Originally posted October 17th 2009

DRUG FREE AUSTRALIAʼS DR. STUART REECE & CULPABLE ABUSE OF PATIENTS

A critical look at faith based practices and superstition used in the abuse of heroin
dependent patients, in conjunction with poorly monitored naltrexone prescription.

Dr. Reece continues to practice today and still claims to hold “a world safety record” in
naltrexone prescription, despite over 25 fatalities in 20 months.

He continues to write in the anti-drug, ambitiously named Journal of global drug policy and
practice. See final pages.

We begin with publications from just after Dr. Reece found the QLD Medical Tribunal
indefinitely adjourned his case.

This easy to access and a pleasure to read, embedded PDF of Focus magazine has two
relevant stories. On page 1 we meet Graham Preston who was jailed back in June 2003
for pro-life antics. His sole direction was Proverbs 24, verse 11: “Rescue those being led
away to death”. Note the bias in how his story is reported and please understand this is an
excellent example of using religion to cement tribal cohesion. Now read the story on page
2: Naltrexone Doctor Vindicated and remind yourself of the above proverb. Dr. Reeceʼs
“feelings were hurt”. No news on how the 25 corpses are feeling.

For the record, not only is it entirely irrelevant to launch ad hominem attacks on the
application of demonstrably efficacious therapy {MMT}, but the claims made have been
followed up and found to be fallacious. These statements simply reinforce that
fundamentalist indoctrination and zealotry of such lethal extent is resilient to rehabilitation.
Attacking an evidence based therapy indicates his aim was never about adding to the
rehabilitation arsenal. It was about a personal vendetta over old funding disagreements
and his religious conviction that certain policies are immoral. Science is immoral, evolution
is immoral, democracy is immoral… Anything not backed by bible blubbery is of course,
immoral.

In reality the QLD Health Practitioners Tribunal adjourned indefinitely over the 25 deaths at
his bastard baptising, demon exorcising, sin stopping, faith healing hands. Letʼs consider a
more expansive view, given that he has since claimed multiple times – and before a
Parliamentary inquiry – to “hold the world safety record” in administering the very
treatment he killed 25 Aussies with. Like most junk scientists his arguments arenʼt about
his supporting evidence, as much as about misinforming people about aspects of medicine
he considers immoral. Much like homeopathy, Christian fundamentalism as a medical
option [christian science] must discredit that which exposes itʼs lies: simple, ordinary
evidence. Dr. Reece is the gentleman who coined the term “hedonistic delirium” to
describe modern democracies. Or the simply gorgeous: “Sometimes the best way forward,

Paul Gallagher. May 5th, 2011 - republished from October 17th 2009. Copyright: All Rights Reserved.
Originally posted October 17th 2009

is the way back” in a brave attempt to argue pre-industrial revolution societies were
superior.

Okay – letʼs begin. By 1999 Australia knew naltrexone was far from safe despite
“miraculous” stories of recovery. Wodak and Hall discussed the evidence in an editorial in
the MJA, that also briefly noted the role of the media in confusing community attitudes.
Stuart Reece would never forget this and has “blamed” not only these scientists but
projected responsibility for his disgusting conduct onto these very individuals. He has
slandered both of these brilliant internationally renowned scientists whilst under
Parliamentary protection accusing Hall of “scientific fraud” [Page 61/FHS 55]. And he has
ignored the Hippocratic oath in his quest to slander and destroy Dr. Wodakʼs reputation.

In September 1999 after being raided and threatened with closure he claimed the QLD
government would have blood on itʼs hands if he didnʼt get his way. 20 months later, 25
patients were dead because he got exactly what he wanted. He was raided and closed
down again, much to the ire of the Christian Democrat Party – whose “federal drug policy”
proudly claims individual Aussies have no civil rights in this respect. Biblical love is in
abundance whenever Dr. Reece is faced with evidence. Three months after claiming 25
“drug addicts” died as “part of a conspiracy”, Reece dropped all pretense and did the
media circuit as a faith healer. In fact these “patients” earned him thousands of dollars per
head only to be prescribed addictive benzodiazapines – later to contribute to cause of
death – as the untrialled and untested naltrexone failed. Had basic support – such as a
contact or counseling – been available, heroin overdoses would be highly unlikely. As I
noted above, this was never about helping addicts so much as winning a moral argument,
and the lucrative contracts that must one day follow.

In October 2005 Christian conservative Tony Abbott MP Liberal (then Federal Health
Minister) funded Drug Free Australia to the tune of $600,000. They breached almost every
condition under which they were awarded the funding, ultimately emerging as right wing
lobbyists – not therapists – and set about promoting Creationism, Conservatism and
Punishment for all. They are devout followers of Swedenʼs zero tolerance policy and the
USA hardliners [open letter] who cling to lucrative contracts and powerful identities. Reece,
a supporter of biblically driven abstinence and Texas trained fundamentalist was back with
backing.

By April 2007 Dr. Reece was testifying to a Parliamentary Inquiry that the immoral policies
that permitted condoms – the real cause behind AIDS – clean needles, opioid therapy for
addicts, non-punitive cannabis laws, harm reduction and general tolerance for ill Aussies
would be our doom. In utter amazement the Senate Standing Committee stared as this
“expert” whoʼd introduced himself by saying “I certainly know the science”, displayed a
photo of “the archaeological site of Sodom” and a tree with snakes instead of branches.
[Page 33/FHS 27]. The point to this? “There will be consequences”.

As reported in Crikey by Ray Moynihan our world expert decided the “disease drugs, sex
and rock-n-roll” was the problem at hand. Asked about the safety of naltrexone, Dr. Reece
immaturely attacked the internationally renowned scientist, Dr. Wodak [Page 59/FHS54],
who specialiseʼs in blood born viruses and epidemiology – which means he supports
condoms, clean syringe access and used syringe collection: dire threats to our very
civilisation, claimed Reece. This childish ad hominem approach is common despite the
fact entire shires with dozens of dispensaries and hundreds of clients report no methadone
deaths. A minority report death, and methadone is one toxic substance on a list of many. It
is taken under supervision, immediately after being prepared by a pharmacist. Compared

Paul Gallagher. May 5th, 2011 - republished from October 17th 2009. Copyright: All Rights Reserved.
Originally posted October 17th 2009

to 25 deaths at the hands of one man in a year and a half, a scattering of deaths across
hundreds of outlets in every state, is of no significance. Dr. Albert Stuart Reeceʼs real world
record is clearly in reckless fatalities.

How did Committee Chairperson react to this insanity? Bronwyn Bishop slandered and
abused public health scientists yet gushed uncontrollably in support of Dr. Reeceʼs
voodoo. A pre-determined agenda in what was billed as the most important family relevant
inquiry of Howardʼs government spoke volumes. Bishops final report was rejected
nationwide by all but religious fundamentalists and Christian lobbyists. Read my lips. Not
one single publically funded treatment or advocacy agency in our nation missed the
opportunity to criticise in scathing terms her “report”. Which you may remember from
coverage of her wish to “take the children” of drug users with “absolutely no chance” of
reunion.

Gordon Moyes also forgot about Proverbs 24, Verse 11 shouting praise for naltrexone
despite the grave concerns of our medical community about it remaining unregulated – but
lucrative for the same people year in, year out. When the Medical Journal of Australia
exposed the fact these same misguided faith healers were not reporting adverse reactions
– despite TGA requirements under the Special Access loophole demanding it of them – Dr.
Gods team were having none of this “academic stuff”. Drug Free Australia actually
published a sorta, kinda rebuttal. And yes, adorning the page is direct reference to Dr.
Stuart Reece himself. In deeply offensive mockery boasting how Reece “studies” death
rates post treatment they entitled their piece of twaddle, Australia could be the biggest
loser.

I could go on and on, and the above is a cut down sanitised version sparing you Dr.
Reeceʼs sickening obsession with teenage and childhood sex and sexual assault, murder,
violence… all due to “the depraved advertising industry” which catalysed “the disease sex,
drugs and rock-n-roll”. Advertising womenʼs nudity, outside of “a strictly medical context” is,
in his ever so wise [and medically qualified] eyes, “incredibly powerful pornography.”

Today, a decade plus since this intellectual repugnance began, Reece is front and centre
as a pin up boy for religious fundamentalism. Three years ago he promised Parliament
with a blinding flash of Peacock Terminology that his results were “statistically powerful”
and “revolutionary”. Of course, there are no results. Itʼs the same certainty that only faith
can sustain. If prayer cures homosexuality, addiction is a certainty. His latest work “proves”
naltrexone is safer than opioid therapy. As reported on ABCʼs 7:30 Report in 2006 multiple
disciplinary teams have steadily found naltrexone has a fatality rate over four times that of
opioid therapy. Dr. Reece, and others who seek funding and massive contracts seem to
have a magic formula no others can find.

My point to this indulgent diversion is that Australia is no stranger to standing back with
folded arms and by not acting as we would expect a just society to act, reinforces the
misguided belief that religion is the “untouchable” tool. For over ten years a huge part of
our public health system has been exploited in the name of religion. How have we allowed
progressively malignant superstition to dictate to us on morality? Given the example set by
the USA why are we intentionally expanding and funding fundamentalist religions? Why do
we insist that junk Christian science is “harmless” and ones own choice, in the same way
we insist alternative medicine is harmless and “an informed choice”?

Only in recent years has the orchestrated rejection of default respect for religion found a
strong voice. We no longer accept in total the authority of those who use God as an

Paul Gallagher. May 5th, 2011 - republished from October 17th 2009. Copyright: All Rights Reserved.
Originally posted October 17th 2009

excuse – as we see done above – but we still have a very long way to travel intellectually. I
would also argue that we must not be led further astray by those who use the “F Word” –
family values – so liberally. The value of any family is much like the institution of marriage.
Place it above human rights and human beings will be abused in the name of subjective
value judgement.

So my greatest question is along the lines of concerns already raised: the intentional
maligning of science. In its typical tradition, the splintered and fractured divergences of
Christianity that stoke the engine furnace of conservative fundamentalism invite steadily
more bizarre practices into its protective fold. Only a fool would accept abundant taxation
and Equal Opportunity exemption is not exploited and as with all power, will be jealously
guarded and arrogantly inflated.

How long before we as a community demand legislators acknowledge that default cap in
hand respect and trust is fraught with risk already evidenced by the abuse of our
vulnerable, flagrant law breaches, financial scams, bigotry, insouciant discrimination and,
as seen with orchestrated child sexual abuse, an excuse for crushing immorality? What
future can we expect if we allow this illusion of god-given elitism to increasingly include
rejection of realities that conflict with demonstrably false and absurd beliefs? How long
before Equal Opportunity exemption includes rejection of educational standards? Is not
freedom of religion at risk of abandoning its duty to community cohesion such that
Christians may enjoy an escape from reality?

Already we allow home schooling that is overtly biblical and anti-ʼmodernityʼ. We permit
dietary restrictions that run in direct contrast to national daily nutritional intake
requirements, never questioning if the children starved of iron and protein this way are
simply pawns in their parents deluded vacuum. We allow parental denial of the
administration of medical technology that would save a childʼs life: a simple blood
transfusion. Anti-vaccination conspiracy theorists promote “conscientious objection”. We
fund schools not to educate students but to fill their minds with archaic ideals. Ideals so
easily refuted by merely looking around our Fair Go nation that a great deal of supporting
intellectualism is spent mocking, discrediting and misinforming on the topic of science.

The Christian god demands he be loved above and beyond any and all – including family
members. Having perhaps not insignificant experience fending off ʻchapter and verseʼ
arguments Iʼm reminded by this video [Part 2] of Abraham and Gods test of his loyalty. He
was ordered to kill his son on Mount Moriah according to Genesis 22: 1-24. Not until he
had bound his son Isaac to a sacrificial alter and held the dagger aloft did good oleʼ god
step in and say, “Ho, Ho – just joshing old friend”. Or, words to that effect.

The final question is perhaps, how many will be abused, exploited, tormented, mocked,
slandered and threatened simply because we are yet to demand the burden of proof be
met? But to do so in any serious legislative manner is to lose ones political influence. A
direct loss of votes. Religious apologetics – even moderate Christian Kevin Ruddʼs
“working families” dash to church each week – is steadily cranking that heavy jagged
wheel of global superstition.

And it is our very selves and our species brightest traits that is crushed beneath.

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Paul Gallagher. May 5th, 2011 - republished from October 17th 2009. Copyright: All Rights Reserved.
Originally posted October 17th 2009

Comments posted online from a relative and a friend of Reeceʼs

patients.
Just Jules says:
June 5, 2010 at 6:01 am
Ahhh there is none so blind as those who can not see .. Dr Reece in my eyes is a
discusting (sic) human being .. I am the mother of a child he treated .. He also treated my
daughter in law and the mother of my first grand child .. If you want to see what his
methods leave you with, go see my daughter in law who for the last 11 years has been in a
home for the severely brain damaged .. In is own words to me ” they are just reoffending
drug addicts”. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing and should of been stopped before he
started

Vicki PS says:
July 5, 2010 at 12:02 pm
I came across this site looking for help for a friend of my daughterʼs. This young woman
has been increasingly unhappy with her treatment under Dr Reece. He is treating her
addiction with Suboxone, a subutex/naltrexone combination drug. Her big concern is that
this unethical, immoral disgrace to the profession reduces her dosage if she has not been
to church! This girl is now in early pregnancy and is scared that she could miscarry if this
idiot messes around with her medication to suit his pathological world view. I find it frankly
incredible that Dr Reece is still permitted to practice.

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Stuart Reece:

The Journal Of Global Drug Policy And Practice

When harm minimization is not harm minimization

Cutting the Gordian knot of drug addiction confusion

Gordon Moyes - “a Christian voice in politics”:

The Great Success Of Naltrexone With Drug Addicts

House Standing Committee on Family and Human Services: Australian Parliament

Inquiry into the impact of illicit drug use on families. Chair: Bronwyn Bishop MP - Liberal
Party.

Final Report - The Winnable War on Drugs - Bronwyn Bishop September 13th, 2007.

Audio of Bishopʼs launch of The Winnable War

Paul Gallagher. May 5th, 2011 - republished from October 17th 2009. Copyright: All Rights Reserved.
Originally posted October 17th 2009

"To the crimes against humanity, it is incumbent upon us as oath takers,

advocates of neutrality, professionals and ethicists to note one more. The
intentionally malignant anthropomorphism of "science". Science is the vehicle
that set us free and we owe our global cousins everything we have gained -
indeed as we gain.

To demand that affluent society must now see it as a lumbering, monstrous,

"evil" and sentient agent with the single aim of polluting human morale is
puerile, ideological, mischievous and markedly in error. We are agents of
morality far, far before and because we are agents of evidence."
 

- Paul Gallagher. August 2009

Paul Gallagher. May 5th, 2011 - republished from October 17th 2009. Copyright: All Rights Reserved.