When locating new clinics, addicts should come first

The reaction of residents of London's SOHO community over a proposed methadone clinic should be a clear signal to city council of the difficult road ahead as they try to sort out what to do about this issue.
While something has to be done to ensure residents south of Horton St. are heard in the debate and concerns are taken into account, no one should lose sight of the fact these clinics are more about people in recovery, not people using illicit drugs or committing crimes.
There's no doubt such clinics are unwanted in every neighbourhood. Just look at the methadone clinic on Dundas St. across from Beal secondary school, where dozens of people at a time can be seen lining up to enter the building to get their dose.
That alone is unfortunate, not just for the students, businesses and other neighbours forced to tolerate some inappropriate behaviour, but also for the people in the lineup.
One would think that a methadone clinic would be capable of providing some measure of privacy for clients, not just in location but also in design.
These people should be able to come and go -- discreetly -- with relative ease, not forced to stand outside on a sidewalk on one of the city's busiest roads where everyone -- their family, friends, neighbours and employers -- can see them.

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http://www.lfpress.com/comment/editorial/2011/02/04/17151236.html


 This is a good opinion piece by Joe Belanger.

If you take the time to read his article, you will see that he has taken into account many of the things which are often omitted from articles addressing this issue; namely the effects on the addict that these clinics and the current environment has on them.

One can only imagine what it feels like for those people, forced to line-up in full view of the public.  I hope that their being seen lined up outside a notorious methadone clinic would not negatively affect their employment, or reputation - sadly I know it does.  I have spoken to methadone patients regarding this very issue and every one of them dislikes the lines. Not only are they [methadone addicts] on display and out in the cold but when those lines stray outside the view of the pharmacy staff, those lines can become places of temptation where drug dealers can find easy prey.

This does not mean I think legislation should be created forcing pharmacy owners to create enclosures to protect the privacy of their clients, just that it is a negative thing which could be remedied. Unfortunately that remedy includes the building of more clinics, except that has been banned.

Another alternative would be to allow more pharmacies to dispense methadone.  In my time interviewing addicts I discovered a large number who had "take-home" doses after proving themselves responsible enough to have them. Such people should be allowed to get their drugs from the same pharmacies that I get mine.

It is good for all of us to have things as convenient as possible for those making the greatest efforts.  The less obstacles those people face the more they can work and accomplish. That is a good thing.

The only reason for the inconvenience is how people would feel about methadone being distributed at the pharmacies they use. Those same people won't whine much about all the other drugs that come out of these pharmacies - speed, valium, opiate-narcotics and the like - but then again methadone addicts are such an easy target: they're already stigmatized, they are often unable offer cogent rebuttal, and they are one of the few groups you can attack whilst plausibly claiming that you are doing it for the public good.

And so all the more reason to give Kudos to Mr Belanger. That man has has taken up his pen in defense of those defenseless people and his words truly work toward their benefit and that is to the benefit of all.