Second test for methadone proves negative

Issued jointly with NHS Highland

The NHS, Police and Council in the Highlands have moved to reassure the public that methadone was not the cause of a seven year old Inverness boy becoming unwell at school.  The announcement follows the results of a second test which has ruled out the presence of methadone in the child’s body.

Director of Public Health for NHS Highland, Dr Eric Baijal, said:

“The preliminary routine screening tests on the boy showed traces of methadone.  In order to confirm this generic screening test,  we routinely run a second test to ensure that methadone is in fact present.  Only in those circumstances would we confirm that methadone was present. This second more sensitive test, at a specialist laboratory in Glasgow, has now come back as negative.”

Bill Alexander, Head of Children’s services for NHS Highland and The Highland Council, said: “It is very reassuring that this youngster had not in fact come into contact with methadone.  It shows the wisdom of the First Minister’s words of caution that we should not jump to conclusions until the cause had been confirmed.”

He praised the local agencies for their prompt action: “Although we now know that methadone wasn’t involved, we didn’t know at the time.  At the time there was a very real concern that it was a possibility that he had come into contact with methadone and all agencies took prompt action to protect the child, his family, and other families in the area.  Parents would expect nothing less of us in the circumstances.  We are very glad that he has suffered no ill effects and that he returned to school on Monday.”

Dr Eric Baijal said it remained unclear why the young boy became unwell: “The boy was submitted to a very thorough examination which has revealed no other health causes to explain his illness.  We will continue to keep this child under surveillance to ensure that there is no underlying health condition.”

He reiterated earlier calls for people to be vigilant about keeping drugs and medicines out the way of children: “Although we now know that it wasn’t methadone in this particular case, as Garry Coutts (Chairman of NHS Highland) said last week, it is very important that everyone keeps their drugs and medicines secure and well out of the way of children.  Between 30 and 40 children are hospitalised following unintentional poisoning every year in the Highlands.”