METHADONE CLINIC PROPOSED FOR BAYSIDE

Discovery House, which dispenses methadone in South Portland, is
considering opening a clinic in Portland's Bayside neighborhood to treat
the region's growing number of heroin addicts and opiate abusers.

It's the second such facility proposed for Portland in recent weeks, and
the third for Greater Portland.

Earlier this spring, state substance-abuse officials announced their
intention to open a nonprofit methadone clinic somewhere in Portland. A
Chicago-based agency called the Center for Addictive Problems also is
talking about opening a methadone clinic. It is looking at sites in Westbrook.

Discovery House's plan will be discussed by the city's Health and Human
Services Committee today at 5 p.m.

"Our intention is to expand into downtown Portland," said John Destefano,
program director at Discovery House. "So we want to provide city officials
with information about who we are and why we're doing this."

The city would have no role in reviewing or approving the clinic, other
than ensuring it complies with zoning regulations. It's possible, however,
that the City Council could amend the existing zoning, or approve a special
ordinance, to prohibit such facilities in residential neighborhoods.

Methadone is a synthetic narcotic that suppresses an addict's craving for
drugs for as long as 24 hours. City officials are generally supportive of
methadone as a treatment option, but they want any clinic to offer a broad
range of services. A "drive-thru" operation that lacks counseling or
inpatient services likely would meet with resistance.

"Comprehensive methadone services that have a counseling component and
focus on affordability and access to inpatient beds, those are the premier
programs," said Gerald R. Cayer, Portland's director of health and human
services.

The state envisions a full-service, nonprofit clinic that would include
inpatient and outpatient programs, counseling services and a "12-step"
aspect. The state will solicit proposals through the end of the month, and
award a $100,000 contract sometime after that.

State officials said the facility is needed because more and more people in
Cumberland and York counties are getting hooked on heroin and prescription
painkillers, especially OxyContin.

There are now two methadone clinics in Maine, in South Portland and
Winslow. A third is about to open at Acadia Hospital in Bangor and a fourth
is being considered in Machias.

Methadone is viewed by many experts as the most effective way to treat
heroin and painkiller addiction. It has proven to be a viable treatment
method for nearly 30 years.

State officials say 474 people in Cumberland County were treated last year
for heroin or opiate abuse. That's nearly twice the number of people
treated five years ago. In York County, 136 addicts were seen in hospitals
or detoxification facilities in 2000, compared with 49 in 1995.

Discovery House, which has been dispensing methadone since 1994, serves
about 500 people. It does not have an inpatient component, but does offer
individual and group counseling.

Destefano said Bayside is the ideal location for a clinic because it's the
social-service hub of southern Maine. He said he's looking at possible
sites and has no timetable.

Residents of the neighborhood said Tuesday that they want to know more
about the proposed clinic before taking a position.

"I have no impressions yet," said Sandra Elder, president of the Bayside
Neighborhood Association. "We don't know if this is a service that people
who live here need, or if it's just bringing another issue into the
neighborhood."

Janet Panissidi, who has been going to Discovery House almost since it
opened, said the neighborhood has nothing to worry about. She said the
majority of methadone users have jobs and families.

"For the most part, patients are in and out in five minutes," said
Panissidi, who lives in Wiscasset and has been on methadone for 23 years.
"Nobody hangs around. That's just a stereotype and, unfortunately, it's
going to remain until the public gets a little more educated."