Pubdate: Sun, 12 Sep 2004
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2004 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact: 
http://gotricities.net/domains/timesnews.net/lettertoEditor.dna?action=new
Website: http://www.timesnews.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Author: Greg Gilreath
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

METHADONE CLINICS SHOULD BE BANNED

Methadone clinics should be banned Methadone clinics, or, as I like to
call them, legal drug dealers, are not the answer to an addict's
problem. Substance abuse is a big problem in this country as we all
know, but substituting one drug for another is not the answer. That's
like telling an alcoholic it's OK to drink lite beer instead of vodka.
The end result is always the same - jails, institutions or death. It's
about recovery and the person's desire to achieve and then maintain
it.

If you are an addict, you will have to deal with that forever, but
recovery is possible. The fact is a lot of people need help with
addiction, but there are very few people who want it. Many addicts
pursue the desire to use until they die, never realizing they actually
had a choice. Allowing an addict to be treated "legally" with a
synthetic drug only allows the addict to keep using under the
protective umbrella of a clinic. The sad fact is they will never stop
as long as they have an excuse to use.

Methadone clinics should be outlawed - plain and simple. They prey on
people with an illness and charge big money for the treatment, which
involves taking methadone, which is also an addictive drug. Oxymoron
indeed. People who get on that stuff stay on it and why not, it's a
legal way to do drugs.

There may be a few cases that have been successful in treating people
with methadone although I have never heard of any. But I also believe
the people who are successful with it have one additional thing in
common: a real desire to stop using. Drug addiction is a deadly
disease that plagues communities across the country. I read about meth
labs being found in our area. It's a problem we all face every time we
are on the road. As we pass cars, we have no idea what the person
behind the wheel is up to or what influence they are under. I think
alternative methods are available, but first things first. The person
has to want to stop. Changing the type of drug an addict uses
certainly isn't the answer, and I applaud all the area's officials who
oppose these legal drug dealers.

Greg Gilreath,

Church Hill
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