Pubdate: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 The Lethbridge Herald Contact: http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239 Author: Caroline Zentner Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) City's First Methadone Clinic to Open When up to 40 per cent of patients using emergency room services are there because of addiction to pain pills, having a methadone clinic in the city makes perfect sense to Bill Leslie. Leslie, director of the Central Alberta Methadone Program, already knew the need existed because he saw at least 100 Lethbridge clients at methadone clinics in Medicine Hat and Calgary. When he learned space was available at the Northside Medical Clinic, he and his team went into action. Leslie oversees methadone clinics in Red Deer, Calgary and Medicine Hat. "This problem is North America-wide. Our society has a severe problem with drugs," Leslie said. "The role of the methadone program is: one, we want to get these people off the drugs and back into being contributing members of society; and two, to decrease the abuse to the health-care system and three, to decrease criminality." The methadone program will be located downstairs at the Northside Medical Clinic on 13 Street North, officially opening its doors July 2. The main floor, equipped to handle a staff of seven doctors, will remain as a medical clinic. The clinic's owner, Dr. Tom Melling, will retire at the end of the month but Leslie intends to recruit new family doctors. In addition, the clinic will have a pharmacy. Methadone treatment is used for people who are addicted to opiates. Morphine is a pure opiate and its derivatives include drugs like heroin, OxyContin, Percocet, Dilaudid and codeine. People may become addicted because of early childhood trauma, chronic pain or from staying on pain killers too long after an injury. "When they are taken off them they find themselves going into opiate withdrawal," Leslie said. "It's horrible. You're hot and cold with profuse sweating, diarrhea and severe joint and muscle pain. But they know if they go out and get a pill it'll all go away." Supporting a drug habit can cost $500 a day. Leslie said a 40-milligram tablet of OxyContin can sell on the street for anywhere between $15 and $25. Some people take 10 to 15 pills a day. More often than not, people addicted to opiates are also addicted to drugs like cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and Ritalin, known as uppers. Addicts depend on opiates to bring them down so they can sleep and often turn to crime to support their drug habits. People on uppers like cocaine tend to commit violent crimes while those on downers like opiates may be involved in prostitution or break and enters. People from all walks of life can become addicted to opiates and a high percentage are working people, Leslie said. "Methadone is a synthetic narcotic that is able to coat the pleasure receptors in the individual's brain so they no longer crave or go into withdrawal symptoms," Leslie said. "When you're stabilized on the correct dose of methadone you're able to do what anybody else can do." A methadone prescription costs $12 a day. In the beginning, the methadone is mixed with orange juice and a pharmacist witnesses the patient drink it. Once urinalysis shows the person is free of mind and mood altering substances, they then can start taking a day's dose home. Counselling is the second prong of treatment as research has shown methadone and counselling together are more successful. The methadone clinic will be staffed by a psychiatrist, two therapists and a secretary. In the beginning, staff will be in the office on Fridays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Leslie's also looking to add a doctor in training for addiction treatment and an additional counsellor. Off-site confidential treatment will be provided when deemed appropriate. Leslie also intends to work closely with the Blood Tribe as prescription drug abuse has been identified as a severe problem on the reserve. Anyone interested in participating in the program can call 403-394-1234 to arrange for an intake. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake