When we are wired to opiates (heroin, morphine, oxycontins, percs) we need them in order to function.  We get very sick without them.  The problems of being "addicted" basically come from the fact that the drugs are pretty much illegal for us.  Therefore, we have to go through lots of hassles and dangers having to get the drugs we need from the illicit market.  They cost a lot, they may be of questionable quality, they are illegal, and there are dangerous health problems (such as HIV, HCV, and overdose).  

Although the propaganda paints us are losers and junkies, in fact, a whole lot of problems for addicts, as well as society because of heroin addicts, can be lessened when we are legally able to access opiates from doctors or clinics.  Although this flys in the face of the prevailing war on drugs (users) mentality, it fits quick well with common sense and pragmatic social policy.

Methadone

As of 2004, methadone maintenance is the only legally available long-term (more than 180 days) opiate treatment available in Canada.

Pilot projects for one year heroin maintenance are in the works in three major cities, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

Buprenorphine is only available on special permission, but is likely to become another treatment option within a short time.

Below are links to some of the key documents regarding methadone treatment in Canada.  If you have any concerns about the practices in methadone clinics, you should consult these documents as a baseline to compare what is recommended. 

The guidelines in these documents are not the be-all or end-all of methadone practice.   In fact, they can and should be improved on.  However, for the time being they should be considered the basic minimum standards that methadone clinics in Canada should be adhering to.  Methadone patients need to formally complain about clinics who are not following these basic standards.

Best Practices - Methadone  - Office of Canada's Drug Strategy, Health Canada, 2002

Methadone Maintenance Guidelines - The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 2001

Dispensing Methadone for Treatment  - Drugs Directorate Guidelines, Health Canada, 1994 (PDF format)

Use of Opiods in Management of Opiod Dependence - Therapeutic Products Directorate Guidelines, Health Canada, 1992

Mainstreaming Methadone Maintenance: the role of the family physician

Heroin

NAOMI study website - Canada, documents and video clips, 2005 ( username: naomi1  password: health )

NAOMI Project  - synopsis of Heroin Pilot Project, North American Opiate Medication Initiative, 2004

NAOMI Project Background - presentation by Benedikt Fischer, lead researcher with NAOMI Project, 2002

Heroin Assisted Treatment - The Swiss Experience, Report to Canadian Senate, 2001

Swiss Trials - External Review Panel's Findings, 1999

Prescribing Heroin - British Experience, 2003

Netherlands Clinical Studies - various studies up to 2003

Burprenorphine

Austrialian study 2003