Pubdate: Sun, 17 Mar 2002
Source: Sunday Gazette-Mail (WV)
Copyright: 2002, Sunday Gazette-Mail
Contact:  http://sundaygazettemail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1404
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

BERKELEY OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER DRUG CLINIC

MARTINSBURG - Law enforcement officials are worried that a new methadone 
clinic in Berkeley County will lead to an increase in crime.

"Most of the people going to clinics are involved with petty crime as a 
means to support their habit," said Berkeley County Sheriff Randy Smith. 
"The possibility of them committing another crime while in Berkeley County 
is pretty high."

The Martinsburg Institute outpatient clinic would treat people with heroin 
and other opiate addictions through the use of methadone, according to 
Ellen Valli, program director and part owner of the clinic.

According to Valli, methadone remains in a patient's system for 24 to 30 
hours, reducing withdrawal and craving symptoms.

"A patient can take the medicine in the morning and go to school or work 
and reclaim their lives," she said.

The private company running the clinic, Martinsburg Institute Inc., is in 
the process of transferring local clients from a methadone clinic in 
Frederick, Md., clinic officials said.

Martinsburg was chosen because of its central location, and because many of 
the clients at the Frederick Institute are from Berkeley County, Valli said.

Martinsburg Police Chief Ted Anderson said he'd prefer it if the center 
wasn't an outpatient facility. "I would feel better about an inpatient 
clinic where people stay for 28 days," he said.

Berkeley County Health Department Administrator Jay Jack said there are 
pros and cons regarding the treatment.

"There are clinicians who say it does help a patient break addictions and 
then there are people in the Justice Department who associate crime with 
this. It traps the health department in the middle, but our primary mission 
is to help the public," he said.

"We have to do what we have to do," he said.

Caren Forestandi, coordinator of substance abuse and crisis services for 
EastRidge Health Systems in Martinsburg, said the crime could decrease if 
people use the methadone program as it is intended.

Then, "there are people who will manipulate the system. I have seen both 
outcomes," she said. Write a letter to the editor.
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MAP posted-by: Beth