General practitioner centred scheme for treatment of opiate dependent drug injectors in Glasgow

Abstract
Successive reports to government have emphasised the key role of general practitioners in treating drug injectors.4 5 6 However, few have received training in managing such patients, and consequently many experience difficulty in treating them.7 8 Coping strategies range from refusing to register any drug injectors to prescribing various substitute drugs for unsupervised use, with the consequent dangers of overdose or diversion of the drugs to the black market.9 Although some practices provide effective care 10 11 little has been published on how this can be achieved across a larger population.12