ONE CITY'S WELFARE

I read with great interest the article about the Mexican heroin drug bust
(BDN, June 16). The Drug Enforcement Agency representative noted that
illegal drug dealers-pushers primarily target methadone clinics to sell
their illegal drugs. A reason for this is that patients receiving methadone
are usually using other illegal drugs at the same time. The experience of
the DEA has also shown that drug dealers-pushers can often infiltrate the
methadone clinics and direct clients to their sources of illegal drugs,
thereby increasing the traffic of illegal drugs in a community (the goal of
drug dealers).

Methadone is currently used in Bangor by our medical community to treat
many patients in need of this medication. Local pharmacies are currently
filling many legal prescriptions for this medication for those patients in
need.

It is not clear to me why Eastern Maine Healthcare, Acadia Hospital and the
Office of Substance Abuse persist in establishing a methadone clinic in
Bangor. This bothers me because our community has banded together to offer
a better alternative, with less risk to our community. The Bangor School
Department, the Bangor City Council, the Bangor Police Department and the
Attorney General's Office, those entities responsible for the education of
our children, the welfare and safety of our citizens and the control of
illegal activity in Bangor, are all united in opposition to locating a
methadone clinic in Bangor.

What could be the motive for Eastern Maine Healthcare and Acadia Hospital
to pursue this project? My only answer is money. I therefore am very
concerned that the health and welfare of our community is less important to
this institution than is their need to make more money.

If any citizen of Bangor has questions or concerns I suggest they be
addressed to Norman Ledwin, CEO, Eastern Maine Healthcare (973-7045) and
Ali Elhaj, CEO, Acadia Hospital, and their board of directors, or the
Bangor City Council.

Paul A. Shapero, M.D.
Bangor