Sunday 10 June 2007

Remembering Dr. Vincent Dole: Taking it to the Streets of Russia.


Simon is from the West Midlands in the UK - works in the drug field, is a service user, and was part of the UK contingent to attend the IHRA conference in Warsaw in May 07.


Having just returned from the 18th International Conference on Harm Reduction, I take away the belief that harm reduction really has come of age. It seems, by and large, to be a universal acceptance that the chemically dependant of the world should and must be accorded their human rights, and have the right to be accorded some basic quality of life. This view has the support of the World Health Organisation, the International Red Cross, and even the United Nations. Yet the sad fact is that more people in the world are put to death for drug related crime than almost any other - that includes war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In a conference of this size and scope it is normally hard to pick out something or someone that really stands out. For me, I think it would have to be opioid substitution in Eastern Europe. This series of talks was given in the memory of Dr Vincent Dole and was supported by the World Health Organisation. Dr Dole (who died in 2006 at 90 years of age) was a remarkable man. In World War II Dr Dole served in the US Navy and had worked to develop treatments that would calculate blood loss. As I understand it, this work that he pioneered is still being used to this day.

What Dr Dole will be remembered for however began in 1965, when he took 20 opiate addicts from different walks of life, put them on a course of methadone, and found some truly remarkable results. In a fairly short time all the participants had turned their lives around - from that of people who seemed to be heading for disaster and almost certain death, to people who were able to re-adjust, become stable in work, continue education and enter professions.

From that time on, the idea of properly maintaining a person on methadone (rather than just using opiate substitutes for detoxing) has been taken up and has been implemented all over the world. Dr Dole took the view that if a diabetic turned up at his surgery in desperate need of insulin and he refused to help, the outcry would be enormous and would most likely end in the doctor being subject to disciplinary action.

Speaking as a person who has benefited from being maintained over many years, and having truly turned my life around, I always had a desire to express my gratitude. I took the view that it would be good to put something back. When I made this decision I worked in a voluntary capacity in my home City of Worcester (in the Midlands). Later on this has turned into employment, which culminated in our own NTA asking me, as a service user, to attend this conference in Poland to consider harm reduction.
Many times we look at our services in this country and we see improvements which are needed and, as service users, it is quite proper that we do this. In the UK we still have a long way to go.
However, it was sitting in the meeting when this tribute to Dr Doyle was made, that we had the good fortune to hear Professor Vladimir Mendelewich speak on the difficulties that he faced in Russia. I think it fair to say that I have been an avid reader of the history of this troubled nation, which throughout the 20th century suffered war and famine, both of which have cost the lives of millions. Today we think of Russia as being a more modern society which cares for its people, that operates a more liberal approach than it has in the past. Judge my chagrin when the Professor told us that not only was treating addicts disapproved of, but it was written into state law that no doctor could treat an addict. Here was someone whose hands were more than just tied - he was bound hand and foot.

At the end of the session we were invited to ask questions and make comments. So I threw caution to the wind to ask if there was anything that could be done by service users in the UK to help the situation. We have seen encouraging signs in Croatia and the Ukraine and other speakers gave encouraging pictures in Iran and many other places. However, in Russia, all this prohibition is doing is opening the doors to gangsters that make the mafia seem like part timers. If we as Service Users really wish to honour the memory of Dr Vincent Dole, it is the duty of all of us who have benefited from treatment in the UK to be in contact with those in our Government like our Drug Minister, The Home Office, and those who work in the diplomatic field, to put pressure on governments who actually outlaw treatment. This goes beyond a doctor who does not wish to help; this is surely a violation of human rights, and a public health issue .

Of course it is a difficult issue to fight but I would like to think that at least somone in Russia who is suffering at the hands of the crooked and unscrupulous, will know that although we in the UK are fortunate we are not going to forget their plight. I believe that a treatment service in Russia would be a tribute to a truly great man- namely Dr Dole.