Historique
Congrès
A critical evaluation of the Dutch heroin provision experiment
(Evaluation critique d'une expérimentation néerlandaise de fourniture d'héroïne)
Auteur(s) :
LEMMENS, P. H.
Année
2000
Page(s) :
75-84
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Éditeur(s) :
Palma de Mallorca : Universitat de les Illes Balears
ISBN :
978-84-7632-602-2
Refs biblio. :
15
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Thésaurus mots-clés
HEROINE
;
EVALUATION
;
ETHIQUE
;
TRAITEMENT DE MAINTENANCE
;
DISTRIBUTION CONTROLEE
Thésaurus géographique
PAYS-BAS
Note générale :
In : The 9th Annual Conference on Drug Use and Drug Policy., UNIVERSITAT DE LES ILLES BALEARS, Palma, 1998, Palma, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 2000, 75-84
Résumé :
In this paper, design and protocol is reviewed of the Dutch heroin experiment that has recently started. Several scientific, ethical and political aspects are considered. The Dutch heroin trial has been presented as a scientifically rigorous experiment, one that would leave little doubt as to the pure effects of the medical prescription of heroin. Choice of the design was therefore one of a regular randomized clinical trial. In the paper it is argued that this presentation as a purely medical experiment may be somewhat illusive, since it is not the effects of heroin which are tested but the effects of decriminalising the circumstances in which heroin is used. The point is raised whether the choice of the target population is a sensible one. It is feared that the sole inclusion of end-of-the-line patients (those with a long career of use and unsuccessful in other therapy) may limit the possible positive effects of such treatment. Since the size of research sample was a politically hot issue, a design alternative to the traditional randomized trial is considered which would require less subjects. Outcome criteria of the experiment seem vulnerable. Furthermore, it remains vague which potential courses are politically feasible after different possible outcomes of the experiment. (Author' s abstract)
Affiliation :
Dept. Medical Sociology, Univ. of Maastricht
Pays-Bas. Netherlands.
Pays-Bas. Netherlands.
Cote :
L00947