DETROIT CLOSES ITS METHADONE CLINIC

The City of Detroit has closed its methadone treatment center, which
assisted about 500 heroin addicts in battling their problem, because
of budget constraints.

Although the discontinuation of the program on Jan. 23 was not part
of the plan to eliminate a $300 million deficit that Mayor Ken
Cockrel Jr. will present Friday to the City Council, it is an example
of the kinds of services that will end as the city grapples with its
budget crisis.

The city could no longer afford the $1.7 million program, which it
has run for more than 30 years, said Coraleen Rawls, general manager
of the city's Department of Human Services. The city referred each of
the 500 clients to other providers, officials said.

"The money just isn't there," Rawls said. "We have had this program
for a long time, and it's with much sadness that we do have to close."

Clinics offer methadone to heroin addicts because it satisfies their
craving for the drug without the damaging effects.

The department informed employees of the closure in November, and
they received layoff notices on Jan. 23. The final number of layoffs
has yet to be determined, but Rawls estimated the figure at 20.

The closure was an internal department decision that predated
Cockrel's arrival in office, Rawls said.

Gina Thompson Mitchell, president of the AFSCME local that represents
the affected employees, said workers are upset about the closure.

Not only will the layoffs only add to the city's already large number
of jobless, but Mitchell said some clients would not be accepted by
other providers.

"They're going to go to the street drug if they can't get the
methadone."