NOTHING GOOD ABOUT METHADONE CLINICS

Re. the young lady who wants a methadone clinic to be put in Pennington
Gap, how did she become "a former addict?" Doing drugs on a daily basis for
the past three years is hardly "former." How much money does she spend a
month at the Tazewell facility? I have a pretty good idea what it amounts
to and that would be close to the monthly payment of a three-bedroom house.

I just for the life of me can't see the positive in this. She is still
spending a lot of money on drugs, and just because the clinic has a
business license, that makes it OK. It's amazing to me at how addicts will
convince even themselves that its OK to keep altering the way they think.

These clinics love it too. They are making a fortune dealing right out the
front door. They promise all of these wonderful things that are available,
and as long as you pay for it, it can be yours too. They forget to mention
what you are supposed to do to get off the methadone. Could she put it down
now and never do it again without becoming sick? Has the clinic given her
an end date for treatment? I didn't think so, and there is a reason for
this. They want your business. They need you to stay sick so you will spend
your hard-earned money for that week's dosage. It's the same vicious cycle
that many addicts die from thinking there is a different way out.

Did they bother mentioning that two of five methadone clinic patients
relapse and die from an overdose or wind up in prison? The reason the
public does not hear the positive side to methadone treatment is simply
because there isn't one.

There is a different way, and it's not through a clinic. The best part is
it costs nothing. Wake up, look in the mirror and maybe you will see what
the problem is. If you are brutally honest with yourself, you will see who
is staring back at you in the mirror. Ask yourself, do I like this person I
see? Why do I feel I need to change? Is doing expensive drugs on a daily
basis really helping me? Clinics are exploiting addiction for profit. They
know that as long as they can "treat" you, you will be back. It's just like
going to the corner drug dealer to get your fix.

Greg Gilreath

Church Hill