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Thursday, March 06, 2003 Page: 8A
SPECIFICS OF THE OPERATION OF THE PROPOSED METHADONE CLINIC ON LAIRD STREET IN
PLAINS TOWNSHIP WERE DETAILED WEDNESDAY BY MARY MARTIN, AN OFFICIAL WITH
CHOICES DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT CENTER. MARTIN SAID THE CLINIC WILL
INITIALLY SEEK A LICENSE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO TREAT UP TO 70
CLIENTS. ALL CLIENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MEET STRICT ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS
AND WOULD BE MONITORED TO ENSURE THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH THE PROGRAM, SHE
SAID. THE CLINIC WOULD TREAT ONLY PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF LUZERNE, WYOMING AND
LACKAWANNA COUNTIES. CLIENTS WOULD HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF RESIDENCY. THE CLINIC
ALSO WOULD TREAT ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ADDICTED TO HEROIN AND OTHER
OPIATES FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR. THE ONLY EXCEPTION WOULD BE PREGNANT WOMEN, SHE
SAID. OTHER CLIENT REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE ATTENDING COUNSELING AT LEAST 2 1/2
HOURS PER MONTH, AND UNDERGOING FREQUENT URINALYSIS TESTS. METHADONE DOSES
WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY A PHYSICIAN, WHO WOULD BE AIDED BY NURSES AND OTHER
MEDICAL STAFF. A PHYSICIAN WOULD BE ON THE PREMISES ONE HOUR A DAY FOR EVERY
10 PATIENTS SEVEN HOURS BASED ON THE PROPOSED 70-CLIENT CASE LOAD, SHE SAID.
SHE ESTIMATED THE AVERAGE PATIENT WOULD SPEND ABOUT 15 MINUTES IN THE CLINIC
TO RECEIVE THEIR DOSE, NOT INCLUDING THE COUNSELING TIME. PATIENTS WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION. THE CLINIC WOULD ALSO HAVE TIGHT
SECURITY, INCLUDING SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AND ALARMS. METHADONE WOULD BE KEPT
IN A SAFE, AND CLIENTS WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO LOITER OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
ONCE THEY RECEIVE THEIR DOSE.