HALF TRUTHS ABOUT METHADONE CLINICS

This is in response to the article in the 1/1 BDT entitled "New CON filed
for Princeton methadone clinic". Delegate Marshall Long is quoted as
stating "One of the biggest problems we have in the state is funding for
our mental health clinics," Long said between patient visits Wednesday
afternoon. "We're hoping to take care of people who are addicted and at the
same time, provide the kind of services typically provided by mental health
clinics." While I have no argument with this, I do question a couple of the
remedies he proposes. He states that he is "working with Dr. Michael McNeer
and others to gather information on how other state legislatures have
addressed the methadone cliniic situation."

First off, Dr. McNeer came out publicly against NSC's proposal to even open
a methadone clinic in Mercer County and, along with Dan Dunmeyer, was on
the committee of "concerned citizens" that halted the initial CON. Dr.
McNeer is a psychiatrist and operates a "detox" treatment facility in
Mercer county.

This constitutes a conflict of interest if there ever was one.

The article states "He has not yet drafted the final version on the bill he
plans to introduce when the legislative session begins on Jan. 14, but
suspects that it may shadow existing legislation in Ohio.

"We're looking at the best of the best," Long said." If he is truly looking
for the "best of the best" concerning a state OTP (Opiate Treatment
Program) system to emulate, Ohio's should be the LAST place he looks. If
patient care and treatment has anything to do with the desiscion, I can
produce plenty of testimonies from patients and data from professionals in
the OTP field to back this up. Waiting lists of over a year, archaic
treatment practices, massive red tape due to government over-regulation ...
I could go on and on.

Lucille Fleming, Executive Commissioner of the Ohio Department of Alcohol
and Drug Addiction, who recently stepped down after over a decade of ruling
the states OTP facilities with an iron fist, stated that she did not
believe in methadone as a maintenance tool and therefore Ohio clinics do
not have a maintenance program at all, but are glorified de-tox centers in
which the patient is pushed to get off the treatment from day one, before
they ever have a chance to stabilize and figure out a treatment plan for
the future.

This goes totally against the "best practices" sat down by the SAMHSA/CSAT
(the federal body that accredites methadone clinics nationwide).

I would like to offer the services of NAMA (the National Alliance of
Methadone Advocates) and the help or advice of any of the distinguished and
nationally recognized and respected Board of Directors or national staff,
in resolving this problem. Some of these doctors and other professional
persons studied and learned about MMT from the start with Drs. Dole and
Nyswander, who are THE pioneers of MMT.

In closing, I understand fully that we are talking a "financial" situation
here, but in the end, when all is said and done, isn't it the patient that
these facilities are for? I am all for revenue for the state, but not at
the expense of proper care and treatment. That is a big part of what is
wrong with the medical field as a whole in this country. Methadone clinics
have enough negative stigma and an uneducated public being fed half truths
and myths about them, don't pile this problem on as well.

Charles "Hoss" Kitts, Jr.

Co-Director VA NAMA