Pubdate: Wed, 11 Feb 2004
Source: Bristol Herald Courier (VA)
Copyright: 2004 Bristol Herald Courier
Contact: http://www.bristolnews.com/contact.html
Website: http://www.bristolnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1211
Author: Charles "Hoss" Kitts, Jr.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

METHADONE BILL

Dear Senators William Wampler and Brandon Bell:

Well, you did it. Your knee-jerk reaction to the horror stories concerning 
methadone clinics and the rush-it-through actions of your colleagues will 
limit, and in some cases deny, the only proven and accepted medical 
treatment for opiate addiction to many who need it.

Do you even care that your quick-fix mentality goes against the National 
Institutes of Health, the President's Office of National Drug Control 
Policy and years of study from learned and well respected people in the 
medical field who have dedicated their lives to finding good, sound, safe 
treatment for this disease that afflicts so many of your constituents?

I hope you sleep well tonight, because there are thousands who will not 
because they are denied the treatment they deserve. It has been legislated 
out of their communities by people, like yourself, who have no business 
making life or death medical decisions to appease the mob mentality of your 
upper middle class constituents who are worried about their precious 
property values. Sleep well Senators.

Charles "Hoss" Kitts, Jr.

Codirector, Virginia Chapter National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman