STATE PLANS REVIEW OF METHADONE-DISPENSING PRACTICES

PORTLAND, Maine - Increased use and abuse of methadone is prompting state
officials to review procedures at southern Maine clinics that use the
synthetic narcotic to treat opiate addiction.

The state Office of Substance Abuse will examine the dispensing practices
at two clinics in light of several recent overdose deaths and reports of
illegal methadone sales on the street, director Kim Johnson said.

"We're most interested in the dosage issue and the take-home issue,"
Johnson said. "We're going to visit both facilities and review the whole
process."

Johnson said staff members will visit the sites and review patient records
and treatment plans within the next two weeks.

Authorities and public health officials are alarmed that methadone has
become a commodity in southern Maine. They believe some people who are
given methadone for addiction to heroin or other opiates are, in some
cases, selling it.

Portland has had 11 overdose deaths since January, more than double the
number for the same period last year.

Methadone has been implicated in two-thirds of those deaths, according to
drug agents.

Police have charged a 25-year-old man in the case of one Portland woman who
survived a methadone overdose over the weekend.

Police said Thomas Hume was prescribed methadone at CAP Quality Care in
Westbrook.

CAP Quality Care and Discovery House in South Portland both report a spike
in the number of addicts seeking treatment. Discovery House now treats
about 425 people and CAP Quality Care treats 480 people.

Both clinics allow selected patients to take methadone out of the
facilities, but the clinics said that practice is a privilege that must be
earned.

During the first 90 days of treatment, patients ingest the methadone at the
clinic each day. Eventually, patients can make weekly visits to the clinic
if they test negative for opiate use and meet other state and federal
criteria, the clinics said.

The state is required to review and approve each take-home order.

Steve Cotreau, program director at CAP Quality Care, said a review by state
officials would be welcome.

Steve Gumbley, project director at Discovery House, did not return a phone
call Tuesday.