Indiana Poses New Regulations That Would Force Hundreds Out of Treatment

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact Persons: Roxanne Baker, President
president@methadone.org
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director
edirector@methadone.org
1.212.595.nama

For Release
February 15, 2008

Indiana Poses New Regulations
That Would Force Hundreds Out of Treatment

The Indiana Legislature is proposing some excessive regulations that will force hundreds of patients out of treatment. And those seeking treatment will find barriers that make it nearly impossible to access treatment.

The Indiana House Bill 1258 calls for:

1. Excessive and unnecessary urine testing,
   


2. Discharge any patient testing positive for any drug not in their treatment plan,
   


3. Not allow anyone under 18 years in a program unless they are being treated there or transporting a patient,
   


4. Requires a designated driver for any patient leaving the program.
   

These regulations will force programs to discharge patients that test positive for any drug that is not part of their treatment plan. This means that any patient that develops a secondary addiction while in treatment will be denied treatment for their opiate dependence no matter how well they may be doing with it.

Every woman with children will now have the additional burden of a babysitter so that they can attend the program.

Making patients have a designated driver is really against all the scientific evidence that is known about a stable patient taking methadone.

This is an issue of legislators delving into something and making assumptions about things that they know nothing about. They do not understand that opiate addiction is a brain disorder and that methadone is a medication and they do not view patients as seeking recovery.

It is interesting to note that these regulations do not include other powerful medications that can cause impairment. They are focused on methadone and patients in medicated assisted treatment because they harbor prejudices and stigma towards them.

Methadone has been evaluated for over forty years throughout the world. Studies evaluating the functional potential of methadone patients have found no differences between the patients and control groups. In fact in some studies the patients had a faster reaction time and another study that followed driving records found patients were safer drivers (Gordon, 1994).

What is the most disturbing is that Indiana legislators are making regulations without consulting any professionals, researchers or patients to first assess the needs and impact of the new regulations. One would hope that there intention would be to make Indiana a better place for all of it’s citizens.

The MAG is Working in Indiana

The MAG of Indiana NAMA’s Indiana Chapter is working to mobilize patients and advocates to speak out against this legislation. Even if you live in another state it is important that you write to these legislators and tell them how devastating this will be to patients.

What Can You Do?

You can download the following to help with contacting legislators:

Indiana Legislators Target Methadone Patients Flyer

Who to Write To

District Reps for methadone clinics

House Bill 1258

Courier-Journal Article

Patient Info Sheet for SB 0157 (Designated Driver)

Petition for Designated Driver

Phone Script for Designated Driver

Porter Starke Ready to Open New Indiana Clinic

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact Person:
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director
nama.president@Verizon.net
1.212.595.6262

For Release
November 12, 2007

Located in Valparaiso the clinic is attached to the main Porter-Starke Services building has everything in place except the actual methadone according to advocate and director Carmen Arlt. The clinic has been inspected by state and federal officials and is now waiting for the federal certificate. Once the certificate is received the clinic could be open within days. According to Arlt they are expecting a large number of transfer patients from the Gary area since many of the patients that attend those clinics are from the area

Carmen Arlt is also director of NAMA’s Indiana Chapter The MAG and is one of the few patient advocates to be recognized with the prestigious Marie (Dole-Nyswander) Award.

About
Since its beginning over 40 years ago methadone maintenance has been the most effective treatment for narcotic addiction. In spite of its success, methadone maintenance is often disparaged as a "substitute drug" by those who ignore the positive benefits that it has clearly brought to society. Such attitudes negatively impact on methadone treatment in a variety of ways, but it is the methadone patients themselves who are particularly stigmatized and harmed. Patients are mistreated and misinformed and considered as social outcasts. They are victims of discrimination in health care, the job market, education, insurance and housing. The National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) was organized as a formal mechanism for methadone patients to voice their own needs and to form a strong, unified public presence on their behalf. The primary objective of NAMA is to advocate for the patient in treatment by destigmatizing and empowering methadone patients. First and foremost, it can confront the negative stereotypes that impact on the self esteem and worth of many methadone patients with a powerful affirmation of pride and unity.
Website: http://www.methadone.org


Contact Persons:
Joycelyn Woods, Executive Director, ediretor@methadone.org
Roxanne Baker, President, president@methadone.org
Phone/FAX: 212.595.nama

See attached article from Post Tribune.
###

Attachment
Final touches on clinic
November 10, 2007
By Teresa Auch Post-Tribune staff writer
VALPARAISO -- The new methadone clinic at Porter-Starke Services is ready to open, just as soon as the federal government gives approval.
The clinic, one of 13 in the state, was supposed to open July 1, Carmen Arlt, director of addiction services said. But the group wanted to put in more safety features, such as cameras and locks, to make the community and staff feel safe.
"We were slowed down by the process of renovation," Arlt said.
The clinic, which is attached to the main Porter-Starke Services building at 701 Wall St. in Valparaiso, has everything in place except the actual methadone.
A camera hovers over the entrance, as do several others in the lobby. Patients coming to get a prescription of methadone must first sign in at a front window.
They then move to another window, walled off from the lobby, to take their dosage.
The clients must sign electronically and then swallow the liquid in front of the registered nurse giving the dose, nurse staff member Don Sison said.
"Sometimes we engage in conversation after they have taken it to make sure they have swallowed it," Sison said.
The conversation also allows the nurses to get a feel for how patients are doing.
The clinic includes several side rooms for physicals, mandatory drug tests and interviews. Anyone who wants to become, and remain, a patient must prove they have tried other measures and that they are making improvements in their lives, Arlt said.
As for the dispensary, the room is made of steel walls, the door has a double lock, along with motion detectors.
Anyone entering the room has to have a nursing certificate posted on a board inside. The methadone supplies are kept in a special safe.
Arlt said the clinic has passed all levels of state and federal regulations.
"We're actually more safe over here than a bank," she said.
As soon as the federal government gives official certification, the clinic can be open within a few days.
That could happen anywhere from days to a few weeks from now, she said.
Arlt said she expects to see a heavy volume of patients soon.
The state government has warned her that about 60 percent of the patients who go to the clinics in Gary are from Porter County and will likely go to Porter-Starke once its clinic opens.

Leaders of NAMA’s Swedish Affiliate Svenska Brukarforeningen (SBF) Report to Police for Handing Out Clean Needles

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release


Contact Person: Joycelyn Woods, President
nama.president@Verizon.net
1.212.595.nama

For Release
May 17, 2007

On May 4 SBF’s President, Berne Stålenkrantz and the Stockhom Director, Johan Stenbäck presented themselves to the Norrmalm Police Station in Stockholm for handing out clean needles to drug users.

The purpose of the action was to get an official assessment of the their crime and to bring to the public the fact that Sweden does not allow syringes to be sold in pharmacies as is done is all other countries in the European Union (EU). SBF is also considering reporting Sweden to the European Union for its failure to comply with EU rules surrounding the common market.

In southern Sweden needle exchange programs have been keeping the spread of HCV nd HIV under control for the past 20 years. County and Town Councils have been allowed to establish needle exchange programmes if they so wish. However in Stockholm no such programs have been established.

According to Stålenkrantz if the penalty is mild they will continue with what they are doing. However after SBF publicized that they were providing drug users with clean needles the organization suddenly found its financing from Stockholm City Council under threat.

Stålenkrantz also reported that a colleague suffering from a Hepatitis C was planning to report the city's social services department to the police because he has contracted a deadly illness after being refused clean syringes. He will also state that he was a victim of SBF’s having received clean syringes from the organization.

Needle exchange programs have been used worldwide for the past twenty years and provides a way for drug users to avoid the risks of drug use as well as a way to access support services including treatment.

"We are handing out syringes for purely humanitarian reasons. And we are forced to do so since society is not providing this type of healthcare," said Stålenkrantz.

NAMA Calls for An End To Using The Term Substitution Treatment Asking That Governments and Their Agencies and Organizations End Its’ Use

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact:
Joycelyn Woods MA-CMA (212) 595-NAMA/6262


For Release:
May 4, 2007


The National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, our international affiliates and chapters in the United States call on all governments, governmental agencies and international organizations to end the use of “Substitution Treatment” when referring to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opiate addiction.

The term “Substitution Treatment” infers that any medication used in the treatment of opiate dependence is a substitute. No other medication is referred to in this manner creating significant misunderstandings towards the medication and especially the patients. The use of “Substitution Treatment” stigmatizes patients receiving treatment for the opiate dependence, promotes ignorance and pollutes the development and growth of this life saving medication for those needing help for their opiate dependence.

Governments have rejected buprenorphine and particularly methadone because they it is viewed as merely a substitute for heroin or other illicit drugs. Officials in rejecting these medications have expressed the belief that their citizens should have the right to an effective treatment. Thus hundreds of thousands of opiate dependent individuals “are being denied” the most effective treatment because “Substitution Treatment” is misleading and confusing.

In the United States the term Substitute and Substitution Treatment is only used to denigrate both methadone and buprenorphine treatments. Calling these medications a substitute has been used to hurt Patients by denying them opportunities and other benefits that they deserve and have worked for. Thus, in the United States only those against methadone and buprenorphine call them a Substitute.

At Bratislava in 2006 Dr. Icro Maremmani, the President of Europad called for his European colleagues to end the use of “Substitution Treatment. He asked his colleagues to follow the philosophy and principles of Drs. Dole and Nyswander who believed that opioid dependence and addiction was a medical condition and conceptualized the drug dependent person as a person with a brain metabolic disorder.

The last years of Dr. Dole’s life were spent working to resolve the stigma and prejudice that affects patients in medication assisted treatment. Dr. Dole was acutely aware of the stigma that terms like “Substitution Treatment” create towards patients. He always spoke out against any inference that medication assisted treatment was a substitute. In his experience, methadone and more recently buprenorphine were medications that stabilize the endogenous opioid system damaged by narcotics.

We, at the National Alliance of Methadone Advocates believe that the use of Substitute or Substitution Treatment denigrates this treatment. And that by denigrating this treatment patients receiving medication assisted treatment are injured.

As patients we reserve the right to define ourselves and our treatment. It is therefore the spirit of our own self identity we ask governments and their agencies, organizations and professionals to cease using “Substitution Treatment. Methadone and buprenorphine are medical treatments and should be defined as “Medication Assisted Treatment” or “Opiate Agonist Therapy”.



It is therefore in the spirit of our own self identity we ask governments and their agencies, organizations and professionals to cease using “Substitution Treatment. Methadone and buprenorphine are "medical treatments" and should be defined as such. However if you must put a name to addiction treatment then we suggest “Medication Assisted Treatment” or “Opiate Agonist Therapy”.

Méta d'âme Announces New Housing Initiative for Methadone Patients in Montreal

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact Persons:

Joycelyn Woods, President
nama.president@Verizon.net
1.212.595.nama

Guy Pierre Levesque, Méta d'âme
guypierrelevesque@yahoo.com

For Release:
April 12, 2007


Méta d'âme NAMA’s affiliate in Montreal has announced a new housing project that will provide housing and peer services to methadone patients. Construction of a new building will begin in August with the building of 22 units that consisting of studio and 1-bedroom apartments. The building will have a green roof and community hall for meetings. Meta d'âme will own and manage the project with peer workers in collaboration with clinic referrals. Guy Pierre Lévesque spokesperson for Méta d'âme reports that the organization will also occupy half of the ground floor starting June 2008.

The housing project is named Promethéus (Promethe) from the Greek god. A favorite of Zeus Promethe was punisheed for disobedience because he stole fire from the gods and gave it to mortals for their use. This was the beginning of enlightenment for man. An appropriate name for the project Promethean refers to events or people of great creativity, intellect and boldness.

Also in the planning is a French International Methadone Conference and other medicated assisted treatment (MAT) for opiate dependency. Translations will be made available in English. Méta d'âme will be involved in the planning and also include peer-working at the conference. In addition to the conference Méta d'âme is involved in the development of a Canadian Methadone Association.

“It is possible to make things happened if we believe in what we do,” says Lévesque. Therefore it appears that the impetus of Méta d'âme is creating some important advances in Canada.

MOUNT SINAI TO ABANDON AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HISPANIC PATIENTS OF EAST HARLEM

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact:
Joycelyn Woods MA-CMA (212) 595-NAMA/6262

For Release:
April 9, 2007

The Mount Sinai Hospital is planning to close the Narcotic Rehabilitation Center (NRC) a program with an international reputation for excellence in treating opiate addiction. After 37 years of providing rehabilitation services to Upper East Side residents afflicted with opiate addiction, Mount Sinai has determined that there is no longer any room for the program.

Even after accepting funds for the renovation of the facility from the New York State Office of Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) the hospital appears to be moving to quickly close NRC. In NRC’s place Mount Sinai is planning a multi-million dollar project that will include luxury high-rise apartments. It is difficult to comprehend Mount Sinai’s decision to eliminate a program that has been important to the local neighborhood. The situation could be easily averted since NRC can be easily relocated to the selected site that is renovated, licensed and ready to open. Therefore it is difficult to understand why Mt. Sinai can not find a way to keep these valuable services.

Has Mount Sinai Forgotten it’s Mission?

The National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) has already begun to hear from fearful patients and their concerns about having to go to another program that they do not know. Certainly, patients will have to travel into other neighborhoods for treatment, change their schedules and develop new relationships with program staff. This creates stress for patients and their families. And now with fewer options to treatment in East Harlem any increases in drug use could easily develop into a public health crisis.

NRC that serves 700 patients has a international reputation for providing quality medicated assisted treatment and is known for having exceptional services. The programs that will have to take on the responsibility of accepting these patients do not have the services that NRC has developed over the years. Programs in Northern Manhattan are already operating close to capacity and certainly do not have room for large numbers of patients creating a carry over effect. If the 7 closest programs accepted 100 patients each the burden on them would be tremendous. Program staff already over worked and stressed will not be able to provide the level of care that they were providing. Therefore a large number of patients from an area with pockets of destitution will not be able to obtain the services that they need to change their lives. In addition to the 700 patients from NRC at least another 3500 patients will be affected by the closing of NRC.

The Harlem area and nearby neighborhoods will be impacted from the effects of the closing of NRC. The improvements that the Harlem area has experienced in the last decade will begin to deteriorate. Individuals seeking help for their opiate dependence will be turned away from local programs, a rarity in New York City. Crime in East Harlem will undoubtedly increase and spill into neighboring communities. The standard of living will be reduced for all as hospitals admissions increase and other public health indicators increase (i.e. HIV, overdose deaths, TB). Therefore the impact of NRC closing on the community and on the city is not insignificant.

NAMA urges Mount Sinai to re-think their decision and to continue with the decision to utilize the site that has been selected and is ready for the program to move into. Proceeding with the current decision to close NRC is an indication that the needs of community are not important in comparison to the new luxury high rise residents. NAMA believes that the patients of NRC and the East Harlem community deserve more from Mount Sinai and will make every effort to insure that the patients of NRC and the community are not forgotten. East Harlem is a vibrant community and the people deserve the right to have access to medicated assisted treatment within their community.

STOP METHADONE IGNORANCE

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release
Contact Person: Joycelyn Woods, President


For Release:
March 10, 2007



It is not uncommon for individuals with a long history of illicit opiate use to remain in methadone treatment as a long term patient. Many often say that without methadone treatment they would probably be dead. Other forms of treatment were not effective and they had come to believe that they would die an "addict". Numerous studies have demonstrated that the majority of persons who leave methadone treatment revert to illicit heroin or other opioid use in relatively short time though of course there are exceptions.



NIDA and NIH considers "addiction" as a chronic relapsing brain disorder. A full text article, The Neurobiology of Addictive Behaviors and its Relationship to Methadone Maintenance by Stimmel and Kreek is available from, http://www.mssm.edu/msjournal/67/page375_380.pdf



You get an excellent idea of the benefits of methadone maintenance by visiting a petition web site that was recently established by NAMA to counter anti-methadone groups trying to restrict this valuable therapy. Read the patient reports on the petition and you will get a significant understanding of the benefits to the patients of this form of therapy.



However recently there have been an increase in methadone overdose deaths attributed to an increase in prescribing methadone for pain medication. Also methadone has been in the media recently adding to the fervor and sensationalism.



The change in regulations created a more realistic situation for both programs and patients seeking recovery. However recently several sensational websites are promoting stricter regulations on methadone treatment in an effort to end the increase overdose deaths. These measures will be ineffective as most of the deaths are due to a number of factors including mishandling of medication. In an effort to protect our life saving treatment and to make methadone safer for pain management NAMA recommends education rather than restrictions.



We are also asking patients and their families to sign a petition "Methadone Patients Against Hysteria and Further Restrictions". The petition in brief, reads as follows:



We are Methadone Patients, Providers, Families and Friends AGAINST the Hysteria which is calling for Further Restrictions on the Prescribing of Methadone."
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/360731625

NAMA Announces NAMA NorCal's House Party Rokki's Education Party for HBO's Addition Special

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release



Contact(s):
Rokki Baker, CMA, NAMA Vice President and NAMA NorCal Director
bluelady16.1@netzero.net
Joycelyn Woods, President
nama.president@Verizon.net



For Release:
March 5, 2007


All across the country people are coming together to watch and discuss the new HBO series, ADDICTION. Americans will be coming together to discuss what needs o happen in their communities to make alcohol, drug treatment and recovery support available and show the power of long-term recovery. For to long patients in medicated assisted treatment (MAT) have not thought of themselves as being in recovery and it is time to change. Join NAMA NorCal for Rokki's Education to discuss MAT and recovery and ways to introduce it to the MAT community. This is our opportunity to be counted.

What is HBO's ADDICTION Project

The documentary, ADDICTION, examines recent advancements in research and effective new treatments. It demonstrates that treatment and recovery is possible. And it is positive to MAT by emphasizing that addiction is a brain disease.

ADDICTION is a series of four programs that premieres from Thursday, March 15, to Sunday, March 18. In participating cable systems it will be free for the weekend.

NAMA NorCal will host an ADDICTION ACTION House Party.

When: 03/16/07 04:00 PM

Where: NAMA-NorCal
3400 Portola Drive #A2
Santa Cruz, California

RSVP: Guestlist

Contact Organizer: Roxanne Baker

Click here for a complete series broadcast schedule.
http://www.addictionaction.org/watch/broadcast.html

Visit Addiction Action.
http://www.addictionaction.org/

Visit NAMA website.
http://www.methadone.org/


Together, we can make a difference.

New Jersey Advocates Announces New State Access Initiative

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact(s):
Claude Hopkins, CMA-RMA (732) 678-5172
NJadvocate@Comcast.net
Joycelyn Woods MA-CMA (212) 595-NAMA/6262

For Release:
February 3, 2007

NAMA's New Jersey Chapter Announces
New State Access Initiative

New Jersey Advocates NAMA's official chapter for the state of New Jersey announces a new state access initiative. The New Jersey Access Initiative (NJAI) is a program of the Division of Addiction Services and administered by the Center for Family Services, Inc..

The program was created to "enhance" traditional substance abuse treatment to New Jersey residents addicted to opiates. NJAI provides funding for assessments, inpatient detoxification, opiate drug treatment utilizing a modality of medicated assisted treatment (i.e. methadone and buprenorphine), drug-free treatment and Recovery Mentoring services.

Eligible MAT patients actively engaged in treatment will be given a choice of a Certified Recovery Mentor who will enhance their care during treatment and facilitate their transition from treatment to long-term recovery and a successful life in the community. The Recovery Mentor Associates will assist with brokering necessary services and removing the common barriers to recovery.

This program is presently accepting all eligible applicants who is suffering from an addiction to opiates. At the present anyone who is attempting to get onto a methadone program but is having difficulty due to a lack of funding or anyone who is presently on a methadone program but is in the process of loosing their status as a patient due to not having the funds to continue would most likely be eligible for a voucher to pay for treatment. This voucher would give them access to treatment in a methadone treatment facility for 6 mos and any needed covered services along with a Recovery Mentor.

Anyone interested in this program can contact the New Jersey Addiction Hotline at 1-800-238-2333, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and ask to be placed on the access initiative program.

Not all New Jersey MTPs have asked to be part of the program however, as NJAI expands more will become providers for this initiative. There are several drug-free providers throughout the state. You will receive a list of all eligible providers once you receive your voucher number over the phone. You can then take your number to one of the approved providers to receive your assessment which starts the treatment process.

Anyone needing assistance can contact Claude Hopkins at the phone number or email below.

Phone: (732) 678-5172
Email: NJadvocate@Comcast.net

Call for Nominations of the Richard Lane Patient Advocacy Award

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact(s):
Joycelyn Woods MA-CMA (212) 595-NAMA/6262
Fred Christie AFIRM (516) 897-1330
Chris Kelly ARM (202) 246-6850



For Release:
December 29, 2006

Call for Nominations of the

Richard Lane Patient Advocacy Award

The National Alliance of Methadone Advocates (NAMA) in collaboration with Advocates for the Integration of Methadone and Recovery (AFIRM) and Advocates for Recovery with Medication (ARM) is seeking Nominations for the Richard Lane Patient Advocacy Award to be presented by the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) at the 2007 National Conference.

The award will be presented during the Conference Banquet to be held in San Diego (October 20-24, 2007). The recipient will receive roundtrip Coach Class airfare to the conference, two (2) nights in the hotel and full conference registration.

Richard Land was a long-term heroin user who, upon release from prison in 1967, was instrumental in establishing one of the Nation’s first methadone treatment programs. In 1974, he became the Executive Director of Man Alive (Baltimore) and later served as Vice President of the American Methadone Treatment Association and as Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Maryland. Mr. Lane was a passionate advocate for methadone treatment and, by disclosing his own treatment experiences, provided inspiration to patients and colleagues alike. This award was established in 1995 and recognizes extraordinary achievements in patient advocacy.

The following criteria should be applied in making the selection:

Only one (1) nominee can be submitted to the AATOD Conference Awards Committee. There may be a number of nominees, who will be fielded by The Committee in the methadone patient advocacy movement, however, The Committee will be responsible for submitting only one (1) “consensus” nominee to receive this honor.

The nominee must have been involved in the field of methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.

The nominee must have been actively engaged in methadone advocacy for a period of five (5) years.

The nominee must have made meaningful and consistent contributions, which have had a significant impact on opioid treatment within a state or region of the United States.

The Committee will be responsible for completing the nomination form and retaining letters of support describing the nominee’s achievements, which are required before any final nomination can be submitted to the AATOD Awards Committee.

All submissions should include the completed Richard Land Patient Advocacy Award Nomination Form that is included.

Deadline for submissions is February 14, 2007.
Please email to nama.president@verizon.net

Please distribute to all interested persons.

Download Nomination Form:
http://www.methadone.org/downloads/nomination_form.pdf

Download Press Release

http://www.methadone.org/downloads/press_release_richard_lane.pdf

NAMA is Proud to Announce the World Famous CODAC All-Stars Holiday Music Jam at the Catfish Cafe

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release


National Alliance of Methadone Advocates

Contact Person: Joycelyn Woods, President
nama.president@Verizon.net
212.595.nama

For Release:
December 6, 2006

NAMA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
THE WORLD FAMOUS CODAC ALL-STARS

HOLIDAY MUSIC JAM AT THE CATFISH CAFE

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Providence, RI

The CODAC All-Stars and Friends bring you a night of music, stories and holiday favorites.

When
Saturday December 9th at 7 PM
Come early for the Jam Session 2-6 PM

Where
The Catfish Cafe at The Mediator
50 Rounds Avenue, Providence RI

Admission
Donation
Or A New Unwrapped Present for Kids 1-16 Years

Refreshments Available

The Mediator is easy to find - just off Narragansett Avenue (near Reservoir)
or from Elmwood and Roger Williams Avenue
Call 401-263-7232 for Directions

For More Information
WWW.CATFISHCAFE.INFO
OPEN JAM SESSION FROM 2-6PM

James Gillen "Catfish Jim" is the manager of the CODAC All-Stars and founder of Tales from a Small Planet a project in which Gillen uses his passion for storytelling, music and audience participation. Gillen also uses his storytelling abilities to give presentations on substance abuse and tobacco prevention in schools and other facilities. Additionally, an experiment using musical therapy to help people recovering from addictions tap into the creative energy within has blossomed into an ever-expanding group of musicians, singers and drummers. They are now known as the World-Famous CODAC All-Stars. This group has appeared as part of the Catfish Café, which included a performance that brought down the house last year at the City of Providence’s New Year’s Eve Bright Night event.

Jim Gillen is a director of NAMA's Rhode Island chapter MARC, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP) and Certified Criminal Justice Professional (CCJP) in the state of Rhode Island.

The state of Rhode Island's Division of Substance Abuse presented Jim with the 2003 Counselor of the Year Award. In March of 2006 Jim was named recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award for RI for outstanding service to the community.

For booking information for “Tales From a Small Planet” or the “CODAC All Stars”, e-mail: planetcatfish@cox.net

Rhode Island MAT Patients Celebrate Recovery

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release


Contact Person: Joycelyn Woods, President
nama.president@Verizon.net
212.595.nama

For Release:
September 17, 2006

Rhode Island MAT Patients Celebrate Recovery

Reported by Jim Gillen
MARCAP/NAMA
planetcatfish@cox.net

Yesterdays RI's celebration was beyond belief in a good way, from perfect weather to a HUGE crowd. Did I say a HUGE peaceful, joy filled crowd!!!!!

The role that medication assisted patients, staff from clinics, methadone advocates were a big,big part of this celebration. From the band (MAT patients) to the set up and break down crew - first ones in and last ones out.

We painted faces, distributed food, blew up over a hundred balloons, set up tents. I wanted to put the NAMA/MARCAP table next to NA but they came later - wouldn't that just be a hoot!!! Oh well, there is always next year!!!

This event to me is a great blueprint for success - mix it with a big general public event !!! Go figure!

We got our MARCAP first aid kits with phone number and methadone.org on it. If any one wants a few we could send some off.

Sharon Dembowski of NENAMA-MOM was great yesterday as usual and has photos of the event.

Keep the faith!!!

SAMHSA Awards $9.8 million for Peer to Peer Recovery Support Services

Date: Sept 6 , 2006
Media Contact: SAMHSA Press
Telephone: 240-276-2130

SAMHSA Awards $9.8 million for Peer to Peer
Recovery Support Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today announced the award of seven Recovery Support Services grants totaling $9.8 million over four years. These grants to community-based organizations are designed to deliver and evaluate peer-to-peer recovery support services that help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders.

"Peer recovery support services are expected to extend and enhance the treatment continuum," said Assistant Surgeon General Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H., SAMHSA's Acting Deputy Administrator. "These grants will help prevent relapse and maximize the opportunities to create a lifetime of recovery and wellness for self, family, and community. And, when individuals do experience relapse, recovery support services can help minimize the negative effects and if needed make sure there is an appropriate referral to treatment."

The seven awards in five states are funded up to $350,000 per year in total costs. Continuation of these awards is subject to the availability of funds as well as the progress achieved by the grantees. Total funding for year one is $2.4 million.

The Recovery Community Services Program grantees are as follows:

Arizona

Pima Prevention Partnership, Tucson -- $350,000 to recruit and train a 10-member core group of peer leaders in recovery, who will develop and implement the service infrastructure in four months. Recovery Services will be offered at the partnership's Learning Center and offer peer-led emotional, informational, instrumental and affiliation support services five afternoons/evenings per week, including Saturdays.

Tohono O'odham Nation, Sells -- $350,000 to implement a comprehensive peer-to-peer system to support individuals in recovery with a full range of recovery support services provided locally in the 11 districts that make up the federally recognized tribe, which has one of the highest rates of substance abuse among all populations in the United States .

Georgia

Recovery Consultants of Atlanta, Inc. -- $350,000 per year to provide peer-led support services that help sustain Atlanta's inner city addiction recovery community. The program will provide a recovery center offering more than 40 weekly 12-step, faith-based, health-specific (HIV and Hepatitis C, a liver disease), gender-specific and family-specific support groups.

New York

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates, Inc., New York City -- $349,998 per year to provide peer-to-peer recovery support services to patients of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs. The overall goal is to create a climate for recovery among a population usually neglected by the larger recovery community.

Center for Community Alternatives, Inc., Syracuse -- $350,000 per year to develop a network of peer-lead community services for individuals in recovery and who also have past criminal justice involvement. The project will extend services into two additional cities, Rochester and Albany.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma CART System, Oklahoma City-- $350,000 per year to implement Sister to Sister, the states first model of peer-driven substance abuse recovery support services for women in Oklahoma County. This project expects to serve over 580 women in all stages of recovery and their children.

Texas

El Paso Alliance, Inc., El Paso-- $350,000 per year to enable the Recovery Alliance to improve existing services and support the development of new ones through a peer recruiting and retention system.

SAMHSA, is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions, treatment, and mental health services delivery system.

SAMHSA is An Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service

Letters Needed for Our Friend Dr. Shinderman

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact Person: Joycelyn Woods, President

nama.president@Verizon.net
212.595.nama

For Release:
September 7, 2006

Letters Needed for Our Friend Dr. Shinderman

NAMA, patients and concerned professionals have been watching the situation in Maine concerned that a fellow advocate, Dr. Shinderman would be facing serious criminal charges. On July 20, 2006 a federal jury convicted him of crimes relating to prescribing ancillary medication when the jury was instructed not to consider his good faith in relying on another physician’s permission to prescribe. Specifically when Dr. Shinderman began working in Maine he applied for a state license to prescribe. While waiting for the license approval he was informed that it would be all right for him to use the medical director of the clinic’s license. This was all done in the course of treating patients for ancillary medications. The point is that these were extra doctor’s appointments and the patients were not charged. Only a very few methadone clinics treat patients for other conditions and even fewer do not charge for these services as is typical at CAP Quality Care. This demonstrates Dr. Shinderman’s care of his patients; he really treated his patients and considered their total medical care as part of their addiction treatment.

A civil lawsuit filed by the government against the Westbrook Clinic. The clinic CAP Quality Care is owned by his wife where Dr. Shinderman was a consultant.

The media has sensationalized this case because the clinic was a methadone clinic. Several writers have been using the case to write distorted news and promote their careers. This has been at the expense of all methadone patients without concern for the impact it will have on their lives. This would have never occurred if the same thing had happened in diabetes or pulmonary clinic but because the clinic treats addiction it is easy picking for the media and the DEA.

In spite of the support Dr. Shinderman has received from local officials and policy makers he is facing difficult opposition and needs our support.


Now You Can Help Dr. Shinderman!

He needs letters seeking leniency and extolling his good work. This certainly will not be difficult for advocates because there is a lot that can be said about the good that Dr. Shinderman has done. He has helped individual patients and consulted with other physicians about the problem, research that has impacted medication assisted treatment in the U.S. and abroad, his advocacy and support of patient issues and to how he delivered treatment with dignity and respect.

There are four groups of individuals whose letter of support may be particularly helpful: (1) physicians and other professionals who respect his work and can report to the court both about my contributions to the field of addiction medicine, but also how incarceration will negatively impact the influence of this good work; (2) patients and their families who can report to the court about his impact on their success and survival; (3) family and friends who can talk about his good works, good intentions, and good character; and, (4) government officials who can do the same.

No letter should contain criticism of the Judge or the process. They will not be able to use any letter that contains those. The appeal process will address such issues if they exist.

With regard to other letters to the U.S. Attorney General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Members of Congress and other governmental officials, and the news media, each individual or organization should decide for themselves whether they should make those contacts.

It would be inappropriate for Dr. Shinderman to have any involvement because the prosecutor could then persuade the judge that Dr. Shinderman is attempting to influence sentencing with public opinion appeals.

Support Letters should be sent only to Dr, Spiderman’s legal team and if possible a copy to him because he will need them for any licensing problems which are inevitable in Illinois and Maine.


The letters should go to:
Michael A. Cunniff
McCloskey, Mina & Cunniff, LLC
12 City Center
Portland, ME 04101
Phone (207) 772 6805
Fax (207) 879 9374

The letters should be addressed to:
Honorable D. Brock Hornby
United States District Judge
District of Maine
United States District Court
156 Federal Street
Portland, ME 04101



References

Some of these articles are available at:
President’s Blog:
http://nama-president.blogspot.com/

Debate over methadone has value for Maine, Portland Press Herald (ME) August 2, 2006
Page A6.

Clinic's troubles a setback for addicts By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer
Maine Sunday Telegram (Portland, ME) July 30, 2006 Page B1.

Clinic doctor guilty of forgery By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) July 21, 2006
Page A1.

No verdict in doctor's fraud trial By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) July 20, 2006
Page B1.

Doctor defends method of writing prescriptions By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) July 18, 2006 Page A1.

Federal drug agent testifies against operator of clinic By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) July 15, 2006 Page B1.

Witnesses: Doctor gave prescriptions By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) July 12, 2006 Page B1.

Methadone doctor facing prescription-forgery trial By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) July 11, 2006 Page A1.

Methadone doctor argues for dismissal of charges By GREGORY D. KESICH Staff Writer Portland Press Herald (ME) April 29, 2006 Page B1.

METHADONE TREATMENT ENTERS A NEW ERA: NAMA AWARDED RCSP GRANT

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact Person: Joycelyn Woods, President

nama.president@Verizon.net
1.212.595.nama

For Release:
September 7, 2006

METHADONE TREATMENT ENTERS A NEW ERA:
NAMA AWARDED RCSP GRANT

This week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the 7 recipients of the Peer To Peer Recovery Grants. NAMA one of the recipients is the first methadone group to receive a Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP). The grant will provide peer-to-peer recovery support services to patients of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Methadone Maintenance Treatment Programs in the Bronx, NY. The announcement continued, “The overall goal is to create a climate for recovery among a population usually neglected by the larger recovery community.”

This is a project that NAMA has envisioned for a number of years to educate medication assisted treatment patients (MAT) so they understand why they are taking a medication. While MAT patients are educated at the start of treatment when the message comes from another patient the message takes on a new meaning. This importance of peer services was realized during the early years of methadone treatment when Drs. Dole and Nyswander oversaw the program. However as methadone treatment expanded the contributions that MAT patients had made to the program was minimized and almost forgotten. NAMA believes that “peer-to-peer services” was the piece of the program that made methadone treatment so effective during the first 10 years when methadone treatment was initiated. Patients felt they had contributed to the program and therefore felt an ownership towards it.

Patients Were Proud To Be On The Program!

Compare that to today when most patients feel ashamed of the very treatment that has helped them. They feel alone, no longer "dope fiends" but still not a part of society, and with nowhere to turn for support. This situation is hardly conducive to rehabilitation. Yet the majority of methadone patients have proven themselves capable and successful in the practical world, as lawyers and waitresses, construction workers and housewives, teachers and cab drivers.

Medication assisted patients don’t consider themselves as recovering persons primarily because they have never been allowed too. Recovery is defined as a larger construct then sobriety or abstinence. However, Recovery is not possible without sobriety. Until MAT patients understand that sobriety has nothing to do with taking a medication they will not be candidates to move on to the larger construct of recovery that embraces a reengagement with the community based on resilience, health, and hope. The Medication Assisted Recovery Service (MARS) project will work to change the negative atmosphere that patients experience and replace it with a sense of accomplishment, well being and recovery.

The goal of NAMA’s MARS project will be to demonstrate the value of peer-to-peer services and that when these services are paired with the most effective treatment for opiate dependence, namely methadone the results can only be outstanding. NAMA knows that this project would put a “smile” on Dr. Dole’s face who died on August 1st. The later years of his life were spent working to end the stigma and prejudice directed at MAT.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY Call for Papers

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY

Special Issue
Women and Harm Reduction: Spanning the Globe

Guest editors:
Susan Sherman, Adeeba bte Kamarulzaman and Patti Spittal

Outline abstracts or other short descriptions (not exceeding 400
words) are invited for contributions to a forthcoming special issue of The
International Journal of Drug Policy on “Women and Harm Reduction:
Spanning the Globe.”

The issue aims to examine:
Ø the unique factors (e.g. cultural, relational, legal or economic) that contribute to women's use of psychoactive drugs (licit and illicit);
Ø the stigma associated with women's drug use;
Ø proximal and distal effects of drug use on the lives of women
drug users as well as drug users’ female sexual partners;
Ø examine patterns of use and consequences of different types of
drugs (e.g. ATS, alcohol, opiates);
Ø to explore the effects of different types of drugs;
Ø to examine gender-related policies regarding harm reduction
services and treatment; and
Ø to examine innovative programs targeting women drug users.

The issue aims to include work representing a range of geographic
regions (e.g. former Soviet Union, Middle East, South Asia, Southeast
Asia, Africa, Europe/North America).

Papers must be relevant to harm reduction and policy.

We invite several types of contribution:

Scientific review papers (max 8,000 words)
Original research papers (3,000 – 7,000 words)
Short research reports (up to 1500 words)
Descriptions of interesting (positive or negative) programmes or
policies (2,000 – 5,000 words)
Descriptions of problems (e.g. structural barriers) in gaining
access to needed services or programmes (2,000 – 5,000 words)
Policies and/or historical analyses (3,000 – 7,000 words)
Commentaries (max 4,000 words)
Editorials (1,500 - 2,500 words)

The deadline for outline abstracts is September 23, 2006.

Outline abstracts should be sent to ssherman@jhsph.edu. If selected
for submission, the deadline for completion of draft contributions will
be in December, 2006. Submissions will be made on the Elsevier on-line
electronic submission system and will be subject to peer-review.

Susan G. Sherman, ssherman@jhsph.edu
Pattricia Spittal, pspittal@cfenet.ubc.ca
Adeeba bte Kamarulzaman, ADEEBA@ummc.edu.my

Methadone Survives 4 Decades of Tough Politics (API August 12, 2006)

Methadone Survives Four Decades of Tough Politics
By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Writer
Newsday, August 12, 2006

NEW YORK -- In the late 1960s, a band of black militants paid a visit to a Brooklyn medical clinic to discuss the new treatment it was offering heroin addicts, a drug called methadone.

They came armed with bayonets.

"They were going to kill me," recalled Dr. Beny Primm, director of the Addiction Research Treatment Corp. "They thought I was part of the white man's way of enslaving black folk, and one of the ways they enslaved black folk was to put them on methadone."

Methadone's long struggle for acceptance has been a topic of discussion again lately with the death last week of Dr. Vincent Dole, a founding father of its use as a treatment for addiction.

His passing came eight weeks after another force in the treatment of heroin addiction, Beth Israel Medical Center, marked the 40th anniversary of its methadone program, the first to apply the treatment he and Dr. Marie Nyswander developed at Rockefeller University.

The mood of both events was largely celebratory. Study after study has validated Dole's methods, and Beth Israel's methadone program now serves 6,000 patients at 17 clinics, or about 1 in 6 of all methadone patients in the city.

And yet, supporters of the medication also voiced a regret: Even after four decades, methadone is as mistrusted by the public as the days when militants were banging on Beny Primm's door.

"That's been the frustration of my life for the past 35 years," said Dr. Robert Newman, president emeritus of Continuum Health Partners and a longtime overseer of the methadone program at Beth Israel.

"There are no votes to be garnered by supporting methadone. The knee-jerk reaction of most voters when they hear someone wants to shut clinics down is applause."

Today, the medication is still assailed by critics who say it keeps patients in a drug-dependent limbo. Clinics face resistance wherever they open. Public figures from Howard Dean to Tom Cruise have assailed methadone programs as morally flawed.

As recently as 1998, Rudolph Giuliani, then mayor of New York, announced a plan to do away with methadone treatment in all city-run clinics. The goal of every addict, he said, should be total abstinence.

The plan never got off the ground, but it illustrated how little the debate about methadone has changed since Dole and Nyswander first began promoting the medication in 1964.

Drugs like heroin were then viewed predominantly as a criminal problem rather than a medical one. Addicts were shunned, even at hospitals, which rarely had beds for detoxification.

The suggestion that heroin users be switched to methadone, an equally addictive narcotic, struck some as illogical.

One of the early skeptics was Primm, who had taken to commandeering unused office space in Harlem to offer treatment to addicts.

"I didn't understand it," he said. "We're going to legally give narcotics to people? That was kind of antithetical to what we'd been taught."

Over time, though, methadone won him over because of its ability to alleviate the symptoms that usually make addiction so crippling.

Once their dose is calibrated, people taking methadone don't experience withdrawal symptoms or physical cravings for more narcotics. The drug blocks them from experiencing the euphoric rush from injecting heroin.

It is also cheap and long-lasting. Patients down a dose in the morning and feel normal for the rest of the day _ no different than someone taking pills for high cholesterol.

"It's very boring. There is no high to it," said Lisa Torres, an attorney who has taken methadone for 16 years, including her time at law school.

A downside of methadone is that it only works for as long as someone takes it, meaning that most clinics recommend that patients use it daily and indefinitely.

That might not be a burden, patients say, if getting methadone was as easy as filling a prescription.

It is not.

"This is a magnificent medicine," Torres said. "The problem is what you have to do to get it."

At the Vincent P. Dole clinic in Brooklyn, patients begin lining up at 7 a.m., some having traveled for an hour to reach the office. The clinic, tucked behind an unmarked entrance in a busy shopping plaza, is pleasant enough. What makes it grueling, patients say, is the routine.

A majority of people in the program must come every weekday for their dose _ even if they have jobs, or come down with the flu, or get hit by a blizzard. Medical vans carry in elderly or disabled patients too frail to commute.

Aside from doses given out for the weekends, take-home supplies of methadone are a tightly regulated privilege.

Many patients only qualify for two or three weeks of take-home doses following years of clean urine samples, which in some cases are collected in the presence of a staff member to eliminate tampering.

"It's so burdensome. It's so onerous. It's so unbelievably awful," Torres said of the clinic system. "There has to be a better way."

Just what the future holds for the treatment is unclear.

In the past few years, a promising alternative called buprenorphine became available on a limited basis, and researchers have said it could hold some advantages over methadone.

Among other things, buprenorphine lasts longer, is more difficult to overdose on, and can be given in a doctor's office _ a potentially huge advantage over the clinic system.

Newman said it is too soon to tell, but he hopes both drugs will eventually overcome the stigma that still surrounds drug treatment.

"I pin my hopes on the fact that people will realize that it has to be better if there are 50,000 or 200,000 fewer people using heroin on the street, shooting up, getting AIDS," he said.

NAMA Announces the Resignation of Tony Scro and a New Grievance Coordinator Ericka Lear

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates
Press Release

Contact: Joycelyn Woods
nama.president@verizon.net

For Release:
August 5, 2006

NAMA Announces the Resignation of Tony Scro
and a New Grievance Coordinator Ericka Lear

It is with sadness that I am announcing the resignation of Tony Scro from the Board of Directors of NAMA and also from his position as Grievance Coordinator. It has been his knowledge of policy and guidance that has created a respect for NAMA's grievance procedure. His leaving NAMA will most certainly be missed not only by advocates but by providers and policy makers. We wish him well in all future endeavours.

In his place a Grievance Coordinator we are pleased to announce that Erika Lear, CMA will be taking on the challenge. Ms. Lear began her advocacy as Director of Colorado NAMA where she developed a strong relationship with the state methadone authority during the critical years when the new regulations were being implemented. Upon her moving to Pennsylvania she remained to assist in Colorado advocacy issues while working as part of the Pennsylvania NAMA network. In the past year she was appointed as Director of Pennsylvania NAMA and asked to serve as a Regional Director.

An Open Forum to Discuss the Efficacy of Methadone Treatment (Indiana Forum)

National Alliance of Methadone Advocates

Press Release

Contact: Carmen Arlt*
Phone: 219.476.4643

For Release: July 26, 2006

Valparaiso, INDIANA

An Open Forum to Discuss the Efficacy of Methadone Treatment

Dr. Alfonso Holliday is inviting the community to an open forum to discuss the efficacy of methadone treatment at the Hampton Inn, 1451 Silhavy Rd. in Valparaiso on Wednesday,

August 2, 2006 from 6 to 8 PM. Dr. Holliday has over 40 years experience in the addictions field and has been Medical Director of a methadone treatment program for over 30 years. He is internationally recognized and acclaimed for his success in treating patients who are suffering from heroin and other opiate addictions and certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Holliday plans to do the following: 1. Inform the public about the benefits of all Medication Assisted Therapies for those addicted to Opioids; and, 2. Inform them that Holliday Health Care will submit an application to the Department of Mental Health and Addictions to open another facility in Porter County to provide methadone treatment services. Dr. Holliday will also discuss a planned Addictions Research, Education and Medicine Campus. Dr. Holliday’s team is currently evaluating a number of sites to locate the projected future growth of this Research Site.

* Carmen Arlt is Director of NAMA's Indiana Chapter The MAG and Co-Regional Director for the Central States.

3rd International Memorial Day for Deceased Drug Users Friday the 21st of July (BrugerForeningen, Denmark)

Copenhagen, Denmark

22nd July 2006

Report

3rd International Memorial Day for Deceased Drug Users

Friday the 21st of July

Despite an extreme heat wave, an industrial holiday and the start of the weekend, approximately 120 participants gathered at 7 PM to listen to five relatively short, very varied but all very passionate speeches.

120 participants gathered for the Third International

Memorial Day for Deceased Drug Users.

Two poets read from some of their own highly emotionally charged poems and we witnessed the premiere of a song, composed for the occasion and performed by BF's resident singer songwriter; the song, "274 deaths" or "They'll never return" whose refrain, roughly translated as "And we just miss them so" was so warmly received that the audience demanded a repeat performance at the end of the evening program - all together the whole ceremony lasted for 55 minutes.

They'll never return, And we just miss them so.

During a minute of silence, one could literally hear a pin drop, another musical interlude was provided by the audience's loud, heartfelt rendition of the traditional Danish freedom fighters' song "Never walk in fear".

252 pairs of men's and women's shoes remind all that each

represents a real human being who died, mostly alone.

In the two days prior to the event BF activists succeeded in gathering 252 pairs of men's and women's shoes, dramatically lined up on the sunburned city garden lawn, to remind all present that 252 is not only a statistic, but that each represents a real human being who died, mostly alone. Every year we lose far too many relatively young friends to what are, for the most part, preventable, overdoses.

A remembrance wreath was placed next to the engraved memorial:
"Here we commemorate deceased drug users".

A large coloured mixed flower wreath with a wide orange silk ribbon marked with BrugerForeningen and LFHN (the parent's organisation in BF) - and several fresh flower bunches placed right next to the granite engraved memorial text: "Here we commemorate deceased drug users" was flanked by two flaming torches.

BF's speaker's rostrum - a glass container topped with a

wooden table - containing bloody syringes and needles,

empty methadone bottles and a mixture of colourful

sandbox toys- was a constant reminder of the reality.

BF's usual speaker's rostrum - a 1.3 metre high glass quadrant container topped with a round wooden table - containing 2.500 bloody syringes and needles, several empty methadone bottles and a mixture of colourful sandbox toys- was a constant reminder of the reality that the hard pressed citizens in the local district right next to the open drug scene, face daily in their own yards and other surroundings. The rostrum is an illuminating tool as we use it every time we have a chance in the ongoing debate about user rooms.

This year BF bought a little 50 cc 220 Volts 650 watt generator. Last year it annoyed us greatly that we were delayed and that eventually we had to move the rostrum out of focus, just because our 50 metres of electrical cable, fell just 1½ meter too short, to reach the friendly home on the second floor where we succeeded in borrowing the needed 220 volt electricity, needed to drive our microphones, the amplifier, loudspeakers and video gear. Now we can place the speakers stand exactly where it needs to be, and we don't need to beg anyone to lend us electricity, which really can be a hassle here in the middle of the summer holiday and a Friday evening when only very few people are home.

Since its planting back at IDUD in 2003 with assistance from user activists from 16 different nations, The Paradise Apple tree had been stripped of its beautiful flowers by vandals. So now it does not really look much like a real tree anymore. Therefore, we have decided to replace it with a red Beechwood tree, which, as well as being beautiful is a Fast Grower. Gardeners have advised us to wait until later in the autumn, a better season to plant trees. We now expect to do it on or around BF's 13th Anniversary on 3rd of November.

When this incident started and the cops came running

I thought that they were annoyed because we were

using our electrical amplifier.

While our resident singer was on the finale of the second rendition of his song, the Police drove by in a large van and abruptly stopped on the street beside the park, four large cops ran up and forced their way up to the front line, where they approached an apparently drunk guy who was drowsing next to the flowers. They swiftly grabbed him and dragged him back to the van - where they body searched him. It was later discovered that they had an alarm from a citizen who had, sometime earlier, seen him handling a pistol around the corner from the memorial ceremony in the Central Station. The allegation was true, the guy really was carrying a toy plastic pistol- so he was quickly arrested and driven away. When this incident started and the cops came running I thought that they were annoyed because we were using our electrical amplifier to boost the sound of the acoustic guitar. As such, I grabbed the written meeting permit issued by the local Police station, so I was ready to explain that what we were doing was legal, but I didn't manage to approach them before they went off with the guy. Incidentally while they were finishing searching the guy and beginning to drive off with the guy and the toy pistol, we had reached the point of the program, where we had to sing the freedom song "Never walk in fear". I couldn't resist commenting on the peculiarity of the whole funny and strange coincidence.

In a Reuter's article published in several of Friday's newspapers, complaining that the Police are not yet able to provide us with a realistic figure for overdose deaths in 2005. In this 'information age' it shouldn't be necessary to wait more than 8 months before we can get a realistic figure of the current situation. Actually it should be possible to follow the overdoses month by month, so we could act on the situation especially if it worsens. In "older days" just back in the mid-1990s we got the statistics from the previous year from the Police in late February or certainly by March. But that was also while we still had politicians, who cared and were interested in whether the numbers went up or down. Sadly, that does not seem to be the case anymore, and we must realize that - as long as no politicians really care to ask about the overdose statistics, we won't get the figures any earlier. Therefore, I promised that I will make it my business, and I'll work hard to make the politicians change their priorities so that this issue returns to the discussion table. Hopefully that will also mean that we know the 2006 figure when we meet at next year's Memorial Day.

As we left to go home - it was a day that we will all remember.

Joergen Kjaer - president

Clinic Doctor Guilty of Forgery (Portland Press Herald, July 21, 2006)

Clinic Doctor Guilty of Forgery
By GREGORY D. KESICH
Portland Press Herald, Friday, July 21, 2006


A federal jury on Thursday convicted addiction treatment specialist Dr. Mark Shinderman of forging prescriptions for patients at a Westbrook methadone clinic.

Shinderman, a well-known Illinois psychiatrist who is considered an expert in addiction medicine, faces prison time and fines for his convictions on 58 of the 68 charges against him.

He was found guilty in U.S. District Court of writing another doctor's name and federal registration number on 25 prescriptions for controlled substances. The prescriptions were written during 2001 and 2002, when Shinderman was seeing patients at CAP Quality Care, the for-profit methadone clinic owned by his wife, Noa.

Shinderman also was convicted of 24 counts of aiding and abetting the acquisition of controlled substances by deception, and two counts of falsifying records kept by a pharmacy. The jury split on 15 counts of making false statements on medical records, convicting him of seven and finding him not guilty on the rest.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Clark said the convictions showed the jury rejected the defense claim that Shinderman committed only minor offenses while providing legitimate medical services to his patients and causing no harm to them.

"The harm is to the system of regulation," Clark said. "Every step in the closed system of distribution requires a Drug Enforcement Administration number, and the people expect accountability."

Clark said the verdict upheld the principle that Shinderman's disregard for the law is serious.

"The people of Maine expect their doctors to follow the rules," he said.

Although it was not part of the charges against him, Shinderman's 30-year history as a provider of methadone to treat people addicted to opiates such as heroin was a recurrent theme among the witnesses in the trial.

Shinderman owns and operates two methadone clinics in Chicago, Ill. But he testified that since coming to Maine in 2001, he had been the subject of a "witch hunt" by federal authorities, who denied him a DEA registration number to write prescriptions here.

Shinderman was supported by many who treat drug addicts in the state. They said his clinic offered the best treatment, in part because Shinderman, who is a psychiatrist, offered free services that included prescribing anti-anxiety and other medications to help patients deal with their addictions.

Supporters rejected the government's claim that Shinderman wrote the prescriptions to attract patients, saying the drug-addiction epidemic meant Shinderman had more patients than he could handle.

Michael Cunniff, one of Shinderman's lawyers, said that controversy over methadone treatment - giving an opioid addict daily doses of another addictive drug to prevent cravings and withdrawal symptoms - was the backdrop of the prosecution against his client.

"It was evident throughout the trial that methadone was an issue," Cunniff said. "We made every effort to keep it out."

Shinderman, 64, a tall and dignified-looking man with a neatly trimmed gray beard, bowed his head in the courtroom as the clerk read the jury's verdict shortly before 6 p.m. after nearly 13 hours of deliberation.

As soon as the jury left the courtroom, he comforted his wife and about 30 friends and family members before walking outside. He is on bail while awaiting sentencing, which could be in about three months. He faces up to five years in prison on each of the most serious charges and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count.

"I'm clearly disappointed about the verdict, but I'm happy I had my day in court," he said to reporters. "I just want to say thank you."

The government contended that Shinderman wrote prescriptions for controlled substances that included benzodiazepine drugs, which are known as "benzos" and are popular with some methadone patients because they enhance the euphoric effect of the drug.

Shinderman was also known for his published opinion that for years, doctors had under-prescribed methadone to some patients, causing them to relapse into using street drugs.

Although the normal therapeutic dose of methadone is 80 to 100 milligrams a day and never exceeds 150 milligrams at the only other Greater Portland clinic, according to trial testimony, some CAP patients received much more.

Sharon Pratt, who came to the clinic when it opened after becoming addicted to pain medication she received during cancer treatment, ended up receiving 1,050 milligrams a day. She said Shinderman also prescribed other medications for her.

As a result of her high dose, she said she fell asleep while driving her car and then had a heart attack she attributes to the methadone. She filed a complaint with the state medical licensing board and has a pending civil case against Shinderman.

Pratt testified against Shinderman at his criminal trial and waited at the court all day Thursday for the verdict.

She said patients at CAP liked to see Shinderman because he would write prescriptions without arguing.

"This sounds weird, but I think he did it because he wanted to be popular," Pratt said. "I think he liked the attention he got, with everybody thinking he was awesome."

She said she was grateful for the verdict "on behalf of everyone who was victimized by this man."

Shinderman's methadone practice will be the focus of a pending civil case against CAP by the U.S. government. It is expected to go to trial early next year.

Staff Writer Gregory D. Kesich can be contacted at 791-6336 or at: gkesich@pressherald.com