Pubdate: Fri, 19 Apr 2002
Source: Worcester Magazine (MA)
Issue: 18-24 April 2002
Copyright: 2002 by Worcester Publishing Ltd
Contact:  http://www.worcestermag.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2124
Author: Rosemary LeFrancois
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

SAYING NO

This is in respomnse to Dave Michon (WM, Letters/"Clinix Rx", April 4) 
about another methadone clinic trying to open in the city. I say "hooray" 
to Ronald Charette and Barbara Haller for interfering in the opening of a 
clinic on Cambridge Street, or anywhere else in the city. We already have two.

It should be known that the "respected" health-care companies that own and 
operate methadone clinics are for-profit agencies. They do not rehabilitate 
the addict; they switch the addiction to a synthetic form of heroin and the 
addicts become addicted to methadone.  Please tell me the remedy for 
kicking methadone. I am told that it is worse than kicking heroin. So 
instead of the drug dealers making money, the respected doctors do, and our 
health insurance pays.

The taxpayers also pay, if you recieve public health insurance. Why is it 
that our elderly have to worry about their medications but our drug addicts 
don't? The "long-proven treatment" is that these addicts never get off this 
methadone. Please tell me the success rate of the patients in the methadone 
clinics. I personally know a number of methadone patients; these people 
have been receiving their methadone as far back as five years, and I do not 
see any recovery in sight. They are just as bad, if not worse, than when 
they were abusing heroin.

While participating in the methadone program, addicts can still abuse drugs 
because they are only tested for heroin.  They can abuse all the 
prescription medicine they want. Another good deal for the doctors.  I will 
- -- and have-show(n) my face at addicts' funerals; the question is, will Mr. 
Michon show his face at an elder's funeral because they could not afford 
their blood pressure or any other medicine they may need?  I was behind an 
elderly person at the pharmacy recently and she was paying more than $300 
for her prescriptions. Maybe this "respected health-care company" could 
open a clinic for the elderly.

Rosemary LeFrancois

Worcester
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