Tennesee Methadone Clinic Needs Help Opening & Fighting A Lying Self Proclaimed Expert

Sunday, Sep 14, 2008

AROUND THE TOWN: Methadone clinic may come to Monterey

By Jan Boston Sellers / Chronicle columnist I was talking with my friend Steve Stone on the phone earlier this week about the possibility of a methadone clinic being located in nearby Monterey. Steve has done a lot of research on the proposed clinic and is very knowledgeable about the drug that is used to treat heroin addicts. Steve Stone works for the family owned business ...TAPS which is basically an advertising agency that places ads for planes, construction equipment, etc. One could see the expertise this would lend to someone in the field of addiction. LOL Check out their website and look at all the addiction info...NOT! http://www.tappublishing.com/index.html "Jan," Steve said, "we have to get word out about this clinic so that locals know what may be coming into their community." Absolutely, and don't forget to bolt the doors and lock up the kiddies because The Druggies are Coming...The Druggies Are Coming! I suggested he compose an article for me this week based on research surrounding the proposed methadone clinic since he has more information than I do about it. I would hate to see how little she knows then. The following was written by Stone, a partner at TAP Publishing here in Crossville and a large supporter of nonprofit organizations in the community, including the TAD Center. By Steve Stone One might think that is good news for our area that a new clinic could be opening next year just about 20 miles west of Crossville on Hwy. 70. To the contrary, this is not good news. It's an extremely serious development that carries life and death consequences. Methadone is a drug that was legalized to replace heroin and other opiates. The key word here is "replace," not arrest or cure. Drug replacement therapy supposes that it is better to replace a legally prescribed drug with one that is not legally obtained. In the brains of addicts, methadone prevents heroin or morphine from interacting with receptors for natural painkillers called endorphins, blocking the effects of the addictive drugs and reducing the physical cravings. In controlled doses, it creates its own effects of euphoria and drowsiness, but lasts much longer. Methadone is one of the most physically dependant medications invented in the 20th century. And, like methamphetamine, it is also a Nazi invention. First of all in controlled doses it produces NO euphoria. Controlled doses are what the goal is for those in treatment. Secondly, the statement that it is one of the most dependent meds of the 20th century is false. Please back that one up with research because I would love to see it. Last, the fact that methadone originated in Germany has nothing to do with its effectiveness. Many drugs were created in Nazi Germany that were important such as the first antibiotic, (Salvarasan) the first drug to treat Syphilis, and many many more. Since this therapy began in the 1960s, methadone has spread worldwide. Today, in our area, one of the closest clinics is in Rossville, GA, just south of Chattanooga. Private Clinic North is applying to locate a new, for profit, facility in Monterey to treat up to 650 addicts a day. Addicts must go to the clinic every day for 90 days before they are given a 30-day take home supply. Abuse and street use of methadone is exploding and young people are dying. Federal regulations only allow 30 days of take home meds to be given after 2 years of treatment. Check the federal regulations. http://www.methadone.org/library/42CRF_part8_code.html The number two cause of death today from accidental drug overdose is methadone. I have explained many times how this is skewed. That is behind only cocaine. Methadone is an extremely dangerous drug and in the wrong hands, it kills all too often. Sheriff Burgess told me last week about two brothers and a cousin from Cumberland County that died from methadone overdose last year. According to the CDC, the methadone rate in Tennessee went from 12 in 1999 to 134 in 2005. Addicts who begin methadone replacement therapy rarely ever stop to experience living a drug-free life. Success on MMT is not measured by whether or not you continue taking methadone. It is inconvenient for an addict to drive 90 miles to the nearest clinic. Putting a clinic just down the road is going to make it easy for addicts to continue using drugs and not learn how to live drug-free. No, Putting a clinic just down the road is going to make it easy for addicts to get the help they need. We are very fortunate to have a strong recovery influence in our community. Making this all too often deadly drug easy to obtain will surely kill people. The introduction of a drug treatment facility including Methadone has never coorelated to an increase in death rates. Most diversion is occuring from Pain clinics. Methadone is a terrible failure and is spreading like fire across our country. Research to prove that statement? We can stop this clinic from locating here. Yes, and you can also cost many lives in the process. There will be a public hearing in Nashville Oct. 22 and hopefully one in Monterey approximately two weeks prior. Please contact your local and state representatives and say no to this for profit venture. If you know someone in Putnam County, contact them and ask them to say no to methadone. Private Clinic must obtain a certificate of need before they can begin dispensing methadone. Contact the Tennessee Department of Health Services and Development at 500 Deadrick St., Ste. 850, Nashville, TN 37243, or e-mail melanie.hill@state.tn.us. *** This is one of the most bias pieces of crap I have ever read regarding MMT. NIMBY at its worst. Lots of work needs to be done in Tennessee. The man that wrote this article has no qualifications to be discussing addiction on either side. He is just one of the most wealthy and come from one of the most prominent families in the area. WOW. Please contact the agencies mentioned and fight this or don't complain when the clinic doesn't open.