'I got my heroin on the NHS'

[rocksmokinmachine]

Get caught with heroin and you face seven years in prison. But not Erin O'Mara, one of 440 addicts in the UK to get a regular fix from an NHS prescription - an arrangement she says has turned her life around.




Erin O'Mara is a bright, bubbly magazine editor - hardly the stereotype of someone who injects heroin four times a day.
But her habit, now in its 20th year, does not line the pockets of a drug dealer. The 34-year-old gets her fix from her local chemist in west London. This "perfect prescription", as she calls it, began two years ago and rescued her from a life of prostitution, drug dealing and serious illness.
The downward spiral began with Erin's first taste of heroin aged 15 while in her native Australia, and has included 10 unsuccessful methadone programmes along the way.
To finance her habit, she began working as a masseuse, which led to escort work and then street prostitution. That stopped when she discovered she was HIV positive.
But the prescription has transformed her life. As founder of Black Poppy, a magazine by and for drug users, she addresses drug conferences and is being consulted about pilot projects.
Sitting in her office, she says: "My prescription has meant I have money now, and choices I can make in my life - simple things like what I want for dinner. I can do things I haven't done for years and can think five years ahead. Before I was just thinking about my next 'hit'."

ERIN'S DAILY PRESCRIPTION



4 x 100mg diamorphine (solid)
4 x sterilised water
4 x sterilised needles
4 x swabs
pharmaceutically prepared
advice leaflet enclosed

Each shot supplied by her chemist is just enough to enable Erin to function properly and prevent the onset of withdrawal. She only feels the buzz if she relaxes.
The NHS allows only licensed doctors to prescribe diamorphine, the medical name for heroin, to addicts if they have failed to respond to methadone treatment. At present just 0.5% of those in treatment are prescribed heroin, but new pilot projects are expected to increase that number.
Supporters of this policy, such as the independent research group DrugScope, say controlled distribution by the state can drastically reduce crime.
They also argue that clean heroin like diamorphine is not in itself dangerous, just incredibly addictive. And a pharmaceutical prescription excludes all the risks associated with unsafe injecting and enables the user to gradually be weaned off the drug.

Topped up doses
Erin believes this approach can save lives. But prescribing heroin is not always the answer, as she herself knows from the first programme she took part in in 1998.
HEROIN & THE NHS
Prescriptions peaked in 1960s
The UK is one of the few countries to allow it
Any doctor can prescribe it for medical conditions, but need Home Office licence to treat addiction
Home Office says every £1 spent on drug treatment saves £3 in less crime

Source: Drugscope


Prescribed heroin 'safe'

"The whole set-up was really oppressive and heavy-handed, but the doses were too low so people were using other drugs and too scared to admit it. No-one was happy and no-one was doing well on it. The carrot and stick approach doesn't work because you can't punish users enough to make them stop".
One patient, a 45-year-old woman, threw herself off a tower block two days after being penalised by having her prescription withdrawn, Erin says.
And with strict attendance requirements and supervised injections, it prevented users from getting full-time employment.
Erin claims she was forced off the course after 18 months when she tried to start a support group. She then founded Black Poppy to give a voice to drug users, and address issues missed by treatment programmes.



Why did I have to wait until I'd finished selling my young body to men?




After leaving the prescription programme, Erin was put on methadone injections, which she topped up with crack. This period was one of her lowest and her veins began to collapse.
When she heard about a vacancy on a pioneering prescription course at the Maudsley Hospital in south London, she cornered the doctor in charge at a drugs conference.
"I remember my sense of complete and total desperation. I felt I could not go on any longer, that if they didn't help me, I didn't know where I would be. I felt that this was my last hope, that I'd tried everything. And I begged."
Her powers of persuasion paid off and she joined what turned out to be a more flexible programme. She was able, for instance, to spend a few months at her mother's in Colchester and pick up her prescription from a local chemist, so long as she visited the doctor every fortnight.
Her immune system strengthened, and two years on she is on a reduced dosage and aims to come off heroin completely.
As she looks to the future, there is a trace of anger about the years spent on and off treatment programmes.
"Why did I have to wait until I'd finished selling my young body to men, until I'd got sick and deeply depressed, until I'd used every vein in my body from my neck to my feet, until I'd contracted both HIV and Hep C?" But she is optimistic that the government has begun to move in the right direction and listen to what drug users want.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3592877.stm

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Interesting article with some details that I've not seen before
	An incredibly interesting and postive article.
	Interesting indeed

[Benniboi]

I work for Erin and I have to say that she is one of the most sincere, genuine and remarkable people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I think she should be recognized for her efforts in this political minefield to fight for better rights for drug users everywhere.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Lovely contribution, thanks for the 1st-hand info!

[nick23]

Originally Posted by Benniboi

I work for Erin and I have to say that she is one of the most sincere, genuine and remarkable people that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I think she should be recognized for her efforts in this political minefield to fight for better rights for drug users everywhere.

Were you at drug user memorial day?

I

[trannyboy]

This is wonderful to hear and just further convinces me that every country should be provided this option to people unable to quit by other means and perhaps as a first course of therapy. SWIM has never had to worry where the next injection is coming from or how many more time SWIM can use the same needle because SWIMs doctors prescribe everything SWIM need. Because of that SWIM is in control of SWIMs addiction and has suffered zero health or criminal concerns.

I can't wait for Canada to grow up and realize that punishing people for addictions make little to no sense and the problem can be addressed maturely and responsibly allowing people involved with addictions to become welcomed and productive members of society, instead of society trash. When the time is right addiction can be discarded but that time is different for everyone involved and no can force to happen before it is times.

I grateful to hear that another person has been stabilized and is on their way to a happy and safe life, addiction or not. Thanks for posting this rock, it is nice to hear a change from the usual sadness that engulfs so many lives so needlessly. I really liked hearing the change from having to go to the pharmacist 4 times a day which really just prevents people from obtaining and retaining full time employment.

trannyboy

[yaba]

They do the same in The Netherlands on a trial basis, swims dad is one of them. Its only for the worse...

[mickey_bee]

I remember seeing this story years ago.

I'm really pleased for her, but ain't nothing gonna change anytime soon. At least not in this country.
The public hate junkies, and mostly vehemently oppose 'their hard earned tax money' going to give addicts their drug of choice. (even if it does work out cheaper for them overall). And the politicians are far too scared to bring this beyond trial level due to this, and their alliance with America on the war on drugs.-(Which incidentally is the primary reason for the widespread prescription of heroin to addicts being abolished in this country).
They've been trialling it for f**king years, each time as if it's something new and miraculous noones ever thought of before.

Hundreds of thousands more lives are yet to be ruined by addiction, and thousands more people are gonna die before we see this getting implemented on any meaningful scale.

[BrownStreakRailroad]

Originally Posted by mickey_bee

I remember seeing this story years ago.

I'm really pleased for her, but ain't nothing gonna change anytime soon. At least not in this country.
The public hate junkies, and mostly vehemently oppose 'their hard earned tax money' going to give addicts their drug of choice. (even if it does work out cheaper for them overall). And the politicians are far too scared to bring this beyond trial level due to this, and their alliance with America on the war on drugs.-(Which incidentally is the primary reason for the widespread prescription of heroin to addicts being abolished in this country).
They've been trialling it for f**king years, each time as if it's something new and miraculous noones ever thought of before.

Hundreds of thousands more lives are yet to be ruined by addiction, and thousands more people are gonna die before we see this getting implemented on any meaningful scale.

fuckin' ay!! SWIM thinks that it will not happen here until all the old school people running the country are long gone and our generation are making the decisions!! the British view at the moment is 'Drugs are bad mm'kay!' even with all the experts in the field, independant advisors telling the govt how it really is and how to deal with it, doctors opinions and drug agencies all rallying for change, the govt disregard it ALL!! and just confuse society by changing this stupid class system, with regards to the cannabis being class C-B as an example....revolution will come one day, but in the UK its a way away yet!! SWIM's 2p's worth.

[23year habit]

Fair play to her but what about the rest off the heroin addicts in the UK and elsewhere. So, 2 of Black Poppys members/founders have been pink scripted, a nigh on impossible feat. Shame we can't all collar doctors at drugs conferences! Swim has had dealings with Black Poppy and while they seemed very kind and nice, they held no sway with Swims doctor-this was just to remain on DF's nothing more, yet swims doctor seemed to see them as a minor annoyance. Seems a bit like pouring salt in an open wound. I.M.O.

[nick23]

Originally Posted by 23year habit

Fair play to her but what about the rest off the heroin addicts in the UK and elsewhere. So, 2 of Black Poppys members/founders have been pink scripted, a nigh on impossible feat. Shame we can't all collar doctors at drugs conferences! Swim has had dealings with Black Poppy and while they seemed very kind and nice, they held no sway with Swims doctor-this was just to remain on DF's nothing more, yet swims doctor seemed to see them as a minor annoyance. Seems a bit like pouring salt in an open wound. I.M.O.

I'm not surprised they didn't listen to BP.You'd be better off trying the alliance.

Oh,an swim was also pink scripted when he had no contact with any user group-it is possible.

I notice you're in Bristol,isn't there a user group called UFO in Bristol? Maybe worth asking them for advice/help/support.

[BrownStreakRailroad]

it is possible as one of SWIM's london friends used to have this kind of prescription, though it was a private doc(well expensive, rich parents) and the chemist was some posh joint in belgravia, apparantly at the time there was only 5 or 6 heroin addicts with this script in the country...drugs project in brizzle is BDP?? SWIM has been there himself a few times, and the salvation army hostel/detox/rehab in same buiding(unbelievable) in st judes. love bristol though. loads of heroin addicts about due to the amount of rehabs around the area, people fail and just stay in bristol or weston-super-mare.

[23year habit]

Yea, actually had dealings with the Alliance and BP, they were similar in swims experience in that they had a good bark and very little bite. Hmm, never heard of UFO, as far as swim knows its the BDP, but swim will check it out.Swim actually falls under weston since he moved though. Pink script=uphill struggle, swim would probably be drawing his pention before it happened. Thanks for the info though. Swim thinks that Bristol/Weston heroin users are being heavily let down by the very low grade/badly cut H.

[BastardoFatsquardo]

Originally Posted by 23year habit

Yea, actually had dealings with the Alliance and BP, they were similar in swims experience in that they had a good bark and very little bite. Hmm, never heard of UFO, as far as swim knows its the BDP, but swim will check it out.Swim actually falls under weston since he moved though. Pink script=uphill struggle, swim would probably be drawing his pention before it happened. Thanks for the info though. Swim thinks that Bristol/Weston heroin users are being heavily let down by the very low grade/badly cut H.

SWIM is down Brizzle way as well, and hasnt heard of UFO unless that is the mobile needle exchange bit of the BDP???
SWIM asked shared-care worker about the potential trial of pink script in the area, and if it would be a possibility for SWIM. shared-care worker said that it was a deffo no. So is it not something that they can help with?>
Does it have to be done with a pricate doctor seperate of shared care?

SWIM is definetely let down by the shit quality of gear in Bristol, it is still crap 1.5 months later!

[nick23]

Originally Posted by BastardoFatsquardo

SWIM is down Brizzle way as well, and hasnt heard of UFO unless that is the mobile needle exchange bit of the BDP???
SWIM asked shared-care worker about the potential trial of pink script in the area, and if it would be a possibility for SWIM. shared-care worker said that it was a deffo no. So is it not something that they can help with?>
Does it have to be done with a pricate doctor seperate of shared care?

SWIM is definetely let down by the shit quality of gear in Bristol, it is still crap 1.5 months later!

The problem is that you need a doctor with a home office license for a diamorphine rx and they only work in DDUS.Many areas don't have a doctor with a license and the will to rx.If you're not prepared to move/travel swiy's best bet would be to try for phy or morphine.

[BrownStreakRailroad]

SWIMs friend in london has a private doc and gets the diamorphine from a posh chemist in belgravia, one of the richest areas of london. SWIY will definatley not get a script like this from BDP (Bristol Drugs Project) or any other methadone/subutex clinic that is free, for Heroin addiction.

[SmokeNmirrors]

Yeah swim can only wish for a the states to provide that but doesn't see it anytime soon.

[synastoned]

as far as I know its not possible for a private doctor to prescribe diamorphine as they cant get a home office licence. are you sure its a private doctor they go to?

[BrownStreakRailroad]

hmmmm this was ten years ago now sorry i should have wrote in past tense....im sure that was the case but maybe its changed??? im not sure, this is just what he told me and i did see the final product and picked it up from the said chemist with him.

[BastardoFatsquardo]

SWIM is not going to give up on the situation. It is just crap when you see these MP's claiming the allowances etc, and your there thinking why cant I claim the cost of getting my garden done back from the taxpayers.

SWIM would happily pay the prescription charge every single day and pick it up every single day. Surely that aspect of it should make a difference to someone.

SWIM is not going to give up on this, but does realize that it may be practically forever!

[dyingtomorrow]

Am I the only one who was more upset by this article than "uplifted"?

Maybe it's just pure jealousy, but it is yet another example of how only certain people can get the drugs they need to function, and the rest are just fucked and labeled "criminals." They are throwing heroin users in jail left and right in the UK I'm sure, but SHE gets to have it? In America at least, people with money can go to the right doctors and gets ungodly amounts of oxycotins, morphine pills, etc. If you are poor and in severe pain, or on some kind of state medical assistance, they will begrudge you even a couple of pathetic vicodins, and if you ask for more you are labeled a "junkie." Not to even get into the fact that there is certainly a small group of people who simply do not respond to anti-depressents, and the only thing that can make them want to live or do anything is opiates.

It is all so frustrating.

[fingermoel]

swim currently gets his methodone from his g.p. after moving away from my drug service in north london (nids).
they were excelent,by far the best drug service i have used.
i have descussed moving from methadone to diamorphine with my docter and he is very keen on the idea.

methadone has so many side effects that it is very bad for your health.
it is not a clean drug and withdrawal is allmost impossable.

diamorphine on the other hand is very clean and has minor side effects compared to methadone.

its a basic matter of human rights if you are being treeted with a drug that is detremental to your health but there is another drug that would do the same job with lesser side effects you should have the right to be treeted with that drug.

if you had cancer and you were being treeted with a drug that was very highly addictive,cuased brittle bones,hair loss, wieght gain,stomouch problems,and all sorts of other health issues and you found out there was another drug available that had much lesser side effcts and was easier to withdraw from.
you would demand the right to choose that medication for yourself.

it should be the same with opiate addicts.

we should be given the choice to be treeted how we see fit as at the end of the day only we know how we cope with diferent drugs.

diamorphine wont work for everyone and some people will prefer methadone but we should have the right to choose our own treetment as we would with any other illness or condition.

at present swim is reducing my methadone to 50ml onnce we reach that limit we are switching to diamorphine oral tablets or MST's.

i will keep you all posted as how it goes.

[Esmerelda]

Originally Posted by dyingtomorrow

Am I the only one who was more upset by this article than "uplifted"?

Maybe it's just pure jealousy, but it is yet another example of how only certain people can get the drugs they need to function, and the rest are just fucked and labeled "criminals." They are throwing heroin users in jail left and right in the UK I'm sure, but SHE gets to have it? In America at least, people with money can go to the right doctors and gets ungodly amounts of oxycotins, morphine pills, etc. If you are poor and in severe pain, or on some kind of state medical assistance, they will begrudge you even a couple of pathetic vicodins, and if you ask for more you are labeled a "junkie." Not to even get into the fact that there is certainly a small group of people who simply do not respond to anti-depressents, and the only thing that can make them want to live or do anything is opiates.

It is all so frustrating.

DT, it's a fucked up world alright