TAKING ACTION TO REDUCE SCOTLAND'S DRUG-RELATED DEATHS: The Scottish Executive Response to the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse Drug-related Deaths Working Group, Report and Recommendations

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5. New and Innovative Treatments

Meeting in an office photoRECOMMENDATION 5

The Scottish Executive should develop and fund a co-ordinated process of introduction and evaluation of new or more innovative treatments across Scotland, with the aim of ensuring that substance misusers in all ADAT areas have access to a range of evidence based treatments.

The Executive broadly supports this recommendation but it is important to look at all treatment options available and to ensure that the treatment choice is made by clinicians in full consultation with their clients. The Executive already provides substantial funding so that treatment choices can be developed and tailored to suit local circumstances.

There is some evidence that the introduction of buprenorphine as the preferred treatment in France has resulted in a reduction in drug-related deaths. However, the reduction coincided with the introduction of a harm reduction strategy.

Guidance issued by the Royal College of General Practitioners ( RCGP) on the use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence refers to the Cochrane Review, which evaluated buprenorphine maintenance against placebo and methadone maintenance in retaining patients in treatment and in suppressing illicit drug use. The review concluded that optimal doses of methadone (e.g. 80 to 120 mg) were still the gold standard for maintenance.

TAKING ACTION

  • The Executive works closely with local ADATs to ensure the most effective use of resources for drug treatment and rehabilitation services. Additional funding from 2005-06 was allocated according to proposals submitted from each ADAT on the basis of projected improvements in numbers into treatment, waiting times and the range of services available locally.
  • The Executive will continue to observe the progress of 'heroin prescribing pilots' taking place in England.
  • The Executive will continue to monitor the use of supervised consumption rooms outwith the UK.
  • The Executive will monitor trends in drug-related deaths elsewhere and establish the factors which contribute to a reduction in the number of deaths.

Page updated: Monday, December 12, 2005