A world leader in addiction studies based at The University of Queensland has published a paper in the Medical Journal Australia calling for a trial using the legal drug hydromorphone in place of heroin.
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience`s (IMB) Director of Public Policy and Ethics Professor Wayne Hall said the use of hydromorphone had many advantages over heroin in any study investigating the effectiveness of injectable opiate maintenance as a form of treatment for opioid addiction.
"Heroin maintenance has been suggested as a treatment for addicts who have not sought treatment or those who have failed at other forms of treatment like methadone maintenance," Professor Hall said.
"Advocates of heroin as a treatment argue that it would increase the number of addicts in treatment and reduce heroin use, drug-related crime and deaths due to overdose.
"To test these claims we suggest trialing with hydromorphone because the similarity of effects for the user, its status as a registered drug, the fact that it can easily be tested for, and that it lacks the political symbolism of heroin are all factors likely to ensure the accuracy of a trial."
Professor Hall said hydromorphone can already be prescribed for medical purposes and can be used in clinical trials. This avoids the need to change Federal legislation (which has so far prevented the use of heroin) and the need for oversight of heroin importation and distribution by the International Narcotics Control Board.
"The simplicity of testing also allows us to establish whether a subject is topping up with heroin while not under supervision, therefore giving the study more credibility and negating a major criticism levelled at the Swiss heroin trial," Professor Hall said.
"Hydromorphone lacks the strong political overtones and media sensationalism associated with a heroin trial.
"Heroin maintenance as a treatment of last resort may have a valuable role in the treatment of addiction but we need to thoroughly evaluate it before we implement it. We believe the use of hydromorphone is an elegant solution to the problems of a heroin trial."
Professor Hall is the Director of Public Policy and Ethics at the IMB one of Australia`s leading research institutes linking cutting-edge bioscientific discovery with state-of-the-art facilities. Prior to his appointment at the IMB Professor Hall was the Executive Officer of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre for 12 years.
Media for further information call Russell Griggs (07 3365 1805) or Helen Weatherley (0421 056 980)
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