Amy Winehouse has been placed on an experimental new drug in a last-ditch effort to conquer her addiction to heroin and crack cocaine. Amy has been prescribed Subutex, a non-addictive alternative to methdone, which has traditionally been used to curb heroin dependency.

“All Amy’s cravings for heroin will be gone.”

“Amy may well be suited to maintenance treatment over several months so she can sort out her life,” say Dr Margaret McCann, an addiction specialist at Castle Craig Hospital near Edinburgh. “It will allow her a breathing space where she can receive counseling and support….This approach is very good for helping people who have led chaotic lives.”

“Putting Amy on Subutex gives her a head start over addicts because it is a clean drug and it is not itself addictive,” says David Knott, who treats addiction at Manor Clinic in Southampton. “We have a very good success rate with it. You take it for a minimum of two weeks and you are clean of your addiction.”