Pubdate: Tue, 24 Jan 2006
Source: Lowell Sun (MA)
Copyright: 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.lowellsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/852
Author: Christopher  Scott
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

CITY BLASTS PLAN FOR METHADONE CLINIC

LOWELL -- City leaders yesterday blasted a proposal by a Watertown 
corporation to open a methadone clinic downtown in the shadow of 
Lowell High  School, saying "it's the worst possible thing in the 
worst possible location." On Friday, officials from Relief Associates 
LLC, 60 Arsenal St., Watertown, briefed some leaders on their 
proposal -- visiting with Police Superintendent Edward Davis and 
Lowell Plan President James Cook -- to lease space at 35 John  St. 
The building, former home of the city Health Department, is owned by 
Louis Saab, who owns numerous downtown buildings and has frequently 
been at odds with local political and business leaders over downtown 
development. Joseph Chery, Relief Associates' director of community 
development, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But in a letter to city officials, Chery wrote: "We are an 
organization comprised of concerned professionals with significant 
experience in the behavioral health care and treatment field. After 
careful evaluation of the demographics and treatment resources in the 
Lowell community, we have come to  realize a need for additional 
comprehensive and accessible substance abuse  treatment services. We 
have secured a location at 35 John St." Methadone is a medically 
prescribed substance that blocks the effects of heroin and reduces 
the craving for it.

There are about 35 methadone clinics across the state, including one 
on Suffolk Street in Lowell called Habit Management Institute. The 
issue is scheduled to be discussed at tonight's City Council meeting, 
where several councilors, including Edward "Bud" Caulfield, Rodney 
Elliott and Armand Mercier -- all of whom oppose the proposal -- will 
ask City Manager John  Cox for an update.

Cox said he heard of the proposal late Friday. "I don't support this 
for all the obvious reasons, not the least of which is the location 
to the high school and our downtown development efforts," he said. 
Relief Associates' letter also states that the company "is working" 
with the state Department of Public Health to license the program, 
which will include comprehensive clinical, medical and 
case-management services. Department of Public Health spokesperson 
Donna Rheaume said Relief Associates cannot open the clinic until 
licensed to do so by the DPH. A license application has not yet been 
submitted. It typically takes between three and six months to 
consider an application.

City Health Director Frank Singleton was investigating whether any 
city permits are required for Relief Associates to open.

Rheaume said any community opposition "would be part of the process," 
as would the proposed site's proximity to a school.

Lowell High School's Freshman Academy stands diagonally across the 
street from the proposed site, and the main LHS buildings are both 
within two blocks. State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and Reps. Thomas 
Golden, Kevin Murphy and David Nangle, all Lowell Democrats, vowed 
yesterday to lead the fight to defeat the proposal.

"Again, it's a typical situation," Panagiotakos said. "Urban centers 
serve as the capital for social-service agencies. That's fine, but 
just don't inundate us  with them."

Panagiotakos said not only is Lowell High too close, "a downtown 
methadone clinic is just not consistent with what we're trying to 
accomplish downtown." "You could kiss downtown condo buyers goodbye," 
added Lowell High School Headmaster William Samaras. "But that's not 
my first concern. My first concern is the kids, and this just doesn't 
make any sense."

Panagiotakos said a school within 1,000 feet of a proposed methadone 
clinic should be grounds to reject any application. In this case, 
Lowell High's Freshman Academy, located in the former City Arts 
Magnet School, is "well  within" 1,000 feet, he said.

Davis said in many cases, methadone clinics generate more crime. 
Davis said in the early 1990s, drug dealing and property crimes 
increased in the neighborhood around Habit Management, which opened 
in 1987. "People who have addiction problems are an easy audience for 
drug dealers, and frequently drug dealers set up around these areas," 
said Davis. But in recent years, crime rates around Habit Management 
have been reduced, Davis added, primarily due to an extensive private 
security force. Robert Caruso, president of Lowell Five Cent Savings 
Bank, whose main office is located across the street from 35 John 
St., also assailed the proposal. "Even more critical than what we're 
trying to accomplish in the downtown in terms of development is the 
proximity to the high school," Caruso said. Although he never 
mentioned Saab by name, Caruso also said "corporate responsibility" 
is being forgotten "so someone can line their pockets." Saab did not 
return two telephone calls left at his office yesterday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom