Collegiate Times

Methadone wasn't named after Hitler nor created World War II as Narconon International's website states. I wasn't able to get the DEA's comment on their website ? they also list WWII. Their spokesman told me that she didn't have enough time to find experts to answer my questions before my deadline. This from an administration with 10,000 agents, most of whom are drug experts. I haven't been able to find any needle exchanges in Virginia, let alone in methadone clinics. Claims of open door policies and drugs dispensed without prescription at clinics are absurd, given new patients must come daily to the clinic and take their medicine in front of a treatment specialist. Methadone clinics don't allow patients to take any medicine home for at least three months, and then they still have to come every other day and if they don't follow the rules they won't get that much freedom.

At the heart of this hoopla seems to be core differences over just what addiction is. Some people, like those in Northwest Roanoke who have spoken out against the CRC Health Systems clinic proposed there, believe that all use is abuse; therefore, they see a clinic proposed in their neighborhood as an attack. To be fair, more affluent neighborhoods easily shot down the proposal CRC made and the people of Northwest feel cheated and misrepresented. Newly elected Roanoke City Councilman Lea says it wouldn't have gotten this far if he was in office when the clinic was first proposed. Addiction Recovery Systems has proposed a clinic in Blacksburg.

Of course all use isn't abuse and puritanical beliefs like that are the root of fear and hate. NIH says "Opiate-dependent persons are often perceived as 'other' or 'different.' Factors such as racism play a large role here. Many people believe that dependence is self-induced or a failure of willpower and those efforts to treat it will inevitably fail. Vigorous and effective leadership is needed to inform the public that dependence is a medical disorder that can be effectively treated."

If the concept of "all use that doesn't lead to a cure is abuse" were to be followed to its logical end, diabetics would be denied insulin. It is against federal law (ADA) to discriminate based upon someone's medical condition, and if the legislature continues to attack methadone clinics, they may write a check we Virginia citizens won't want to cover.

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