METHADONE EXPERT PUSHES CENTER

Doc: Treatment Good For Business

Valparaiso -- A Miller-based doctor is hoping to bring methadone
treatment as well as research to Porter County, he told community
members Wednesday.

Dr. Alfonso Holliday focused on the science of drug addiction as a
disease, as well as the trend in services, which is headed toward
methadone treatment and prescribing by patients' private doctors,
Holliday said. "Is methadone perfect?" Holliday asked. "No. But it
supplements the body's inability to return itself to normal."

Hosting the forum served Holliday's dual purpose of advocating the
drug he has administered for more than two decades, and fulfilling a
legal requirement to notify the public of his desire to open a
treatment center in the county.

Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, questioned Holliday on his facility plans.

"It sounded like a wish list," she said of his proposal. "If he could
do half of that, that would be great."

Then, to no one in particular, she seemed to question her own county.
"Right now, we send our people to Minnesota (for treatment). Why are
we doing that?"

Holliday's goal is to create a comprehensive care center focusing not
only on detoxing a patient, but also on rehabilitating him, by
providing a support system as well as psychological and life skills training.

Holliday said he and his investors have not chosen an exact location
yet, nor a start date, but he said ideally some of the plans would be
in place within five years.

Applications for the facility are due some time in November, Holliday said.

Porter County business, as well as substance abuse patients, would
profit from the center, Holliday said. An influx of patients all
across the country seeking treatment could bring hotel, medical
industry and retail possibilities.

"As you do these things, success breeds success," he said.