METHADONE PROGRAM SOON FOR HMP

A methadone program will soon be available to addicts at Her
Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in St. John's who are trying to kick
their habit, but they'll only be accepted into it if they were on a
similar community-based program before they were taken into custody.

"We're not going to be actually starting people on methadone, it will
be a maintenance program only," explained HMP superintendent John
Scoville, who said the program should be up and running in April.

Methadone belongs to the opioid family of drugs. Since the 1960s,
it's been used to help people addicted to other drugs from the same
family, such as heroin, morphine and codeine.

At any one time, about 10 inmates are in the community-based
methadone maintenance program, Scoville said, but he's seen that
number go as high as 14 - nearly 10 per cent of the prison population.

"Fourteen is fairly significant when you look at the percentage here
of the population ... which averages around 150," he said.

Scoville said having a program in place at HMP will be more
convenient for the inmates who need it, and for prison officials.

"Right now, we have to put them in shackles; we have to escort them
out," he said. "It's much more onerous on both staff and on inmates.
So, it would make much more sense if we could offer (a methadone
program) inside."

Because methadone is a narcotic, a pharmaceutical consultant has been
hired to help ensure that once the drug program is offered at the
penitentiary, the drug is secured, closely controlled and monitored,
Scoville said.

"It's all about who has access, who has keys. We are in a prison, of
course, where security people all have keys. But this will be a
little bit different."

Security staff will not have access to the drug.

The executive director of Turnings, an advocacy group that helps
people with addictions and supports ex-offenders as they transition
back into society, said the methadone program is sorely needed.

"It's a positive step in making sure the help they need is readily
available," said Ron Fitzpatrick.

He said the lack of a methadone maintenance program at HMP had put
added stress on the inmates on methadone as well as the entire prison
population.

"If we have a snowstorm and they can't get them out to get their
methadone for eight or nine hours, that could set them off and up she
goes," he said.