title: What can the Swiss and Dutch trials tell us about the potential risks associated with heroin prescribing?
abstract: Following on from last edition's Harm Reduction Digest on drug consumption facilities this Digest investigates what can be learnt from the Swiss and Dutch trials of heroin prescribing about the unintended consequences of this controversial intervention to reduce heroin-related harm. The authors of the paper bring considerable experience in the implementation and evaluation of such schemes in Europe and their consideration in Australia. The paper systematically addresses concerns about heroin prescribing and suggests further research to respond to some unanswered questions.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Gabriele.Bammer@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bammer
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gschwend
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rehm
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D040261:Harm Reduction; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006556:Heroin Dependence; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin