Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 Source: Bellingham Herald (WA) Copyright: 2000 Bellingham Herald Contact: P.O. Box 1277, Bellingham, WA 98227 Fax: (360) 647-9260 Feedback: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/contactus/letter-to-editor-direct.htm Website: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/ Author: Tyree Callahan Note: Western Washington University student Tyree Callahan is a founding member of the WWU Drug Policy Reform Organization. Note(2): Paragraph breaks inserted by MAP editor METHADONE PROVEN HELP FOR ADDICTS HEALTH: County should reverse its methadone ordinance and make treatment legal, available. "Assure that quality, cost-effective, medically necessary, age and culturally appropriate Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse services are available and provided to the citizens of Whatcom County." These words are part of the Mission Objective of Whatcom County's Health and Human Services yet methadone, one of the most promising treatment options for heroin addicts, remains illegal in Whatcom County. Methadone is a synthetic, long acting analgesic that blocks the craving for heroin without producing a euphoric effect. Methadone was first used to treat drug addiction in the 1960's and since that time, the drug has been praised and vilified by politicians and health officials alike. The misinformation surrounding methadone and methadone maintenance programs can be astounding. A prime example surfaced at the recent Whatcom County Substance Abuse Advisory Board meeting on May 24. The chairman of the board claimed that methadone maintenance programs were an ineffective treatment option because "80% of methadone patients continue to use heroin." This statement is patently false. It is widely recognized that methadone reduces the use of heroin among addicts. According to a July 1998 Office of National Drug Control Policy press release from our nation's Drug Czar, Barry McCaffrey, "Methadone is one of the longest-established, most thoroughly evaluated forms of drug treatment. The science is overwhelming in its findings about methadone treatment's effectiveness. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Study found, for example, that methadone treatment reduced participants' heroin use by 70%, their criminal activity by 57%, and increased their full-time employment by 24%." This information inevitably begs the question, "Why does Whatcom County have a methadone ordinance?" Whatcom County banned methadone in 1987. The 80's were a crucial time for drug policy in this country. The Reagan Administration rekindled the relentless war on drugs, which criminalized many addicts, converting the medical problem of addiction to a law enforcement priority. Unfortunately, the common sense use of methadone became a victim of "Just Say No" and was accordingly banned in Whatcom County and many other places across the U.S. Banning the use of methadone in Whatcom County is unproductive and counter to the mission objectives of Whatcom County Health and Human Services. Methadone maintenance programs will not burden the county with additional expense-quite the contrary. Methadone maintenance programs cost an average of $4000 per year, per patient. On the other hand, jailing that patient costs just over $20,000 per year. Indeed, not every patient will ultimately end up in jail. However, methadone maintenance studies have proven repeatedly that they are an effective way to reduce the crime associated with heroin addiction. The benefit is twofold: First, reducing the crime rate frees police resources for more serious investigations. Second, reducing addiction-related crime lessens the burden of an already overcrowded jail. Altogether, methadone maintenance programs will likely decrease law enforcement spending. Additionally, methadone maintenance programs significantly reduce other risk factors associated with intravenous drug use. Particularly blood-borne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C. In conjunction with Whatcom County's year-old needle exchange program, a methadone maintenance program will significantly reduce the instances of these diseases, creating a healthier community and reducing health costs associated with blood-borne diseases. Citizens of Whatcom County are hereby encouraged to contact Whatcom County Council members and demand that the methadone ordinance be repealed. In keeping with the County's own Health and Human Services mission objective, methadone maintenance programs are proven to be quality programs, cost effective programs, and medically necessary programs. It is time for the County Council to assure this mission objective be implemented by repealing the methadone ordinance. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart