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Gary Hayes, Editor The Government wants GPs to be paid an extra £350 for every person they prescribe methadone to. The GP contract is hailed by the Government as the solution, while GPs see it as recognition for the hard work they have been doing for years â without recognition or proper payment. The new contract is seen as a way of bringing in new GPs and enticing them to take advantage of the training and joined-up services that are increasingly in place to support them and improve the level of care and health for their patients. Now that we have the plan, what about the action? Typically there are critics. Some believe that treating people with opiate or any other substance problems is a general health issue and should be treated as such. They believe GPs should not be encouraged to treat addiction as a speciality, requiring that all GPs be properly trained and prepared to prescribe methadone, or any other drug, to help addicts. They also point out that the GP contract may perversely give GPs the option to drop out of methadone schemes altogether by making it a âno cash, no prescribingâ kind of deal. Our special report uncovers this very problem. We investigate the row over contract payments that is threatening not only one of the worldâs most renowned GP methadone programmes, but is putting peopleâs health and lives at risks. Happily there is a bright side. We offer ailing GPs a tonic in the shape of specialist nurses who, Hannah Jacksley and colleagues argue, offer an effective solution to addiction treatment nerves. We also offer a rare glimpse into the little known world of substance misuse services in Russia. Anita Green and David Holloway bring you an exclusive story of British professionals making a difference in St Petersburg with their unique staff and idea exchange. We also cross the channel for a look at Dutch outreach teams that are taking a more than proactive approach to drug and alcohol users in Amsterdam. Who says the Dutch are softies? Rosemary Kent tells us why there is no stopping motivational interviewing in our âApproaches to addictions seriesâ and we get the low-down on slowing down methadone maintenance from Jez Thompson and Louise Tiffen. Finally, as if drug users donât have it hard enough, we find out just what international terrorists and drug users in Swansea have in common in âPrejudice against drug usersâ. Contact: gary@drugsandalcoholtoday.com D r u g s a n d A l c o h o l To d a y ⢠Volume 4 Issue 2 ⢠July 2004 © Pavilion
Drugs and Alcohol Today – Pier Professional
Published: Jul 1, 2004
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