Pubdate: Wed, 15 Nov 2000
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2000 Southam Inc.
Contact:  300 - 1450 Don Mills Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3R5
Fax: (416) 442-2209
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Forum: http://forums.canada.com/~nationalpost
Author: Philip B. Berger, MD

NOT NECESSARILY ADDICTS

Toronto -- The Ontario government's intention to interpret a positive 
drug test as an indication of an addiction disorder is not in 
accordance with current standards in medicine (Ontario To Impose Drug 
Tests On Welfare Recipient -- Nov. 14). Physicians use a diagnostic 
manual to diagnose persons as addicts. The manual's authors emphasize 
that a positive test for drugs does not by itself meet the criteria 
for an addiction disorder.

Under the Ontario plan, a positive drug test will be considered 
presumptive evidence of a disorder that requires treatment. The 
government has not yet indicated what sort of treatment it will 
provide to welfare recipients who, according to legitimate medical 
criteria, have not been diagnosed with a disorder.
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