Pubdate: Wed, 20 May 2009 Source: Telegraph-Journal (Saint John, CN NK) Copyright: 2009 Brunswick News Inc. Contact: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/onsite.php?page=contact Website: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2878 Author: Judith Meinert-Thomas METHADONE CLINIC A CAUSE FOR HOPE I have been volunteering with AIDS Saint John since 1990 and I was part of the board 18 years ago that decided to, under cover of darkness, practically speaking, provide clean needles to those who needed them so they could safely inject free of potential and deadly diseases. In the intervening years drug use has grown to be an enormous problem in our province, with an exponential increase in crime, broken lives and families, lost jobs and lost lives. For several years now I have been volunteering in the Needle Exchange Program based at AIDS Saint John and I have heard harrowing stories and have witnessed people begging for a walk-in methadone clinic as they struggle to overcome their addictions. At the N.E.P., we have clients from St. Stephen to Sussex and all points in between so for people to say it's just a city problem are off-base. To read on Monday that a methadone clinic was now a reality in our city gave cause for great hope. I want to say thank you to Mike Murphy and Ed Doherty for responding to such obvious need but I want to save my biggest thanks for Julie Dingwell, executive director of AIDS Saint John and to Saint John Police Chief Bill Reid. Without their constant pushing, lobbying and their determination to go forward, the new methadone clinic would not be a reality. All of our area will benefit from their attitude of caring. Thank you again to everyone who made this happen. JUDITH MEINERT-THOMAS Saint John - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom