Using Methadone

Methadone Can Reduce Cravings But Not Cure Addiction

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- The use of the synthetic drug methadone is a method to reduce the cravings experienced by drug addicts but is not a cure for addiction, director-general of the National Drugs Agency Datuk Hamzah Abdullah said.

He said that the use of methadone was not new and had been used by private clinics and private drug rehabilitation centres in the country.

"Methadone helps to reduce the addict's cravings for several hours and during this time he can carry out work or any activity normally," he told Bernama, here Monday.

He was asked to comment on the statement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the use of methadone to tackle drug addiction in the country.

He said that if an addict took methadone, it has to be continuously taken as a replacement for heroin, morphine or the like.

"However, the amount will depend on the level of addiction and will gradually reduce," he said.

Hamzah said taking of methadone would also give a choice to the addict of continuing to stay at home instead of going op a rehab centre.

"They just need to go to a private clinic to get their supply of methadone when they have cravings," he said.

He said this way they might not face society's stigma of drug addicts.

At rehab centres, the psycho-social or "cold turkey" approach was used to rid them of the problem, said Hamazah.

Meanwhile, when contacted Monday, the chairman of the Former Drug Rehabilitation Centre Inmates Association (Prokim), Aminudin Ismail supported the proposal by Najib to use methadone to overcome the problem of drug addiction.

-- BERNAMA