorDomain":"maddad0467"}

2 votes

#3 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":8251601,"authorDomain":"h-kuehn"}

Holly-348328

Agreed. That's interesting because my poison was Percocet after my hysterectomy. I never got methadone; I just stopped taking them and I was lucky enough not to get withdrawal symptoms that badly. Good for you for winning a tough battle!

{"commentId":8251601,"threadId":"627661","contentId":"3029726","authorDomain":"h-kuehn"}

1 vote

#3.1 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":8254425,"authorDomain":"steve-olver"}

Steve Olver Sheridan Wyoming

Taxpayers should not get the bill for herione addicts.Methadone is soooo much like herione that an addict will not recover using it(methadone) it relieves withdrawal because the body thinks its herion. Sudden herione withdrawal almost NEVER results in death. The health of the addict may kill the addict when the dope is not available. I am a recovering addict . Not herione. My recovery is from stopping use and no matter what takes place to not use dope again. I also quit tobacco both chew and smokes after many,many years.It wouldnt make much sense to quit and then smoke tobacco to relieve my symptoms. The following is a fact. When a person is determined to quit the filth of addiction to ANYTHING, The person will quit. Nothing special about my recovery. I was sick of and disgusted with addiction and the personal destruction it causes. Yes some people choose death and destruction over cessation.

{"commentId":8254425,"threadId":"627661","contentId":"3029726","authorDomain":"steve-olver"}

2 votes

#4 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:41 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"627661","isPrivate":false}

MADDAD

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