Pubdate: Wed, 01 May 2002 Source: Concord Monitor (NH) Copyright: 2002 Monitor Publishing Company Contact: http://www.cmonitor.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/767 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) STATE PLANS REVIEW OF METHADONE-DISPENSING PRACTICES PORTLAND, Maine - Increased use and abuse of methadone is prompting state officials to review procedures at southern Maine clinics that use the synthetic narcotic to treat opiate addiction. The state Office of Substance Abuse will examine the dispensing practices at two clinics in light of several recent overdose deaths and reports of illegal methadone sales on the street, director Kim Johnson said. "We're most interested in the dosage issue and the take-home issue," Johnson said. "We're going to visit both facilities and review the whole process." Johnson said staff members will visit the sites and review patient records and treatment plans within the next two weeks. Authorities and public health officials are alarmed that methadone has become a commodity in southern Maine. They believe some people who are given methadone for addiction to heroin or other opiates are, in some cases, selling it. Portland has had 11 overdose deaths since January, more than double the number for the same period last year. Methadone has been implicated in two-thirds of those deaths, according to drug agents. Police have charged a 25-year-old man in the case of one Portland woman who survived a methadone overdose over the weekend. Police said Thomas Hume was prescribed methadone at CAP Quality Care in Westbrook. CAP Quality Care and Discovery House in South Portland both report a spike in the number of addicts seeking treatment. Discovery House now treats about 425 people and CAP Quality Care treats 480 people. Both clinics allow selected patients to take methadone out of the facilities, but the clinics said that practice is a privilege that must be earned. During the first 90 days of treatment, patients ingest the methadone at the clinic each day. Eventually, patients can make weekly visits to the clinic if they test negative for opiate use and meet other state and federal criteria, the clinics said. The state is required to review and approve each take-home order. Steve Cotreau, program director at CAP Quality Care, said a review by state officials would be welcome. Steve Gumbley, project director at Discovery House, did not return a phone call Tuesday. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex