CITY CLINIC TO TREAT ADDICTS

Calgary will open its first methadone clinic in mid-August for hundreds of
intravenous drug addicts, the Herald has learned.

The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, in partnership with the
Calgary Health Region, will operate the outpatient facility, which will
have the ability to treat about 200 users.

"There's certainly a need for this in Calgary," said Karen Hala of AADAC.
"We're really excited about it."

Hala would not comment on the specifics of the program nor where the centre
will be located. An official announcement about the treatment clinic is
expected July 3.

Methadone is a synthetic opioid often used in the treatment of heroin
addiction. It blocks the effects of opiates by coating receptors in the
body, slowing down the functions of the nervous system.

Methadone costs about three cents per milligram, with the average
first-time patient requiring hundreds of milligrams a day. It's considered
a relatively inexpensive way to treat addicts.

Opiate addicts can undergo long-term methadone treatment, which can last
for months or years, or short-term, a detoxification program that lasts
between five and 14 days.

There are two methadone clinics in Alberta -- a private facility in Red
Deer and one run by AADAC in Edmonton.

The Central Alberta Methadone Program -- which has more than 300 clients at
the Red Deer clinic -- has attempted to secure a facility in Calgary, but
has met with opposition from city groups and community associations.

A clinic was slated to open in June in the southeast community of Forest
Lawn. Those plans were shelved after residents protested.

"Why should we take it (here)?" said Helma Dahlman, a planning officer for
the Forest Lawn Community Association. "We have enough garbage out here.
We've been pushed down way too long and we're not going to take it anymore."

Officials with the Central Alberta Methadone Program said the clinic will
do more to clean up the neighbourhood by treating the people who are
dumping drug paraphernalia.

Spokesman Keith Cunniffe said the group will push forward with a plan to
open a Calgary clinic.

"There's a crying need for this (in Calgary)," said Cunniffe from his Red
Deer clinic. "We'll find something."

Cunniffe estimates there are between 5,000 and 6,000 IV drug users in Calgary.

About 175 patients at the Red Deer facility are from Calgary, making the
145-kilometre trip for treatment.

The clinic has been open since November 2002.