METHADONE PROGRAM IS COMING TO BRANDON

The Western Manitoba chapter of the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
(AFM) is looking at implementing a methadone program, which would help
those with opiate drug addictions to get help closer to home.

Terry Gryschuk, director of the Western Manitoba branch of the AFM,
said the local office is currently in the early planning stages of
setting up a methadone program, which is currently only available in
Winnipeg for those addicted to opiate drugs such as morphine, heroin
and oxycotin.

"In order to get onto the program, get on the proper dosage and really
begin and initiate them being on a methadone maintenance program, they
have to travel to Winnipeg . . . it requires them to be in Winnipeg
for an extended period of time initially," Gryschuk said. "It means
for those people living in rural areas, they don't receive as much
service as those living in Winnipeg. Our hope and our plan is to
enhance the services for those people in Southwestern Manitoba at a
more local level."

The methadone program is a combination of a dosage of the drug
methadone and counselling and support services. Methadone is a
synthetic opiate agonist, developed in the 1940s to be used instead of
morphine on the battlefields. It is long lasting and eliminates the
withdrawal symptoms that clients would experience if addicted to any
of the opiate drugs. It's one of the few drugs Health Canada believes
is safe for long term use.

Gryschuk said methadone helps eliminate the danger of using opiate
drugs, most of which are used by injection.

"It reduces a lot of the dangers. Most people who are addicted to
opiates are injection drug users and there are all sorts of dangers
from a high instance of HIV, Hepatitis C, obtaining the drugs and
finding money for the drugs," Gryschuk said.

Gryschuk said the first goal of the program is to reduce the harm
someone would take by continuing injection drug use of street opiates.
The second is to deal with their addiction through counselling and
support.

The actual program includes the methadone dose, medical care,
treatment for other substance abuse, counselling and support, mental
health services, health promotion, disease prevention and education
and links with other community-based support programs.

"At this point in time we're in a planning stage. We're trying to
enlist the current resources we have," he said.

Gryschuk said the Addictions Foundation's local office is planning to
meet and foster links with stakeholders such as physicians, the
Brandon Regional Health Authority and Brandon Police Services.

Gryschuk said the local office of the AFM is currently working on
getting its physician licensed to prescribe methadone and will
implement the program in stages. Gryschuk said his office is hoping to
have assistance in place for opiate drug users by November of this
year.