PROPOSED METH CLINIC GETTING SOME DOCTORS' SUPPORT

A spokesman for a group attempting to bring a methadone clinic to
Chatham says he's buoyed by interest shown by a couple of physicians
in Sarnia and London.

But John Zarebski, a program consultant with the Centre for Mental
Health and Addiction in Chatham-Kent, says it's "very early" in the process.

Zarebski is part of a group that includes representatives of the
local AIDS group, Chatham-Kent Addiction Treatment Centre and Ontario
Works, that are agencies working together on the idea.

"We're just rounding first base," says Zarebski.

Zarebski says that groups in the community have been working for more
than 10 years to establish a methadone clinic in Chatham. People must
now travel to Sarnia, Windsor or London to get the methadone they need.

The plan received a boost last year when the Chatham-Kent Public
Health Board agreed to look into the issue.

The Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned a task force in the last
year, with the support of the Ontario College of Physicians and the
Centre for Addiction. It looked into a wide range of issues including
billing procedures and practices.

"The recommendations are designed to look at increasing awareness and
enhance capacity."

Zarebski says the group is looking at "how we can enhance service in
the community. We want to improve the service we are getting now."

Methadone is a drug used to help people who have become addicted to
prescription drugs such as oxycotin and other pain killers.

Zarebski uses the example of someone who is prescribed pain
medication after a traffic accident, but can't get off the medications.

It helps wean people off their prescription drug addiction that can
often lead to a lifestyle of crime. Methadone doesn't break the
addiction, but substitutes for the addictive drug.

The Sarnia methadone clinic was established in 2004. One of the
owners of the Bluewater Methadone Clinic told Chatham This Week that
physicians there see about 300 a week for intensive treatment.

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to setting up a clinic anywhere
is getting physicians who are interested in overseeing the program.

Physicians can take a year-long training program and get accredited
by the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The partners in the clinic were emergency room physicians who
continued to work there while operating the methadone clinic.

Referrals can come from physicians or from individuals who want help.

Any local doctors who would be interested in getting involved can
call Zarebski at 519-360-1829.