METHADONE CLINIC HELPS ADDICTS RECLAIM THEIR LIVES

I am writing in response to the recent Record articles about methadone in
our region and especially a story that highlighted problems at the
methadone clinic in Waterloo which will soon be moving to Kitchener.

It is important that the public recognize the vital service provided by the
methadone clinics.

My personal experience might help some people do this.

I am a 45-year-old male residing in Kitchener. My story is not unique.
There are a lot of people, both young and old with the same disease that I
have, that being heroin addiction.

I put no blame on anyone else or anything for my addiction. It was my
choice to inject this deadly drug starting when I was 13 years old. In my
case it was peer pressure.

My father always warned me that if I didn't stop associating with the older
partying crowd that I would soon be in a lot of trouble.

He was right. I was so wrong, but I was 13 and I thought that I knew
everything. I was wrong.

The drug was so powerful that after the first injection, I remember telling
the buddy who injected me that I wanted to be 90 years old, in a wheelchair
with this drug running through my veins (that is, right after I vomited all
over myself, my friend and the back seat of the car we were in). From that
day on, heroin completely took over my life.

The lifestyle of an addict is not a pretty one. I did things that were
totally against my morals.

Lying, stealing, break and enters, fraud, double doctoring, malingering,
manipulating, selling my body and ending up in jail. I would do anything to
keep the drug in me.

I had to lose everything I ever had before I seriously attempted to get
help. I finally reached out in 1987 and went into my first treatment
centre. This was followed by 11 more inpatient treatment centres. I could
stay drug-free while in treatment but I just could not cope in society
without heroin.

Five years ago, on Sept. 5, I heard about methadone. I can say with a lot
of pride that since the first day I was prescribed methadone, I have not
put any type of opiate into my body.

This treatment literally saved my life. But it has not been easy.

I have had to travel regularly to a clinic in Toronto to have my
prescription filled. I have to give regular urine tests to prove myself
responsible.

Perhaps the hardest thing has been to teach myself how to use the skills I
learned in the treatment centres and begin to live a new lifestyle -- one I
have always wanted.

Since it opened late last year, the local methadone clinic in Waterloo has
played a major role in my rehabilitation. It was so much easier being able
to receive treatment in my home community.

Today I am happy. I was never happy while using heroin. Methadone treatment
has given me my life back. I have my family back in my life, I have a
condo, a bank account, only one family doctor and a beautiful woman who is
also in recovery thanks to methadone. I volunteer some of my spare time. I
reach out and help other people who are struggling with an addiction.

There is a lot of shame in my past, but today I can honestly say that,
since I started being treated with methadone, I can walk with no shame.