STUDENT PUSHES TO OPEN CLINIC

Proposed Location For Methadone Clinic Worries Businesses

Kendric Speagle, senior in LAS and founder and executive director of
Harm Reduction Resource, wants to open a methadone treatment program
in downtown Champaign.

The location at 12 E. Washington St. would include a syringe exchange
program, where people may turn in old syringes for sterilized ones,
and a methadone maintenance program.

The not-for-profit agency would receive funding through the state
through the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Speagle said the
methadone maintenance is contingent on approval from the Department of
Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration and Office
of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Methadone, said Speagle, is an agonist that helps those with opioid
dependencies, such as heroin.

A syringe exchange program, Speagle said, is effective in mitigating
the spread of HIV and other diseases contracted through the blood that
intravenous drug users are at a high risk of contracting.

"I have always had an interest in HIV prevention and education," said
Speagle, "and I found out there was no syringe exchange program in
Champaign."

Some businesses in the Champaign area near the proposed location have
opposed the center because they believe it would deter customers.
Carolyn Baxley, executive director of the Orpheum Children's Science
Museum, said she is not opposed to the methadone clinic but is opposed
to the proximity of the clinic to the museum. The Resource Center
would be located across the street from the museum.

"It's totally inappropriate to locate it so close to a children's
museum," Baxley said. "I'm not opposed to the use of a treatment
facility; it has been needed for along time."

Speagle said the Prairie Center and TIMES Center are already located
close to the Children's Museum, and they also attract drug users.

"Methadone maintenance is a legitimate medical practice," Speagle
said. "It significantly reduces crime and drug use, and it
significantly increases the number of gainfully employed persons in
the community."

Baxley said the location of the treatment facility will impact
visitation to the museum. "We spent six years getting on our feet, and
it's devastating to think people will stay away because of the clinic."

Baxley also said when they first moved to the area there were drug
deals taking place in the public park next to the museum, and she does
not want to have the possibility of that happening again.

"The methadone maintenance success rate is approaching 80 percent,"
said Speagle, "and it is the most effective way of treating opioid
dependency."

Speagle recognized that the primary concern of business owners is an
increase in crime and addicted persons, but he said the methadone
treatment will offer a recourse to those in need of help.

"I personally applaud anyone that gets a methadone clinic going
because there are not enough programs," said Baxley, "but drug addicts
and children just don't mix."

Kendric Speagle, senior in LAS and founder and executive director of
Harm Reduction Resource, wants to open a methadone treatment program
in downtown Champaign.

The location at 12 E. Washington St. would include a syringe exchange
program, where people may turn in old syringes for sterilized ones,
and a methadone maintenance program.

The not-for-profit agency would receive funding through the state
through the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Speagle said the
methadone maintenance is contingent on approval from the Department of
Health and Human Services, Drug Enforcement Administration and Office
of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Methadone, said Speagle, is an agonist that helps those with opioid
dependencies, such as heroin.

A syringe exchange program, Speagle said, is effective in mitigating
the spread of HIV and other diseases contracted through the blood that
intravenous drug users are at a high risk of contracting.

"I have always had an interest in HIV prevention and education," said
Speagle, "and I found out there was no syringe exchange program in
Champaign."

Some businesses in the Champaign area near the proposed location have
opposed the center because they believe it would deter customers.
Carolyn Baxley, executive director of the Orpheum Children's Science
Museum, said she is not opposed to the methadone clinic but is opposed
to the proximity of the clinic to the museum. The Resource Center
would be located across the street from the museum.

"It's totally inappropriate to locate it so close to a children's
museum," Baxley said. "I'm not opposed to the use of a treatment
facility; it has been needed for along time."

Speagle said the Prairie Center and TIMES Center are already located
close to the Children's Museum, and they also attract drug users.

"Methadone maintenance is a legitimate medical practice," Speagle
said. "It significantly reduces crime and drug use, and it
significantly increases the number of gainfully employed persons in
the community."

Baxley said the location of the treatment facility will impact
visitation to the museum. "We spent six years getting on our feet, and
it's devastating to think people will stay away because of the clinic."

Baxley also said when they first moved to the area there were drug
deals taking place in the public park next to the museum, and she does
not want to have the possibility of that happening again.

"The methadone maintenance success rate is approaching 80 percent,"
said Speagle, "and it is the most effective way of treating opioid
dependency."

Speagle recognized that the primary concern of business owners is an
increase in crime and addicted persons, but he said the methadone
treatment will offer a recourse to those in need of help.

"I personally applaud anyone that gets a methadone clinic going
because there are not enough programs," said Baxley, "but drug addicts
and children just don't mix."