Countries that provide
heroin
as an opiate substitution treatment
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Germany
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Spain
Switzerland
UK
Countries that provide morphine
and/or codeine
as an opiate substitution therapy
Austria
France
Luxembourg
Switzerland
The German parliament passed the law
last Thursday evening (28 May 2009) following a careful trial and evaluation
in 6 cities. Eligible persons for admission to the treatment will be those
over 23 years of age and who have been addicted for more than five years and
who have failed to respond to other treatments.
Germany has now joined Switzerland, The Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom in making prescription heroin a standard treatment for those severely addicted to opiates who have failed other treatments.
In 2001 Portugal decriminalised all drugs including heroin and cocaine. There were many who predicted adverse outcomes such as rampant drug use, high rates of drug tourism, increased addiction and related illnesses. However some eight years later, none of these predictions have eventuated. More here>>>
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Harm reduction
UN strategy of the years 1998 - 2008 aiming for a "drug free world". 10 year review here>>.
See also article by Duncan CampbellUN Office of Drugs and Crime admits drug dependence should be treated as a health problem