Pharmaceutical services for patients in methadone treatment in Ireland and the introduction of the Methadone Protocol Scheme

Abstract

Methadone is a long-acting opiate commonly used in substitution therapy for heroin addiction. In Ireland, prior to 1998, people requiring treatment for opiate addiction could either attend the National Drug Treatment Centre, where low dose, short-term methadone treatment was available, or they could attend a limited number of private general practitioners (GPs), who were prepared to prescribe methadone linctus (Physeptone®). In 1998, the Misuse of Drugs Act {Supervision of Prescription and Supply of Methadone) Regulations were introduced and resulted in the implementation of the Methadone Protocol Scheme (MPS). Under the MPS only methadone 1 mg/ml could be prescribed for the treatment of opiate addiction and free prescribing and dispensing services were made available to all. This research project set out to examine, for the first time, the extent and nature of pharmaceutical services for patients in methadone treatment in Ireland before and after the introduction of the MPS. It examines this aspect of the MPS from the perspective of both service providers and service users, using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques.