THE PATTERN OF INTRAVENOUS DRUG-USE AND ASSOCIATED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS ON A METHADONE TREATMENT WAITING LIST

Sixty-four patients on the Christchurch Methadone Treatment Programme waiting list were questioned on their drug-use behaviour, criminal act ivity and sources of income, both legal and illegal, for the preceding 7 days. Opioids used included morphine sulphate tablets, methadone an d opium poppies, while other drugs used included tranquillizers, canna bis and alcohol. A significant minority were prescribed opioids. The m ean cost of drugs used in 7 days across all subjects was $882. The mea n financial gain from criminal sources for the same period was $1079 a nd was derived from drug-related crime, property crime and prostitutio n. Few gender differences were found relating to criminal activity or drug use. The majority of the sample were on unemployment benefits of varying types while a minority were in paid employment. Those in paid employment did not earn significantly less from criminal activity, nor did they spend significantly less on drug use than did those not in p aid employment. An important implication of these findings is that unt reated opioid users are a substantial financial burden to the communit y, strongly supporting the argument for greater treatment provision.