Pubdate: Wed, 19 Sep 2012
Source: Gazette, The (London, CN ON Edu)
Contact: http://www.westerngazette.ca/contact/
Copyright: 2012 The Gazette
Website: http://www.westerngazette.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2548
Author: Jesica Hurst

EAST ADELAIDE DOESN'T CONDONE METHADONE

The ongoing battle between residents of an east London neighbourhood 
and a methadone-dispensing pharmacy has finally come to a halt-at 
least for the time being.

Since July, the London residents have been kept in the dark with what 
has been happening at the newly opened London Drug Mart located at 
1617 Dundas Street. But after taking matters into their own hands 
during a protest on September 3, the clinic was shut down at the end 
of their shift on September 9.

However, since no one can confirm why the clinic closed, Marsha*, a 
fifth-year Western student and resident of the neighbourhood, 
believes this may be a short-term resolution.

"There is rumor the clinic was shut down because of the protest, but 
that hasn't been confirmed," she said. "It has shut its doors for 
now, but the computers are still plugged in and there are still some 
lights on."

"This is just a temporary thing. This battle may be done, but the war 
isn't over."

Marsha and the majority of her neighbours were surprised when they 
first found out they had been living beside a methadone clinic.

"One day, a sign appeared saying London Drug Mart, and some of my 
neighbours had suspected they were dispensing methadone," she 
explained. "I thought this was impossible-there had been no grand 
opening, no banners or flyers sent out throughout the neighbourhood. 
According to people who live directly across from the clinic, they 
noticed clients going in there while the place was still under construction."

According to Marsha, they never had to inform local residents about 
the clinic because less than 40 patients were being treated there-the 
main reasoning behind the protest on Labour Day.

Although Paul Hubert, Ward 3 councillor, is unaware why the clinic 
was closed, he doesn't think the location of the clinic is the issue.

"I think there's an appropriate place for these clinics, and that's 
why we have a bylaw in place to ensure that methadone-dispensing 
pharmacies are only in certain areas," Hubert said. "In my personal 
opinion, we need to wonder why only some pharmacies are dispensing 
methadone. If all of our pharmacies in London dispensed ten doses of 
methadone a day, it wouldn't be a congregation at one particular location."

In an attempt to close down the clinic as quickly as it opened, 
Marsha and a few other local residents from the area began taking 
photos of the patients entering London Drug Mart-something Hubert 
argued was inappropriate.

"There are other avenues for getting your voice heard. I guess they 
can protest outside on the sidewalk if they want to, but do we want 
to demean the person who is trying to get treatment?" he said. "I 
think we have to be very careful that we don't lose our dignity in 
the context of getting our message out there."

But Marsha wants London residents to understand this protest was not 
meant to target or victimize the local methadone users.

"I understand that picture taking does bother some people, but these 
photos aren't going anywhere beyond a memory stick in my room," she 
said. "We are not against methadone users or methadone as a 
treatment. We are not saying methadone is right or wrong. Our issue 
is with the policy that enabled this solely methadone-dispensing 
pharmacy in our neighbourhood-something we want city councillors to address."

* Source's last name has been removed to preserve anonymity.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom