SOLUTIONS SOUGHT FOR METHADONE CLINICS

City Hall - The city will explore ways to better accommodate methadone
clinics within Calgary.

Sparked by the controversy over second Chance recovery's difficulty in
finding a permanent home, ald. Brian Pincott and diane Colley-Urquhart
asked monday that clinic rules be reviewed and facilities be required
to strike good neighbour agreements with surrounding communities to
alleviate concerns.

Second Chance, which has 500 clients, is looking for a new location
after neighbours opposed it setting up at a Braeside strip mall. It
already had been forced out of an industrial area in Highland Park
because it wasn't zoned for a medical clinic.

"Communities need to get the information; they need to react from a
position of facts as opposed to fear," said Pincott.

While Colley-Urquhart said the motion is a "partial Band-aid," she
said it's important for the clinics to trigger a community
consultation process before the fact.

The clinic provides counselling and a daily dose of methadone to
clients trying to beat addictions to heroin, morphine and prescription
painkillers. the only other methadone clinic in Calgary is operated by
alberta Health services at the sheldon Chumir Centre.