That’s the view of Magistrate Andrew Eckhold who used the Dubbo Local Court bench to highlight a worrying health deficit.

The magistrate spoke out while sentencing a long-term addict who begged to be locked away behind bars on a fixed term to avoid the risk of re-offending on parole. (See story page 4).

“Not many general practitioners in Dubbo are involved in the methadone program but they can prescribe as much Oxycontin as they wish,’’ Magistrate Eckhold said. “I have a view about that.’’

Oxycontin, an opioid prescription painkiller commonly known as hillbilly heroin, has become a sought-after drug for unauthorised use in Dubbo and communities across Australia. It is highly restricted under Schedule 1 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act and Schedule 8 of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act. Without a valid and legitimate prescription the possession, supply and use of Oxycontin is a criminal offence. 

A Dubbo health professional with 30 years experience said opiate drugs were cheap and easy to obtain.

“The price has come down tremendously over the years,” he said.

“As a result, there are more drug users and more people seeking support to get off their addiction.

“Methadone services in Dubbo and the region simply cannot cope with astronomical demand that is exploding through the roof.”

Methadone belongs to a group of strong pain-killing drugs, including codeine, morphine and heroin.

It is dispensed as a one-dose-a-day syrup to control the symptoms of withdrawal.

The health professional (who cannot be named due to privacy laws) said methadone helped to stabilise the lifestyle of opioid drug users who no longer needed to commit crimes to feed their addiction.

“Magistrate Eckhold is right to jump up and down about the methadone service shortage but it is not something that can be easily fixed,” he said.

“Methadone services in Dubbo are offered through a public clinic located near the base hospital and a private clinic at a local medical surgery. A small number of pharmacies are also involved.

“The public clinic has a three to six month waiting list. That is too long and too late.

“The service needs to be available when users are ready to do something about their addiction.

“If they seek help and the door is slammed in their face they go back to a whole range of harm scenarios, including using drugs, overdose or suicide.”

A Dubbo pharmacist (who asked to remain anonymous) said services to assist addicts needed to be far better funded.

“I’ve been dispensing methadone through my pharmacy for a number of years and it is difficult to be involved in,” he said.

“Local service providers have limited places and limited capacity.

“Each client needs a case manager to look after them - they need to be properly monitored to make sure they are respecting the process.

“Addicts can sometimes be pretty frightening to deal with because they are often in desperate situations.

“We have had methadone patients steal from us, others have caused a commotion. You never know what is going to happen and that is why some pharmacists and general practitioners don’t want to get involved.”

The pharmacist said methadone patients were men and women from all walks of life and backgrounds.

“Some look like addicts, others appear like anyone else,” he said.

“I’ve asked some of them how they got involved with this shit and the answer is often boredom, peer pressure and easy availability.

“Providing a methadone service is difficult but it can also be very rewarding.

“One patient came to me as a homeless person and by the time they left they were able to show me a brand new car they had been able to buy.

“It took three or four years but they were drug-free.”

The pharmacist said patients receiving methadone were registered with the health department and subject to rigorous monitoring, including urine tests.

“Clients enter into a contact not to abuse other drugs at the same time they are receiving methadone. They are gently taken up to an appropriate dose. 

“Clients come into the pharmacy and are assessed to ensure they are not under the influence of alcohol or another substance. If they appear intoxicated they can be refused or asked to come back later in the day when the effects have worn off.

“If we decide to dose we have to observe the client to ensure the methadone has been swallowed.

“We have to be certain that the methadone is not being held in their mouth so it can be spat into a bottle when they leave and sold on the street.

“To get a bigger bang for their buck some addicts like to inject methadone but they can’t just mainline it. It has to be infused using a special technique because of the dangers of the stuff.”

The pharmacist said the methadone program allowed some patients to get off drugs. For others regular controlled doses “just managed” their addiction.

“Methadone is all about harm minimization for society and the patient,” the pharmacist said.

“Sadly, local service providers can’t help everyone. I’ve had mothers in tears pleading with me to take their kids as methadone patients.

“As a father I hate to see the results of addiction. I hate the sad situation the addicts are in and the stress on the faces of their parents.”