The Patient's Charter: Drug User's Views on the “Ideal” Methadone Programme

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Abstract
In line with the recent emphasis in Britain on health service accountability and the publication of the Patient's Charter, this paper reports the views of 164 methadone users concerning the “ideal” methadone programme. Drug users called for a flexible service both in terms of sites, dispensing regimes and choice of methadone preparation. Such a programme should also provide comprehensive primary health care and an integral HIV service. In addition it should deal with a wide range of practical issues such as accommodation and legal matters and also provide practical assistance such as creche facilities. It was felt that certain groups, for instance pregnant women and those individuals who are HIV positive, should be given privileged access. The majority felt that urine testing was a valid management strategy, and also felt that anti-social or violent behaviour should warrant expulsion from a methadone programme. They recommended the use of ex-drug users as counsellors. The drug users displayed a sophisticated attitude to the research and highlighted the potential value of consumer surveys of experienced service users in informing the planning and development of methadone programmes.