Message | Dutch Drug Treatment Policies on Trial
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A former drug addict has filed a lawsuit in the courts against a Dutch addiction treatment provider. For now, the legal case is focussed on the Jellinek clinic in Amsterdam but it seems that it could be expanded to the top levels of Dutch healthcare policymakers. The Jellinek is the only available treatment provider in Amsterdam that is covered by Dutch health insurers. The ex drug user claims that the care he received was inadequate as Dutch policy is to sustain the addiction with methadone, instead of helping the addict to overcome his addiction.
Keith Bakker, the founder of Smith & Jones Addiction Consultants in Amsterdam, has filed the suit. He has first hand experience with the Dutch addictions treatment policies and care. In 1997 Mr Bakker approached the Jellinek asking for detoxification and abstinence based treatment for his heroin, cocaine and alcohol addiction. The Jellinek doctors informed him their policy was long-term methadone maintenance and he was not offered an alternative treatment option. |