Should Heroin be made available on the NHS?

Should heroin be made available on the NHS as a treatment for drug misuse? This was the question put forward by the Cambridgeshire branch of the Royal College of Nursing at National Congress. 

Local Nurse and Branch Secretary, Claire Topham-Brown, lead the debate which asked if an alternative approach should be considered for those drug addicts who are resistant to traditional methods of treatment.  

In 2006 a Home Office report revealed that the economic and social cost of hard drug abuse for England and Wales was more than £15 billion per year.  This figure incorporates the cost of drug-related crime as well as the complex raft of treatments available for substance users.  Furthermore, the results of pilot trials conducted in England show that crimes committed by substance users receiving prescribed heroin dropped by two-thirds after six months.

Carol Evans, RCN Council member for the Eastern Region and Chair of the Cambridgeshire Branch of the RCN is a Substance Misuse Nurse for Young People, she says; “Heroin addiction is a very real and very serious health concern which has widespread, social and economic impact across communities.  It is vital that as nurses, carers and clinicians, we recognise that one approach does not necessarily work for all and as such we have a duty to consider alternatives and more imaginative options”.  

Regional Director of the RCN in the Eastern Region, Karen Webb said; “This is a contentious and emotive issue but one that the RCN quite rightly must explore and discuss all aspects of.  Congress provides a fantastic opportunity for nurses across the country with expertise and experience in this field to contribute and help shape the RCN’s future policy on this”.