CITY BLASTS PLAN FOR METHADONE CLINIC

LOWELL -- City leaders yesterday blasted a proposal by a Watertown
corporation to open a methadone clinic downtown in the shadow of
Lowell High School, saying "it's the worst possible thing in the
worst possible location." On Friday, officials from Relief Associates
LLC, 60 Arsenal St., Watertown, briefed some leaders on their
proposal -- visiting with Police Superintendent Edward Davis and
Lowell Plan President James Cook -- to lease space at 35 John St.
The building, former home of the city Health Department, is owned by
Louis Saab, who owns numerous downtown buildings and has frequently
been at odds with local political and business leaders over downtown
development. Joseph Chery, Relief Associates' director of community
development, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But in a letter to city officials, Chery wrote: "We are an
organization comprised of concerned professionals with significant
experience in the behavioral health care and treatment field. After
careful evaluation of the demographics and treatment resources in the
Lowell community, we have come to realize a need for additional
comprehensive and accessible substance abuse treatment services. We
have secured a location at 35 John St." Methadone is a medically
prescribed substance that blocks the effects of heroin and reduces
the craving for it.

There are about 35 methadone clinics across the state, including one
on Suffolk Street in Lowell called Habit Management Institute. The
issue is scheduled to be discussed at tonight's City Council meeting,
where several councilors, including Edward "Bud" Caulfield, Rodney
Elliott and Armand Mercier -- all of whom oppose the proposal -- will
ask City Manager John Cox for an update.

Cox said he heard of the proposal late Friday. "I don't support this
for all the obvious reasons, not the least of which is the location
to the high school and our downtown development efforts," he said.
Relief Associates' letter also states that the company "is working"
with the state Department of Public Health to license the program,
which will include comprehensive clinical, medical and
case-management services. Department of Public Health spokesperson
Donna Rheaume said Relief Associates cannot open the clinic until
licensed to do so by the DPH. A license application has not yet been
submitted. It typically takes between three and six months to
consider an application.

City Health Director Frank Singleton was investigating whether any
city permits are required for Relief Associates to open.

Rheaume said any community opposition "would be part of the process,"
as would the proposed site's proximity to a school.

Lowell High School's Freshman Academy stands diagonally across the
street from the proposed site, and the main LHS buildings are both
within two blocks. State Sen. Steven Panagiotakos and Reps. Thomas
Golden, Kevin Murphy and David Nangle, all Lowell Democrats, vowed
yesterday to lead the fight to defeat the proposal.

"Again, it's a typical situation," Panagiotakos said. "Urban centers
serve as the capital for social-service agencies. That's fine, but
just don't inundate us with them."

Panagiotakos said not only is Lowell High too close, "a downtown
methadone clinic is just not consistent with what we're trying to
accomplish downtown." "You could kiss downtown condo buyers goodbye,"
added Lowell High School Headmaster William Samaras. "But that's not
my first concern. My first concern is the kids, and this just doesn't
make any sense."

Panagiotakos said a school within 1,000 feet of a proposed methadone
clinic should be grounds to reject any application. In this case,
Lowell High's Freshman Academy, located in the former City Arts
Magnet School, is "well within" 1,000 feet, he said.

Davis said in many cases, methadone clinics generate more crime.
Davis said in the early 1990s, drug dealing and property crimes
increased in the neighborhood around Habit Management, which opened
in 1987. "People who have addiction problems are an easy audience for
drug dealers, and frequently drug dealers set up around these areas,"
said Davis. But in recent years, crime rates around Habit Management
have been reduced, Davis added, primarily due to an extensive private
security force. Robert Caruso, president of Lowell Five Cent Savings
Bank, whose main office is located across the street from 35 John
St., also assailed the proposal. "Even more critical than what we're
trying to accomplish in the downtown in terms of development is the
proximity to the high school," Caruso said. Although he never
mentioned Saab by name, Caruso also said "corporate responsibility"
is being forgotten "so someone can line their pockets." Saab did not
return two telephone calls left at his office yesterday.