Pubdate: Fri, 16 Feb 2007
Source: Telegram, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2007 The Telegram
Contact:  http://www.thetelegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/303
Author: Danette Dooley, Special to The Telegram

METHADONE PROGRAM SOON FOR HMP

A methadone program will soon be available to addicts at Her 
Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in St. John's who are trying to kick 
their habit, but they'll only be accepted into it if they were on a 
similar community-based program before they were taken into custody.

"We're not going to be actually starting people on methadone, it will 
be a maintenance program only," explained HMP superintendent John 
Scoville, who said the program should be up and running in April.

Methadone belongs to the opioid family of drugs. Since the 1960s, 
it's been used to help people addicted to other drugs from the same 
family, such as heroin, morphine and codeine.

At any one time, about 10 inmates are in the community-based 
methadone maintenance program, Scoville said, but he's seen that 
number go as high as 14 - nearly 10 per cent of the prison population.

"Fourteen is fairly significant when you look at the percentage here 
of the population ... which averages around 150," he said.

Scoville said having a program in place at HMP will be more 
convenient for the inmates who need it, and for prison officials.

"Right now, we have to put them in shackles; we have to escort them 
out," he said. "It's much more onerous on both staff and on inmates. 
So, it would make much more sense if we could offer (a methadone 
program) inside."

Because methadone is a narcotic, a pharmaceutical consultant has been 
hired to help ensure that once the drug program is offered at the 
penitentiary, the drug is secured, closely controlled and monitored, 
Scoville said.

"It's all about who has access, who has keys. We are in a prison, of 
course, where security people all have keys. But this will be a 
little bit different."

Security staff will not have access to the drug.

The executive director of Turnings, an advocacy group that helps 
people with addictions and supports ex-offenders as they transition 
back into society, said the methadone program is sorely needed.

"It's a positive step in making sure the help they need is readily 
available," said Ron Fitzpatrick.

He said the lack of a methadone maintenance program at HMP had put 
added stress on the inmates on methadone as well as the entire prison 
population.

"If we have a snowstorm and they can't get them out to get their 
methadone for eight or nine hours, that could set them off and up she 
goes," he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine