ADDICTS FINALLY HAVE HELP

At Last.

The methadone clinic scheduled to open in Sault Ste. Marie next week
promises to help opioid addicts, their families and the community as a
whole.

It's fair to say better late than never. There will be relief available for
the suffering that has hit so many people so tragically.

But it's also fair to ask why it took so long. The pilot program is opening
after years of planning and lobbying. Too many addicts and people close to
them paid a horrible price in the meantime.

During 18 to 24 months from 1999 to 2001, a lot of suspicious deaths in the
Sault and area were feared to be related to morphine abuse. The untimely
demise of so many young people spurred the drive to create a local clinic,
but it's shameful that's what it took.

Similar services already exist in every other major Northern Ontario centre.
What took so long to get one in the Sault?

At 300 kilometres from the nearest other sizable city, Sudbury, the Sault
needs core services such as these because there are no nearby alternatives.

Besides the terrible human suffering the methadone program should be able to
alleviate, supporters point out it can significantly reduce other health
care costs.

While it may not be a cure-all, the program will be a valuable tool in the
war on addiction and its widespread effects in the community.

The clinic will be centred at the Algoma Health Unit's Community
Alcohol/Drug Assessment Program on East Street, but methadone won't be
administered there. Clients will go to a pharmacist, who will witness them
taking it.

Beyond providing a controlled substance to help addicts get away from street
opioids, the program features close scrutiny of clients - including weekly
urine tests.

One of the best facets is that Dr. Vera Tarman has been contracted to
establish and administer the service in conjunction with the AHU. The
Toronto physician and expert in methadone treatment will be in the Sault one
day a week. One of her main duties is to educate emergency staff, health
care workers and local medical officials.

Enhancing service and expertise in the community will benefit everyone. No
health care workers were hired specifically for the project, but organizers
eventually hope to employ a nurse practitioner if they can secure funding.

Let's hope that happens soon. Organizers were right to get at least the
first phase of this sorely needed program started. But people in the Sault
shouldn't have to wait even more years before a nurse practitioner is
brought on board.