METHADONE CLINIC SOUGHT TO STOP EPIDEMIC

Rise of Hiv, Hep C Worries Experts

The lack of a methadone clinic in Calgary is exacerbating the spread of HIV
and hepatitis C across the province, say the Canadian HIV-AIDS Legal
Network and drug experts.

Methadone, a prescription drug taken orally, is used to treat heroin addiction.

Intravenous drug use is responsible for about 40 per cent of all new HIV
infections, according to Kevin Midbo of the AIDS Calgary Awareness
Association. The percentage is believed to be even higher for hepatitis C,
he said.

"Lack of access to methadone treatment is fuelling the HIV-AIDS and
hepatitis C epidemics in Alberta," said Ralf Jurgens, executive director of
the network.

Southern Alberta heroin addicts often won't leave their family and jobs to
go to Edmonton for several weeks of methadone therapy, a prerequisite to
obtaining methadone in their home communities by prescription, said Phil
Rauch, executive director of the Central Alberta AIDS Network.

That means many stay hooked on the drug, thereby increasing their chances
of contracting HIV and hepatitis C, he said.

There have been calls for years for a methadone clinic in Calgary, but
Alberta Health spokesman Howard May said the government wants to make sure
"safegu ards are in place to ensure programs are effective."

That clinic may become reality within two years, said an AADAC spokeswoman.

Beth Lipsett, manager of adult counselling and prevention services in
Edmonton, said AADAC is meeting with several other groups to achieve that
end and "the will is there to make it happen," she said.

"We certainly all see the need."

Lipsett acknowledged a Calgary clinic would reach many who either can't or
won't go to Edmonton for the several-week-long stay.

Her organization was treating 368 addicts as of the end of last month, all
but 100 of whom were from the Edmonton area and parts north.

Police Det. Pat Tetley said Tuesday there are 50 to 100 "hard-core" heroin
addicts in Calgary, making it a much smaller problem in the city than cocaine.

Calgary's Safeguards needle-exchange program said it distributed 300,000
needles last year.

While Tetley supports a methadone clinic in Calgary, he said: "If they're
serious about getting rid of their addiction, they're going to find a way
to get to that clinic so they can help themselves."

Methadone is a legal narcotic used as a substitute to treat heroin and
addiction to other "opiates," like morphine.

Properly prescribed, it is not intoxicating and suppresses narcotic
withdrawal for 24 to 36 hours while relieving craving.

It can be addictive, but is believed to be less damaging than heroin.

The budget for AADAC's Edmonton clinic, run under the opiates dependency
program, is $350,000. AADAC's overall budget for 2001-02 is $48 million.