Quite a lot has been written about the methadone program. The vast majority of specialists in Ukraine opposed its introduction. The Interior Ministry, Security Service of Ukraine, and public organizations involved in the rehabilitation of drug addicts oppose replacement therapy introduction in Ukraine. But, in spite of everything, methadone still enter Ukraine under the guise of so-called "methadone prevention”.
Notably and most recently in Ukraine, effective non pharmacological treatment and preventative methods became a target to the lobbyists of replacement therapy. Also those non-state programs which apply pharmacological treatment and preventative methods (such as religious programs of the Protestant Churches, "12 Steps", "Narconon"), are criticized or pressured in varying degrees. The higher the efficiency of such programs, the fiercer the attacks on them. Why?
Many countries have already experienced many side effects with the substitution therapy. Because of this nonmedical drug rehabilitation programs and effective prevention are increasingly being used in those countries. The United States, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland are already heading in that direction. The civilized world is increasingly accepting the idea that drug addiction is not so much a drug abuse problem or medical problem, as it is a spiritual one.
Proponents of the ”methadone program” state that this program has worked well in other countries. Here is the "positive" statistics:
- for the duration of applying the methadone program in Lithuania, the number of drug addicts increased 8 times;
- according to ECAD (European Cities Against Drugs) during the 9 years of applying the Swedish methadone program 33% of its participants died, and 69% continued to commit crimes;
- it was found that methadone stimulates the development of HIV infection in human cells;
- In the United States within the period of 1999 -2004 the number of reported deaths associated with the consumption of methadone has increased by 390%;
- after methadone program introduction in Belarus, methadone has become very popular. In 2004, it was seized 3.5 times more, and heroin - 2 times less than a year earlier.
Let’s look at the historical side of this issue. The history of methadone is similar to the history of any other drug. From the 1850’s opium addiction was a major problem in the world. The "solution" proposed was to provide persons addicted to opium with less strong and, as it was considered, "non-addictive" substitute, morphine. As a result the morphine addiction soon became even bigger problem than opium. Just as in the case of opium, morphine problem was ’solved’ with another substitute, heroin, which "does not cause addiction". Heroin was first produced in Germany, in 1898, by pharmaceutical company Bayer and marketed not only as strong pain killer, but also as an effective means against cough recommended for the treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases.
We already know what "treatment" of morphine addiction and tuberculosis by a heroin has caused (tuberculosis was no less frightening in the beginning of the 20th century than AIDS today). So If we do not know history and do not draw the appropriate conclusions, its tragic pages will be repeated.
The most interesting question is what are we going to treat methadone with? What other drugs are we going to use?
The anxiety of methadone manufacturers, who used to have a large-scale, permanent market, can be explained: the replacement therapy programs in most countries where methadone was once actively applied, today are diminishing. Some countries that were regular consumers of methadone (for example, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom), are now providing addicts with heroin, as the use of methadone can longer be justified. Germany stated that due to the increased number of deaths from drug overdoses in the background of replacement therapy, they also will soon be providing addicts with heroin. Thus, it becomes clear why methadone manufacturers urgently need the Russia and Ukrainian markets. Our northern neighbour (Russia) is opposed to the introduction of this program. Contrary to the claims of the Crimean replacement therapy lobbyists that this program is going to be introduced in Russia, Grigoriy Onishchenko (Chief Sanitary Doctor of Russia) has stated the unacceptability of this method in Russia. He categorically refuted the statement of the Crimean Narcologists.
Thus, "Programs of replacement therapy", usable in the World, neither solve the problems of drug addiction nor the problems of rehabilitation (in the full sense of the word), nor the issues of drug abuse prevention and dangerous concurrent infections. Every sensible person will become obvious that such measures are making the existing problem deeper, creating the appearance of active struggle against drug addiction. In fact, such "treatment" give addicts a comfortable life and contribute to society narcotisation, which entails increasing tolerance of the society to addiction as a phenomenon in particular. It make drugs the norm of everyday life. Finally, it contributes to the wide spreading of drug addiction, which certainly draws a lot of drug dealers attention.
The indisputable fact is that the use of substitution therapy in Ukraine, due to its adoption by modern Addictology or, yet worse, by some interested NGOs, is a direct act of genocide against the Ukrainian youth, aimed at its highest possible destruction.
In this regard, we, the public of Crimea (ICF of N. Potopayeva, IO "Upstream", CF "Looking to the future," NGO "Recovery", NGO "Choice", CO "Women are for the Future", CF "Living Water", "Union of Youth of Regions” and a number of other existing organizations) express our indignation with the decision of the authorities in respect of substitution therapy - the use of narcotic substances on the territory of Ukraine and Crimea in particular. We call the public not to be indifferent to the future of our country, turn its attention to this problem, and determine its firm position on this issue.
Press Center of the Embassy of God in the Crimea
Translated by Elena Krets
Edited by Arinze Chukwu Chianumba
HOW MUCH IS "OPIUM FOR THE PEOPLE"? 
Let’s look at the historical side of this issue. The history of methadone is similar to the history of any other drug. From the 1850’s opium addiction was a major problem in the world. The "solution" proposed was to provide persons addicted to opium with less strong and, as it was considered, "non-addictive" substitute, morphine. As a result the morphine addiction soon became even bigger problem than opium. Just as in the case of opium, morphine problem was ’solved’ with another substitute, heroin, which "does not cause addiction". Heroin was first produced in Germany, in 1898, by pharmaceutical company Bayer and marketed not only as strong pain killer, but also as an effective means against cough recommended for the treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. 
Thus, "Programs of replacement therapy", usable in the World, neither solve the problems of drug addiction nor the problems of rehabilitation (in the full sense of the word), nor the issues of drug abuse prevention and dangerous concurrent infections. Every sensible person will become obvious that such measures are making the existing problem deeper, creating the appearance of active struggle against drug addiction. In fact, such "treatment" give addicts a comfortable life and contribute to society narcotisation, which entails increasing tolerance of the society to addiction as a phenomenon in particular. It make drugs the norm of everyday life. Finally, it contributes to the wide spreading of drug addiction, which certainly draws a lot of drug dealers attention. 
