VANCOUVER - A unique clinical trial that prescribes heroin to addicts in Vancouver and Montreal wraps up at the end of this month.
The NAOMI trial began recruiting people three years ago, and has seen about 250 patients receive either prescription narcotics or heroin.
Lead researcher Martin Schechter says the idea is to ensure addicts aren't consumed with finding drugs -- often resorting to crime.
He says that can stabilize their lives, and better prepare them to be able to access addiction counselling and treatment.
Release of the results could take some time, but Schechter's team has applied to Vancouver's local health authority to be able to continue offering prescription heroin.
He's hopeful after last week's court decision protecting Vancouver's safe-injection site, known as Insite.
Schechter says it's too early to know the ruling's full impact on the treatment he's researching.
But he's encouraged by the decision's language regarding addiction as a health issue.
