Pubdate: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 Source: Prince Rupert Daily News (Canada) Copyright: 2000 Sterling Newspapers Ltd. Contact: 801 Second Ave.West, Prince Rupert, B.C., V8J-3R9 Fax: 250-624-2851 Website: http://www.sterlingnews.com/Rupert/ Author: Donald Dawson DIFFICULTIES STILL FACE ESTABLISHING METHADONE CLINIC Efforts to set up a methadone treatment program in Prince Rupert continue despite the fact pharmacies will not dispense the drug. According to minutes from the last meeting of the North Coast Community Health Council's finance and operations committee, local drug stores aren't interested in dispensing methadone. Currently, about 20 people from the city travel to Terrace or Kitimat for the drug - prescribed as a replacement for heroin. "There's a definite need here in the community," said Kim Bowhachewski, an outreach worker with AIDS Prince Rupert - the group that operates the local needle exchange program. According to Bowhachewski, the doctors prescribing methadone in Terrace and Kitimat are so busy, they're no longer taking on new patients. So even those who can afford to make the trek out of town aren't necessarily going to get methadone treatment. "The other piece of the puzzle, though, is we need a doctor that can prescribe it," she said. Doctors have been approached by a representative from the North West Community Health Services Society, but haven't been receptive to writing methadone prescriptions she said. Despite the setbacks, she said AIDS Prince Rupert, the local health services society and the health council are continuing to study the problem. And Mary McGovern, the council's director of health services, has agreed to bring up the issue when she next meets with local doctors. Though addicts prescribed methadone come to depend on it, and will go through withdrawal if it's suddenly taken away, the legally prescribed drug is far safer than heroin sold on the street. Ideally, it allows its users to lead relatively normal lives as prescriptions are scaled back and they are slowly weaned off the drug. "I know a few people here who've followed it quite religiously and have gotten off it," said Miles Moreau, a city outreach worker employed by Yellow Brick Road Services. Moreau, once an addict, felt a methadone program was needed. "I believe we do need some form of methadone program," he said, but cautioned it would need tight control. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D