About Us Portfolio Press Careers Sitemap Advertise Contact Us Make this your Homepage

Custom Search

Register

Sign In

Sign In Using Facebook

Home » Alcohol & Drug Abuse News

Denmark Opens Free Heroin Clinic for Addicts

by Sreeraman on February 23, 2010 at 4:27 PM Alcohol & Drug Abuse News

After years of contention, Denmark on Monday opened its first clinic equipped to distribute free heroin under medical supervision to people heavily addicted to the drug.

Denmark Opens Free Heroin Clinic for Addicts

Related Links

The Scandinavian country joins a number of countries like Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany to allow prescriptions for medicinal heroin, or diamorphine, to be written out to a small group of addicts so hooked on the substance that more traditional substitutes like methadone have no effect.

The clinic is set to serve only 120 of some 300 hard-core heroin addicts, or only about one percent of all drug addicts in the country.

"Our objective is not to cure heroin addicts, but to help those who are not satisfied by methadone by providing them with clean heroin, allowing them to avoid disease and the temptation of criminal acts to obtain the drug," a doctor and head of the clinic Inger Nielsen told AFP.

Only addicts who have been referred from a methadone centre for treatment and who voluntarily request to enter the clinic will be permitted to participate in the programme, Nielsen said.

They will be treated with methadone for the first 14 days "so we can determine how much heroin to prescribe," she added.

The Danish parliament passed a law legalising the distribution of medicinal heroin in 2008, but the opening of the clinic was delayed until the city of Copenhagen agreed to house the programme.

Page 1

Page 1 | 2

Next

North Korea Sees Decline in Life Expectancy Rates

Lavish Banquets Land Chinese Policemen in Trouble

More News on: Drug Abuse, Cannabis, Drug Abuse Screening Test

Comment & Contribute

Be the first to comment!
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
	Notify me when reply is posted I agree to the terms and conditions
Your comments are automatically posted once they are submitted. All comments are however constantly reviewed for spam and irrelevant material (such as product or personal advertisements, email addresses, telephone numbers and website address). Such insertions do not conform to our policy and 'Terms of Use' and are either deleted or edited and republished. Please keep your comments brief and relevant.This section may also have questions seeking help. If you have the information you are welcome to respond, but please ensure that the information so provided is genuine and not misleading.

Medwonders Health Network

Support Groups Members Discussions

Total Members - 54371
Support Groups - 445

Health News Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Latest News Most Popular Most Commented

New Treatment Offers Hope for Leishmaniasis

Blood Fat Levels Could Predict Stroke In Postmenopausal Women

Regular Intake of Vitamins and Minerals Prevent Colon Cancer

CDC Report Says Cost of Child Abuse Comparable to Diabetes

CDC Committee Recommends HPV Vaccine for Men

News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :

News Quick Links

	News Central			Health Watch
	Latest Health News			Health In Focus
	News Category (500+)			Breaking Health News
	Popular News			Celebrating Life
	Health News and Press Release			Medindia - Exclusive
	News Photo Gallery			India Special
	News Video Gallery			Lifestyle and Wellness
	News From Other Resources

News Categories:


»	Coffee Cuts Fibrosis Risk in People With Fatty Liver Disease

»	'Pink Slime' is No Longer Used in Burgers- McDonald's

»	The Bitter Truth About Sugar

»	Purple Potatoes Help Cut Blood Pressure

»	Dairy Products may Help Weight Loss Initiatives
More Diet News

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Related News
»	Substance Abuse may be an Inheritable Trait	»	Effect of Alcohol on Heart Health Debated
»	Beware of Counterfeit Liquor	»	Intervention at the Earliest may Curtail Risky College Drinking
»	Study Says Addicts' Cravings Have Different Roots in Men and Women	»	Nearly 9000 Brits Die of Binge Drinking Annually
»	Researchers Identify Potential Target for Anti-craving Medications	»	Soon, New Treatments for Addiction

Read More >>

Denmark Opens Free Heroin Clinic for Addicts

Medwonders Health Network

Alcohol & Drug Abuse Related News

Consumers

Medical Professionals

Medical Students

Directories