Pubdate: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 Source: Portland Press Herald (ME) Copyright: 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.portland.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/744 Author: Mark Shanahan METHADONE CLINIC PROPOSED FOR BAYSIDE Discovery House, which dispenses methadone in South Portland, is considering opening a clinic in Portland's Bayside neighborhood to treat the region's growing number of heroin addicts and opiate abusers. It's the second such facility proposed for Portland in recent weeks, and the third for Greater Portland. Earlier this spring, state substance-abuse officials announced their intention to open a nonprofit methadone clinic somewhere in Portland. A Chicago-based agency called the Center for Addictive Problems also is talking about opening a methadone clinic. It is looking at sites in Westbrook. Discovery House's plan will be discussed by the city's Health and Human Services Committee today at 5 p.m. "Our intention is to expand into downtown Portland," said John Destefano, program director at Discovery House. "So we want to provide city officials with information about who we are and why we're doing this." The city would have no role in reviewing or approving the clinic, other than ensuring it complies with zoning regulations. It's possible, however, that the City Council could amend the existing zoning, or approve a special ordinance, to prohibit such facilities in residential neighborhoods. Methadone is a synthetic narcotic that suppresses an addict's craving for drugs for as long as 24 hours. City officials are generally supportive of methadone as a treatment option, but they want any clinic to offer a broad range of services. A "drive-thru" operation that lacks counseling or inpatient services likely would meet with resistance. "Comprehensive methadone services that have a counseling component and focus on affordability and access to inpatient beds, those are the premier programs," said Gerald R. Cayer, Portland's director of health and human services. The state envisions a full-service, nonprofit clinic that would include inpatient and outpatient programs, counseling services and a "12-step" aspect. The state will solicit proposals through the end of the month, and award a $100,000 contract sometime after that. State officials said the facility is needed because more and more people in Cumberland and York counties are getting hooked on heroin and prescription painkillers, especially OxyContin. There are now two methadone clinics in Maine, in South Portland and Winslow. A third is about to open at Acadia Hospital in Bangor and a fourth is being considered in Machias. Methadone is viewed by many experts as the most effective way to treat heroin and painkiller addiction. It has proven to be a viable treatment method for nearly 30 years. State officials say 474 people in Cumberland County were treated last year for heroin or opiate abuse. That's nearly twice the number of people treated five years ago. In York County, 136 addicts were seen in hospitals or detoxification facilities in 2000, compared with 49 in 1995. Discovery House, which has been dispensing methadone since 1994, serves about 500 people. It does not have an inpatient component, but does offer individual and group counseling. Destefano said Bayside is the ideal location for a clinic because it's the social-service hub of southern Maine. He said he's looking at possible sites and has no timetable. Residents of the neighborhood said Tuesday that they want to know more about the proposed clinic before taking a position. "I have no impressions yet," said Sandra Elder, president of the Bayside Neighborhood Association. "We don't know if this is a service that people who live here need, or if it's just bringing another issue into the neighborhood." Janet Panissidi, who has been going to Discovery House almost since it opened, said the neighborhood has nothing to worry about. She said the majority of methadone users have jobs and families. "For the most part, patients are in and out in five minutes," said Panissidi, who lives in Wiscasset and has been on methadone for 23 years. "Nobody hangs around. That's just a stereotype and, unfortunately, it's going to remain until the public gets a little more educated." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart