KEEP CLINIC OPEN

Your Feb. 8 article on the Direction 180 Methadone Clinic was timely.
This clinic serves a population of addicts with a very severe disease.
It is imperative that this clinic keep its doors open after federal
funding stops March 31.

As pointed out by the program director, Cindy MacIsaac, the program at
the Nova Scotia Drug Dependency Services in Dartmouth serves some
addicts well, but does not serve all addicts, as evidenced by the 63
narcotics addicts who use Direction 180.

Addicts get severe symptoms when they go without narcotics and will do
whatever it takes to obtain them, including crime. Methadone stops
intense cravings, but does not lead to euphoria, thus enabling addicts
to attempt to lead a normal existence. I would strongly urge the
provincial Department of Health to show appropriate leadership in
order to allow Direction 180 to continue to operate.

Graeme Bethune, MD, Halifax