Bahamas
Methadone Treatment: not available
There are no treatment opportunities for methadone patients and it is not intended to establish any such facility in the future. The chief medical officer, Ministry of Health & Environment, still holds a position already formulated in 1983 (ref HEA/118/2, 11th March, 1983):
"On various occasions the Ministry of Health has been approached by prospective visitors to the Bahamas seeking assistance in obtaining the drug Methadone during their stay here. These visitors are on methadone maintenance therapy programmes in the United States and are referred to the Ministry of Health by staff in our Tourism Offices and Consulates abroad.
2. I do not know whether your staff are aware that methadone is a narcotic drug and persons on methadone therapy are heroin or pethidine addicts who are in the process of being "weaned" off these drugs.
3. The Consultant staff at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and the psychologists and psychiatric social workers have for some time voiced concerns about making available methadone on a regular basis. I would add that their concerns are shared by professionals in some other Carribean territories, the United Kingdom, Canada and even many professionals in the United States. They are of the opinion that the benefits derived from catering to the small minority of confirmed hard drug addicts are far outweighed by the serious disadvantages that their presence in a society can create. I have received reliable information that in early 1982 one of our visitors having obtained methadone through legitimate channels, distributed some of her supplies to others during her stay and returned for a further prescription.
4. For your information approximately 50 requests are received each year and I trust you will appreciate that this number represents such a small fraction of our total annual visitors that we should not jeopardize our society for this small minority.
5. After careful consideration it is this Ministry's view that methadone should not be made available to persons on a methadone maintenance programme. I would therefore request that you inform all appropriate staff that should enquiries be made by future visitors, they should be informed that they cannot be maintained on methadone during their stay in the Bahamas and should they still wish to proceed to the Bahamas they must accept that the drug will not be prescribed during their stay with us.
V.T. Allen
Chief Medical Officer" (original quote)
Importation of Methadone: import regulations could not be clarified
Therefore, travellers wishing to bring methadone into the Bahamas for personal use as medication are strongly advised to contact a diplomatic mission of the Bahamas well in advance of their intended journey.
Contact Address:
Dr. V.T. Allen
Chief Medical Officer
Ministry of Health & Environment
P.O. Box N-3729
Nassau
The Bahamas
http://www.indro-online.de/bahamas.htm
Hmmm, ANS's psych after Daniel died is affiliated with Sandilands.
Thanks for the info. This raises another question as to why ANS was able/allowed to have Methadone in her room. Shane Gibson, the ex-immigration minister, was in that room lying on the bed with ANS, so you know he saw the drugs. The cause of ANS and Daniel's deaths is just as screwed up as her life was!