Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jul 2007
Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

DRUG TREATMENT CASH WON'T HELP LOCAL CLINICS

Local addiction clinics won't have a shot at new drug treatment money 
any time soon.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced yesterday a $2 
million investment in methadone treatment, but clinics here won't be 
seeing any of it.

"We've been running a methadone clinic for years without government 
funding. I wish they'd put money into ours," said Greg House, 
executive director of Simcoe Outreach Services in Barrie. "What they 
(the Ministry) are doing is commendable, but the funds are aimed at 
recruiting doctors to prescribe treatment in places that don't have 
doctors or clinics.

"We already have a physician here, and we also provide counselling 
here, which (the Ministry) isn't increasing funding for," he added. 
"To my knowledge, there's just no money coming for our services."

Health minister George Smitherman made the announcement to improve 
treatment for people with opioid addictions. Of the $2 million 
promised, $1 million will be allocated to recruit more doctors to 
prescribe methadone and other treatments and to expand CAMH's role as 
a provincial resource providing training and professional support for 
nurses, counsellors and pharmacists.

Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) welcomed this news.

"CAMH and other treatment centres offer Methadone Maintenance 
Treatment programs due to the success of this type of drug treatment 
strategy and most importantly, demand by those in need of this 
service," said Judith Tompkins, executive vice-president of programs 
and chief of nursing practice and professional services at CAMH.

Methadone maintenance has been shown to be an effective way to treat 
people who are challenged with opioid addictions.

Research also tells us that it reduces the risk of overdose as well 
as the risk of HIV and other infection. It also reduces drug-offence 
arrests by helping people reduce their use of heroin or other opioids.

"CAMH and other mental health and addiction service providers have 
been calling for increased funding of addiction services," said Tompkins.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman