Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: Citizens' Voice, The (Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Copyright: 2003 The Citizens' Voice
Contact:  http://www.citizensvoice.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1334
Author: Joe Sylvester
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

METHADONE CLINIC PLAN STILL RUNNING INTO OPPOSITION

Mention The Words "Methadone Clinic" And Northeastern Pennsylvania Residents
Say, "Not Near My House, Or Business."

They fear the clinics for the treatment of heroin addicts would draw a
criminal element to their neighborhoods and devalue their properties.

Such strong opposition in 1999 kept New Directions Treatment Services in
Allentown from opening a methadone clinic in Old Forge.

And while one recovering addict's methadone success story, as told by her
father last week, shows the drug's benefits, neighbors of a proposed clinic
in Plains Township will likely oppose it.

Deanna Bender, 27, of Pittston, who was among nearly 20 people charged last
Wednesday in a Pittston area heroin ring operation, recently started
methadone treatment after a five-year heroin addiction, said her father, Ted
Bender. He said he has seen amazing results.

Without elaborating, he said heroin had led his daughter to "do some
horrendous things." "She was in and out of detox many times. She even coded
a couple of times in the emergency room," he said.

Miss Bender's arrest was for alleged offenses dating back several years. She
began methadone treatments just six weeks ago.

After just those few weeks of her father or mother driving her to a clinic
in Allentown every day for a drink of liquid methadone, her personality and
sense of humor are back and she can now care for her 6-year-old daughter.
Previously, family members had cared for the girl.

Mr. Bender said the program's goal is abstinence and includes weekly
counseling sessions.

Seeing how methadone helped his daughter makes it difficult for Mr. Bender
to understand the opposition to the methadone clinics, such as the one
proposed in Plains Township by Choices, the drug and alcohol program of
Behavioral Health Services, an affiliate of Wyoming Valley Health Care
System. The issue is scheduled to go before the zoning hearing board on May
5.

Mr. Bender said people on methadone don't have to steal to support their
habit. But opponents, even if they feel methadone might help an addict get
off heroin, don't want a clinic near them that will draw addicts and what
they feel could be a criminal element.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom McGroarty and residents who live in the city's
Parsons section near the proposed clinic site in Plains Township are
fighting the clinic because of its location near homes and a city
residential complex.

One resident, Ralph Roberts, also said at a March 24 meeting he did not
believe addiction was a disease and thought methadone treatment did not
work.

Even state Attorney General Mike Fisher, answering a question last Wednesday
at a Plains Township news conference on the heroin ring arrests, said he
thought interdiction and education were more important in fighting drugs
than methadone.

Pittston Police Chief Paul Porfirio takes a more middle-of-the-road view.

"I don't think that, per se, people are against a methadone clinic as much
as the location of it," he said. "There are some success stories. But I
could tell you there are people we've arrested who had been on methadone and
were using heroin (again)."

Chief Porfirio said he believes successful treatment requires a combination
of methadone, probation, counseling and strong family support.

The chief would not say if he favors or opposes a methadone clinic in
Pittston, but he said residents ultimately should decide if they want one in
their neighborhood. "It's the community's choice," he said.
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