Drug Addicts to Receive Heroin From NHS

The British government is eyeing a plan that would allow the National Health Service to prescribe heroin to hardcore drug addicts.

The Home Office crime report, which came following drug treatment trials, suggests sales of heroin and crack cocaine should be licensed throughout Britain, The Independent on Sunday.

The Home Office should consider wider rolling out of injectable heroin prescription for highly dependent users through the NHS, the report said. A system of controlled availability of drugs would allow the government to exert a much greater degree of influence over the way in which substances are used than is currently possible.

The study suggests that allowing prescriptions for heroin could help reduce unemployment and criminal behavior in Britain, the newspaper said.