Group warns on drug

By Shaun Inguanzo
SPRINGVALE’S anti-drug body says local addicts are at risk of harsh side effects if they inject a new drug designed to curb their habit.
The Springvale Drug Action Committee wants to educate the community on Suboxone, a withdrawal drug similar to methadone that helps opiate-based drug users kick their habit.
But the drug has one striking difference from similar medicines– it will only work when taken orally.
The group’s minutes from its 2 May meeting note that, if crushed and injected, Suboxone will cause dire side effects.
The committee, comprised of council and community representatives, has highlighted the matter as an emerging issue.
“The Cyrene Centre representative noted that some people were not being informed that their prescriptions had been changed to Suboxone and that it had to be taken orally,” the minutes read.
The group noted that local doctors were obliged to inform people on any change of prescriptions.