UK. Time for a new HAT – Heroin Assisted Treatment
UK. Time for a new HAT – Heroin Assisted Treatment
One hundred years ago, the UK became the first country in the world to prescribe heroin (diamorphine) to heroin users as a treatment for opioid dependency. The ‘British system’ was formally established in 1926 and took a medical approach to opioid dependency – heroin users could be prescribed diamorphine as their drug of choice to stem illicit use and improve health. At that time, most of the users were middle or upper class, and the system was in operation until the 1960s.
The ‘British system’ came under international pressure from the United States which viewed heroin use as a moral – rather than medical – issue. There was also concern amongst the British establishment that we were seeing a shift from middle-class ‘iatrogenic’ use (ie the result of medical activity) to dependence that arose because of hedonistic use by young people. (DDN – Drink and Drugs News, UK, 21.07.2025)