Pubdate: Thu, 29 Mar 2001
Source: Daily Illini, The (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2001 Illini Media Co
Contact:  57 E. Green St, Champaign, IL 61820
Fax: (217) 244-2933
Website: http://www.dailyillini.com
Author: Lisa Schencker

CHAMPAIGN TO DISCUSS PROPOSED METHADONE CLINIC

A community forum to discuss a proposed methadone clinic in downtown 
Champaign will be held at 7 p.m. on April 5 at the Champaign City Building.

"The forum is to educate the community about methadone maintenance and to 
respond to questions and concerns about the proposed location," said 
Kendric Speagle, senior in LAS and director of Harm Reduction Resource, the 
not-for-profit group that is seeking to establish the clinic.

A methadone clinic offers heroin addicts the drug methadone to curb opiate 
cravings as they try to end their reliance on heroin. Methadone maintenance 
has a higher rate of success than other programs now offered locally, 
Speagle said.

Champaign Mayor Jerry Schweighart will moderate the forum. The event will 
begin with a presentation about methadone use and clinics. Along with 
Speagle, Dan Biggs, ex-director of the Chicago Recovery Alliance and Chad 
Hays, a Harm Reduction Resource director, will address concerns from the 
audience and answer questions.

"We're anticipating a significant amount of disapproval," Speagle said. 
"But the vast amount of that disapproval is based on misconceptions about 
methadone maintenance. This forum is to dispel myths associated with 
methadone maintenance and give community members the opportunity to express 
concerns."

Speagle expects questions concerning the clinic's effect on the local crime 
rate, the effectiveness of methadone treatment, and the fear that such a 
clinic would attract patients from outside of Champaign County.

Because the area of the proposed clinic is zoned for such a use, the clinic 
can be established regardless of community opinion, said Craig Rost, deputy 
city manager for development in Champaign. While they do not necessarily 
need community support, Harm Reduction Resource will need the approval of 
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Drug Enforcement 
Administration, and the State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse before 
opening the clinic, Speagle said.

However, Speagle stressed that community support is necessary to the 
success of the program.

"Community approval is important in order to provide quality patient care," 
Speagle said. "We (the clinic) will make myriad referrals to social service 
providers throughout the community, which is one reason we must have 
amicable relations with local service providers. Our patients need to be 
understood by the community in which they live."

The forum is open to anyone interested in attending and is supported by 
Harm Reduction Resource, the

Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign Mayor's Office.
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