NORWAY
 
Until 1997 there were only two high-threshold methadone projects in Norway, both of them situated in Oslo. To enter one of the programmes a patient had to be 30 years old and have an abuse history of at least ten years, characterised by failing detox programmes.
In 1998 the situation starts to change due to the success of the established programmes. The minimum age to enter the programmes has been lowered from 30 to 25 years. Whether the number of opiate addicted years will be lowered from 10 to 5 years has not yet to been decided.
In de rest of Norway programmes are scheduled to open during 1998 in all parts of the country.
OSLO
 
METADDONTILTAKET
 
The centre’s target group used to be HIV positive patients with serious immune deficiency. It is now broadened to other life threatening diseases where methadone treatment is necessary to enable the treatment for somatic disease.
The centre is able to treat up to fifty patients at a time. There is a waiting list, but the number of patients the centre will be able to treat will increase in 1998.
The staff has eleven members: one doctor, six nurses and three social workers.
Treatment philosophy is based on maintenance and rehabilitation. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 86,8 mg.
 
Patients who want to enter the methadone programme on a permanent basis have to be referred to by a specialist and the social welfare system and have to fulfil the inclusion criteria. No criteria concerning age.
 
The centre offers:
-social assistance
-other medication
 
The centre demands:
-urine checks
-following rules (contract) which are made up for each individual patients in co-operation between patient and centre
 
Violence, non attendance for more than three days and little decrease of abuse of illegal drugs can get patient expelled from methadone programme.
 
The centre does not yet provide methadone to patients from abroad, who are in Norway for a short visit (Jan. 1998).
In the near future this might change. The centre would need a letter or fax beforehand, mentioning identity of patient, treatment history, dose, period for which methadone would be needed and references where all information can be checked. When patient visits he/she has to present a letter from his doctor.
Costs will be involved, treatment costs at the moment are 700 Nkr a week.
 
Address:
Akkuttinstitusjonen, Ullevål
Metadontiltaket
Ullevål sykehus
0407 Oslo
Phone: +47-22-11.89.50
Fax: +47-22-11.89.51
Contact person: AUD KROOK
Hours of opening: from 8.00 till 15.30 hours
METADONPROSJEKTET i OSLO (MiO)
 
In 1998 standards by which one could participate in a methadone programme have changed:
-To enter the programme one had to be 30 years old, nowadays the limit is set at the age of 25.
-Patient needs to have a history of 10 years of opiate addiction. (This might change to 5 years)
-There is no requirement of absence of pending charges anymore
-only patients who failed detox programmes could enter, instead of "failed in drug-free treatment"a treatment plan is set up which states previous treatment in relation to treatment plan and goals, e.g. an older person who stayed out of treatment could be eligible, whereas a younger applicant must have been offered good quality, drug-free treatment before.
-patients no longer need to be registered as inhabitants in Oslo
 
Currently the centre is able to treat 75 patients with a staff of eleven members: one psychiatrist, two nurses, four social workers, a psychologist, a laboratory assistant and two people involved in administration and management tasks.
The treatment philosophy is based upon maintenance and the average dose of methadone prescribed is 85 mg.
 
The centre offers:
-medical care
-social assistance
-other medication
-psychiatric care and psycho-therapy
-co-ordinating services from the rest of "society"
 
The centre demands:
-urine checks
-mandatory meetings, at least once a week, depending progress in treatment
 
Non-attendance, violence and serious lack of any progress concerning treatment plan or abuse can get a patient expelled from the methadone programme.
 
Procedures for taking patients from another programme:
 
Centre should be informed beforehand by phone and letter or fax
This fax or letter should state:
-identity of patient
-dosage and period of time the methadone is requested for
-how many doses allowed to take home
-references where information can be checked
 
When visiting the patient should bring a letter from his/her doctor.
Costs involved is unclear at the moment. Methadone treatment in Norway costs 700 Nkr a week. Charges could be settled according to country of origin.
 
Address:
Metadonprosjektet i Oslo (MiO)
Bygdöy Alle 23
0262 Oslo
Phone: +47-22.55.21.20
Fax: +47-22.56.29.09
Contact person: Dr. Gabriella Wellestrand
Hours of opening: Monday from 8.15 till 17.30 hours; Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.15 till 15.00 hours; Thursday from 8.15 till 17.30 hours; Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 till 12.00 hours
BIG
 
Address:
Mar-Bygdoy Allé
0626 OSLO
Norway
Tel: +47-21903637
Fax: +47-22562909
Contact person: Mai Kristin Hernaess

 

MARS is another programme.

MARS means Methadone Assistance Rehabilitation for Somatic Persons (persons with Heart problems, a difficult hepatitis or HIV )

Phone: +47-22.55.21.20

Contact person: Gabrielle Welle-Strand