TURNAROUND RUDY PUTS $5M IN METHADONE CLINICS

Mayor Giuliani has backed off further from his vow to end methadone
treatment for heroin addicts - funding a $5 million expansion of the
city's clinics. The money is going to methadone centers at all 11
public hospitals to extend clinic hours and add job-training and
psychological evaluations, said city Health and Hospitals Corporation
spokeswoman Jane Zimmerman.

The move comes a year after Giuliani called Clinton administration
drug czar Barry McCaffrey "a disaster" for backing methadone
treatment over abstinence. Under fierce attack, Giuliani softened his
stance, allowing that a few methadone clinics might need to stay open.
Zimmerman said the aim of Giuliani's latest move is "making the goal
abstinence rather than maintenance, but accomplishing it through a
series of incremental steps that focus on vocational counseling, job
placement and rehabilitation."

Sources told The Post that even before the mayor's campaign for
addicts to go cold turkey, city health experts were pushing to expand
social services for them. The extra funds will allow clinics to stay
open evenings, in order to serve working patients.

"What a lot of people do when they're wrong about something is they
take a swing and backpedal at the same time," said Bob Weiner, a
spokesman for McCaffrey. "We are delighted that the mayor understands
the importance of the program from both the treatment profession and
law enforcement's point of view."

Other targets of Giuliani's barbs for their methadone stands applauded
him for changing his mind - whatever the motivation. "It's been a
wonderful turnaround, and the mayor clearly listened to a number of
his advisers," said Mark Parrino, president of the American Methadone
Treatment Association, a city-based group that represents 675
methadone programs nationwide.

Dr. Edwin Salsitz, who runs a methadone program at Beth Israel Medical
Center, said that after backing off and talking to experts, Giuliani
"realized that what he said wasn't completely correct." Salsitz's
clients, all employed, get their methadone supplies at a doctor's
office once a month. "I give the mayor credit for becoming more
knowledgeable and helping rather than harming," Salsitz said.