Cost of lifesaving heroin withdrawal drug soars by 700%

Cost of lifesaving heroin withdrawal drug soars by 700% Treatment agencies warn of extra drug-related deaths unless price hike is addressed

A 700% spike in the price of a drug used to wean addicts off heroin has caused alarm among treatment agencies, which warn of a rise in drug-related deaths unless urgent action is taken to make it more affordable.

Buprenorphine is an alternative to methadone that reduces the symptoms of withdrawal and lessens the desire to use heroin. It is estimated that more than 30,000 people in England use the drug, which offers a reduced risk of overdose compared with methadone. The Guardian