METHADONE CLINICS PROVIDE HELP, HOPE

I am writing this letter in support of Medically Managed Treatment
facilities, (MMT). This treatment consists of ongoing group and
individual mandatory counseling and use of methadone for chronic
opiates addiction and pain management. It is the goal of the treatment
programs that every individual suffering from the ravages of addiction
will have the opportunity to recover.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
has reported that methadone maintenance is also an effective
intervention in treating addiction to prescription opiates, (that are
commonly called pain medications) which has reached nearly epidemic
proportions in our rural areas.

Short acting opiates do not adequately treat long-term problems such
as pain. There are many innocent people who are victims of accidents
or injuries that methadone has given them back quality to their lives.

Regardless of what has brought them to the clinic, they are all silent
cries for help. What should be of great concern to our senators and
lawmakers are the people who aren't receiving treatment because this
is where your silent dangers lie.

Once you step up to try and improve your life then uneducated people
seem to panic. MMT facilities will help to keep the prison population
down. The alternatives to staying in a successful program are jail,
prisons, institutions or death.

Methadone is a stepping stone to total sobriety, I am thankful for all
the clinics and support more facilities to help manage this problem
and decrease some of the long distance driving for treatment. There is
also financial gain for communities with MMT facilities. A special
thank you to the people of Tazewell County for being open-minded
enough to support the clinic, also the Life Center of Galax (inpatient
facility).

It's also sad that our own communities refuse to support or help the
people who become addicted in their doctor offices or on their streets.

Based on the success of MMT facilities I feel that they are all here
to stay. I am not asking that you accept them but that you would at
least try and understand them you may think your family would never
face problems of opiate addiction and it may be occurring as you
oppose a successful treatment facility. Southwest Virginia has the
highest percentage of drug abuse in the state of Virginia.

False and misleading information about methadone should be stopped.
May God bless all addicts (regardless of their addiction), they are
His children too, and may God bless you.

Shelia Aker

Wise