Pubdate: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Author: Sandra Thomas Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) PROPOSED PHARMACY PANNED Commercial Drive Residents Don't Want Methadone In Backyard Fears of methadone being dispensed from a proposed pharmacy on Commercial Drive drew more than two dozen residents of the Grandview Woodland community to a meeting at the Britannia Community Centre Tuesday night. The city is considering an application for a new small-scale pharmacy for the neighbourhood, but many residents fear it would largely be used to dispense methadone. The residents say that since other similar pharmacies opened in the neighbourhood, crime has increased and dirty hypodermic needles and discarded methadone dispensing cups are being dumped in their yards and on the street. Methadone is prescribed for heroin users attempting to kick the drug. Nikhil "Nick" Buhecha, one of the business applicants behind the proposed pharmacy, said he would consider not dispensing methadone from the pharmacy, proposed for 1395 Commercial. Several months ago an ad hoc group of Grandview Woodland residents dubbed No More Methadone in my Backyard convinced an applicant and the city not to allow methadone dispensing at a pharmacy proposed for the corner of Venables Street and Commercial Drive. The owner agreed to sign a covenant to that effect and has since opened Robin's Pharmacy. According to the group, the owner has since become an active member of the Commercial Drive business community. Buhecha argued he could do the same. "We run a small-scale pharmacy at Joyce and Vanness [streets] adjacent to a Care Point Medical Centre and we don't dispense methadone," said Buhecha. "It's a beautiful store. We could do the same thing here." But the majority of the residents at the meeting did not support the proposal. They noted there are seven pharmacies on or adjacent to Commercial Drive, leading them to believe the new location would primarily dispense methadone. The residents are skeptical the pharmacy could survive financially without it. Buhecha said he and his business partners have talked with several doctors interested in opening a medical clinic on Commercial Drive, which would increase the need for prescriptions. Buhecha argued that even without the new clinic the area has enough prescription business to go around. Other residents noted that a Downtown Eastside pharmacy owned by Buhecha was closed down last year by the College of Pharmacists after Courier reporter Mark Hasiuk broke the story that addicts were receiving inducements for bringing their prescriptions there. Residents said they feared money made from dispensing methadone would be too much for Buhecha or his pharmacists to resist and eventually they would dispense the drug. Buhecha said the Downtown Eastside pharmacy wasn't relevant to the Commercial Drive application. Michelle Barile, executive director of the Commercial Drive Business Society, told Buhecha its members were concerned with the application. "It's not that we don't want you here, but a pharmacy that dispenses methadone should be adjacent to counselling services. It would be unfortunate for you to start your business with the community feeling this way." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom