The first specialised drug addiction's treatment consultation
was created in the Santa Maria Hospital in 1973. In 1977 and
under the supervision of the Justice Ministry the government
created three specialised drug addiction treatment units, in
Lisbon, Coimbra e Porto. Ten years later, in 1987, the government
created The National Programme of
Prevention Against Drugs - Projecto VIDA and devote
efforts to increase the offer of treatment units. Also in 1987,
and within the scope of the new program, the government created
in Lisbon a new addiction treatment unit (the first CAT), the Centro
das Taipas. In 1989 the state created more two new units, one
at north, Porto, and the other at south, Faro. Five years later,
in 1993, there was 21 prevention and treatment units (CAT's)
located at several locations of the country. This units give free
treatment and advice, and the anonymity and the absence of
prosecution is assured. At the present time (1997) there is 38
CATS around Portugal, 9 at north of the country, 11 at the
middle, 13 at Lisbon and Tejo valley, 5 at south including the
Alentejo. Since 1990 the co-ordination of this units is a
responsibility of the Prevention and
Treatment of Drug Addiction Service (SPTT) created in
that year. There is also the Linha VIDA, a free phone help
line where the individuals with drug problems can get some help
or advice. Besides the governmental units, a large number of
therapeutic communities have been created, some of then gives
free help and others only give paid assistance.
The treatment implemented first in Lisbon and later all over the country was under a drug free philosophy. In the later seventies the methadone was tried in a innovative experimentation at clinic in Porto, but since they aren't compatible with the dominant philosophy were abandoned.
The treatment with clonidine and guanfancine followed by psicosocial support was a rule. Since then a farther support with naltrexone has been implemented and because the AIDS and the echoes of the Berlin conference pushed for a rethinking of the proper place for this kind of treatment. As a result of the rethinking the use therapeutic of methadone increase, in 1995 there was approximately 1500 patients under treatment or maintenance with methadone, and today (1997) there is near 2000 outpatients using methadone. The government want to extend the usage of this medication and is planing to do a controlled free distribution to registered addicts at the pharmacies next year. Last year the governmental drug addiction specialised clinics gave near 172 000 consultations to outpatients. In 1995 the number of consultations was approximately 114.000.
Sources: Luis Patricio Duarte, O que se passa em Portugal Face à Droga, Centro Das Taipas, Colectânea de Textos, VI Volume, Lisboa 1994, SPTT.
António Costa, Treatment of Heroin Addicts and HIV Epidemiology in Portugal, Centro das Taipas, Colectânea de Textos, VI volume, Lisboa 1994, SPTT.
Síntese do Relatório Nacional do Fenómeno da Droga - 1996, Observatório Vida, 1997.
Diário de Noticias, 26/06/97 com base em fontes do Ministério da Saúde.
Correio da Manhã, 05/10/97 com base em fontes do SPTT.