Pubdate: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 Source: Daily Illini, The (IL Edu) Copyright: 2001 Illini Media Co Contact: 57 E. Green St, Champaign, IL 61820 Fax: (217) 244-2933 Website: http://www.dailyillini.com Author: Nadia Malik, The Daily Illini Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) STUDENT PUSHES TO OPEN CLINIC Proposed Location For Methadone Clinic Worries Businesses Kendric Speagle, senior in LAS and founder and executive director of Harm Reduction Resource, wants to open a methadone treatment program in downtown Champaign. The location at 12 E. Washington St. would include a syringe exchange program, where people may turn in old syringes for sterilized ones, and a methadone maintenance program. The not-for-profit agency would receive funding through the state through the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Speagle said the methadone maintenance is contingent on approval from the Department of Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Methadone, said Speagle, is an agonist that helps those with opioid dependencies, such as heroin. A syringe exchange program, Speagle said, is effective in mitigating the spread of HIV and other diseases contracted through the blood that intravenous drug users are at a high risk of contracting. "I have always had an interest in HIV prevention and education," said Speagle, "and I found out there was no syringe exchange program in Champaign." Some businesses in the Champaign area near the proposed location have opposed the center because they believe it would deter customers. Carolyn Baxley, executive director of the Orpheum Children's Science Museum, said she is not opposed to the methadone clinic but is opposed to the proximity of the clinic to the museum. The Resource Center would be located across the street from the museum. "It's totally inappropriate to locate it so close to a children's museum," Baxley said. "I'm not opposed to the use of a treatment facility; it has been needed for along time." Speagle said the Prairie Center and TIMES Center are already located close to the Children's Museum, and they also attract drug users. "Methadone maintenance is a legitimate medical practice," Speagle said. "It significantly reduces crime and drug use, and it significantly increases the number of gainfully employed persons in the community." Baxley said the location of the treatment facility will impact visitation to the museum. "We spent six years getting on our feet, and it's devastating to think people will stay away because of the clinic." Baxley also said when they first moved to the area there were drug deals taking place in the public park next to the museum, and she does not want to have the possibility of that happening again. "The methadone maintenance success rate is approaching 80 percent," said Speagle, "and it is the most effective way of treating opioid dependency." Speagle recognized that the primary concern of business owners is an increase in crime and addicted persons, but he said the methadone treatment will offer a recourse to those in need of help. "I personally applaud anyone that gets a methadone clinic going because there are not enough programs," said Baxley, "but drug addicts and children just don't mix." Kendric Speagle, senior in LAS and founder and executive director of Harm Reduction Resource, wants to open a methadone treatment program in downtown Champaign. The location at 12 E. Washington St. would include a syringe exchange program, where people may turn in old syringes for sterilized ones, and a methadone maintenance program. The not-for-profit agency would receive funding through the state through the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Speagle said the methadone maintenance is contingent on approval from the Department of Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration and Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Methadone, said Speagle, is an agonist that helps those with opioid dependencies, such as heroin. A syringe exchange program, Speagle said, is effective in mitigating the spread of HIV and other diseases contracted through the blood that intravenous drug users are at a high risk of contracting. "I have always had an interest in HIV prevention and education," said Speagle, "and I found out there was no syringe exchange program in Champaign." Some businesses in the Champaign area near the proposed location have opposed the center because they believe it would deter customers. Carolyn Baxley, executive director of the Orpheum Children's Science Museum, said she is not opposed to the methadone clinic but is opposed to the proximity of the clinic to the museum. The Resource Center would be located across the street from the museum. "It's totally inappropriate to locate it so close to a children's museum," Baxley said. "I'm not opposed to the use of a treatment facility; it has been needed for along time." Speagle said the Prairie Center and TIMES Center are already located close to the Children's Museum, and they also attract drug users. "Methadone maintenance is a legitimate medical practice," Speagle said. "It significantly reduces crime and drug use, and it significantly increases the number of gainfully employed persons in the community." Baxley said the location of the treatment facility will impact visitation to the museum. "We spent six years getting on our feet, and it's devastating to think people will stay away because of the clinic." Baxley also said when they first moved to the area there were drug deals taking place in the public park next to the museum, and she does not want to have the possibility of that happening again. "The methadone maintenance success rate is approaching 80 percent," said Speagle, "and it is the most effective way of treating opioid dependency." Speagle recognized that the primary concern of business owners is an increase in crime and addicted persons, but he said the methadone treatment will offer a recourse to those in need of help. "I personally applaud anyone that gets a methadone clinic going because there are not enough programs," said Baxley, "but drug addicts and children just don't mix." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake