19-02-2008

ATF Program

Ross Colquhoun (right) from the Addiction Treatment Foundation, and Luana (left), a treated addict, attended to speak about Naltrexone vs Methadone in addiction treatment. Barry Thompson thanked them for their time and thought-provoking presentation.

Ross Colquhoun

• Thank you for the invitation to come and speak to the Club. I've spoken at a few Rotary meetings since I joined the Rotary Club of South Sydney a few years ago.
• The Addiction Treatment Foundation (ATF) was started in 1999.
• On the 7th of March, a group of musicians will be fund-raising for the ATF at a hotel in Balmain and are hoping to raise about $15,000.
• The ATF has received $50,000 from the Proceeds of Crime Act.
• The purpose of speaking tonight is to raise awareness of who heroin addicts are, and to speak about the ATF.
• The ATF is a non-profit organisation, dedicated to providing effective, holistic treatment for opiate addiction. It is concerned not to replace one addiction with another, wanting people to be free of chemical dependency.
• Addiction is a disease that goes far beyond self-indulgence and often leads to death. Heroin dependency has the lowest long-term recovery rate of any drug.
• A new treatment using Naltrexone is very safe and non-toxic, and blocks the effects of opiates. It stops carving for drugs and alcohol.
• The direction taken by the Department of Health is harm-minimisation, rather than getting users off drugs.
• The rights of drug users are better protected using Naltrexone.
• Naltrexone is not a miracle cure.
• The average age of people in treatment is 29.
• After 12 months of treatment, over 70% are still off drugs if they are using Naltrexone implants.
• According to a NEPOD (National Evaluation of Pharmacotherapies for Opioid Dependence) study, rapid detox using Naltrexone is both effective (nearly 100%) and cost-effective.
• Holistic programs look at both psychological and physical aspects of addition.
• Naltrexone implants can ensure compliance and abstinence on the program.
• Part of the program is 3 months of out-patient counselling with family support.
• Naltrexone precipitates severe withdrawal symptoms, which last for a few days.
• The program cost $5,000 per person, including assessments, detox, implants, and counselling. The Naltrexone implants are half of that cost. This is very cost-effective compared to long-term methadone maintenance.
• 44,000 people in Australia are on Methadone.
• A third of a normal dose of Methadone would kill a non-addicted person.
• Naltrexone is ideal for unsupported people, for example, those leaving jail.
• For alcohol, we combine Antabuse with a Naltrexone implant to cover both the craving and counter the effect of using.

Luana - Treated Addict

• I was 32 when I started using after getting involved with a drug user. I have 16 year-old and a 3½ year old daughters; the younger was removed by DOCS.
• My first case worker was very judgmental, but my second did a restoration plan, and my younger child is now back with me.
• If I had been told what living with Methadone was really like, I would never have done it.
• Through doing the rapid detox, I have regained control of my life.
• The Government charges $180 per month for Naltrexone, but will give you all of the Methadone that you need.
• Naltrexone isn't a miracle drug, but it's the right drug for me.

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Last changed: 03:21:28 04-10-2008