COMMUNITY ACTIVISM

Forum Aspires To Create Rehabilitation-Focused County Court, Methadone Clinic

Dismayed by the number of people caught in the web of drug addiction and
those dying from overdoses, a group of citizens has established a drug
forum to discuss their concerns.

Carl Romanelli, vice chairman of the Citizens Drug Policy Forum of
Northeastern Pennsylvania, said the group plans to tackle issues including
creating a Luzerne County Drug Court and local methadone treatment center,
verifying that emergency medical technicians carry a drug overdose antidote
and forming arrest-free zones and needle exchanges in hospital emergency rooms.

Although the wish list might seem daunting, local drug and alcohol
officials and a doctor say some of the concepts are already in place.

Emergency services agreed in 1998 to carry a counteractive drug to use on
overdose victims, said Michael Donahue of Luzerne/Wyoming Counties Drug and
Alcohol Program. The agreement stemmed from work done by the Luzerne County
Heroin Task Force, which hasn't been meeting as often as in the past. Known
commonly as Narcan, the antidote reverses respiratory depression and sedation.

"It has been in place," Donahue said. "Do I know that firsthand (it is
being used) No. But since it's been in place they've been able to use the
Narcan."

Arrest-free hospital zones also are in place, although not specifically
referred to as such. Dr. Keith Vrabec, a Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical
Center emergency room physician, said that in most cases patient
confidentiality prohibits emergency personnel to contact police regarding
overdoses.

When told the concepts already exist, Romanelli said that's what the forum
is about - finding what kind of programs exist as well as what works and
what doesn't.

Romanelli said he hopes a drug court would focus on rehabilitation and
treatment. Lackawanna County has a similar program, created two years ago
after a rash of fatal overdoses.

Lynn Barto, of Wyoming Valley Drug and Alcohol, said the Lackawanna County
Treatment Court is successful, but said money is a limiting factor.

The remaining two issues - a needle exchange program and methadone clinic -
are toward the more controversial end of the forum's drive. Donahue said
discussions about a needle exchange program would have to involve infection
control specialists.

As for a methadone clinic, "We continue to work on that one," Donahue said.
"No one has stopped addressing that issue."

Romanelli, who is an advocate for other causes, including the legalization
of marijuana - which he prefers to call cannabis - stresses educators must
be more truthful to children when explaining drugs' dangers. He said
cannabis is safe.

Donahue does not support Romanelli's casual approach about marijuana
regulation.

"We need to continue to educate the students in an honest manner as to the
effects of cannabis," he said. "There are dangers to using cannabis that
cannot be minimized."

The forum, whose founding members include Al Rende, of Project Restore;
David Frey, of the Peace Center; and Robert Griffin, a Forty Fort
psychologist, has a core group of about 12 and other participants exceeding 30.

The next meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First
Presbyterian Church on South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre and is open to
anyone concerned about drug abuse.