Pubdate: Wed, 11 Nov 2009
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Kim Guttormson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

ADDICT CLINIC FACES APPEAL

Methadone Centre Hit By Complaints

A drug-addiction clinic struggling to find a permanent home has hit 
another roadblock, with three would-be neighbours filing appeals to 
keep its doors closed.

Second Chance, a methadone clinic, received the OK from the city to 
move into a strip mall in the Foothills Industrial Park, but the 
appeals mean there will be a hearing at the end of the month before 
the subdivision and development appeal board.

"I can't say I'm really surprised, more disappointed," said Hugh Ham, 
the clinic's lawyer. "It doesn't seem to matter where we try and 
locate this facility, it's objectionable to some people."

The clinic, which doesn't dispense methadone on-site but issues 
prescriptions to patients, had to move from a northeast industrial 
park last spring because it didn't fit the area's zoning 
requirements. It then moved to a strip mall in Braeside, which 
sparked a furious outcry from residents, although it operated in that 
location without incident for a few months.

Ham had hoped they'd found an acceptable solution by moving the 
clinic to an industrial area.

But three neighbours--two in the same strip mall--have raised 
concerns about safety and how patients will get to the area.

"I have operated this business for six years without one incident 
ever and am concerned about admitted drug addicts coming into my 
store," Steve Hart, who runs the liquor shop next door, wrote in his 
appeal. "All of my customers have shown negative reaction to the clinic."

Hart declined to comment when contacted by the Herald.

Doug Fletcher, who owns Keystone Graphics, said he has been in the 
area for 12 years without a problem. "If suddenly we have some 
incident, what to blame that on, what does human nature say?"

He is also concerned it's a poor location for the clinic, saying 
public transit to the industrial park is poor.

Paul An, who owns the grocery store in the mall, is also opposed to 
the clinic moving in.

Ham said the objections don't involve planning issues, and city rules 
have made it increasingly difficult for social service agencies to 
provide for their clients.

He added that the doctor previously occupying the Foothills space was 
an addiction specialist who would have had similar patients.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom