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. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk