KEEP ADDICTS AWAY - TRADERS

A MOVE by a city chemist shop could expose a family restaurant in the city's
west end to a drug problem, traders claim.

The Midnight Pharmacy on West Terrace 96 which dispenses methadone to up to
150 heroin users a day 96 will move a few hundred metres north between the
Heaven II nightclub and McDonalds at the end of Hindley Street.

The pharmacy will move into the revamped former John Sands building,
sparking fears among local traders of a new drug element in the West End.

Most concern focuses on the potential interaction between the methadone
program clients and the 10,000 young people aged between 18 and 26 who use
the nightclub and restaurant every week. Hindley Street businesses Adelaide
Camera House and John Hoffmann Hairdressing are worried about the troubled
street's image and do not want a methadone program in the area.

Methadone is used to wean people off heroin addiction, with about 1600
people on the program in SA last year.

Under the Midnight Pharmacy program, about 150 heroin users trying to kick
the habit go to the pharmacy every day between 7am and 11pm to get their
methadone dose.

While the proprietors of the Newmarket Hotel's Heaven II nightclub and
McDonald's will not comment publicly, both privately have expressed grave
concerns about the influx of drug users into the region.

Last week Heaven II and McDonalds representatives attended an emergency
meeting of concerned traders, with the various business owners resolving to
seek legal advice to stop the pharmacy move.

But Midnight Pharmacy proprietor, Mr Luke Koumi, said people had a false
perception about the methadone program.

"The image of a drug addict is of a crazed madman who is sub-human and who
will terrorise people," Mr Koumi said.

"It is not the case. People on the methadone program are people who want to
get off heroin.

"And for whatever reason they could be our children 96 quite a number of
the people who come to our clinic are from prominent families."

Mr Koumi said drug users were present in all parts of society, especially in
nightclubs.

"Drug use is a general social problem which we don't handle properly ...
prohibition is certainly not the way to go," he said.

West End Association president and city property developer, Mr George
Kambitsis, said the pharmacy's relocation ultimately would prove positive.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett