HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-27 00-149 RESOLVEW-149
Karet 27. 2000
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) Resolve, Calling Upon the Maine Office of Substance Abuse to Defer Establishment of a
Methadone Clinic in Me City of Bangor
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor strongly supports appropriate referral, counseling, and ongoing
treatment for those that abuse heroin and other opiates; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor recently learned of a proposal by the Maine Office of Substance
Abuse to establish a methadone clinic in Bangor to serve clients from Penobscot County
currently receiving services in Winslow; and
WHEREAS, this Office has also issued a request for proposals for additional methadone
services in Eastern and Northam Maine; and
WHEREAS, while the City recognizes that opiate addiction is a growing problern In this area,
we are concemed that the actions taken to date by the Office of Substance Able are not
based on a well coordinated and appropriate State-wide strategy co address this problem; and
WHEREAS, we are further concerned that this program may not have the necessary basis in
State legislation to allow for its continuation or expansion; and
WHEREAS, the States convent efforts to rescind the license of an existing methadone clinic in
Winslow, coupled with the length of time this action may take, wise questions about the ability
of the State to provide adequate and timely supervision of the operation of such clinics; and
WHEREAS, we find that serious issues remain unanswered regarding the effectiveness of
methadone treatment, the population to be served, the clinical and oversight protoals to be
Followed, and the Impact of such clinics on a service center community such as Bangor; and
WHEREAS, representatives of the United States Attorneys Offlce and the Bangor Police
Department, while aclmowledging the growing nature of the problem, have requested that
such a clinic not be established for at least several years and that the City support their efforts
to address this problem through strict enforcement and eduatirnal efforts; and
WHEREAS, the presence of such a clink has been characterized as a surrender to the long-
term
ongterra presence of opiate addiction in our community due to the relatively high failure ate of
clients in such programs and the potential for such programs to attract individuals in need to
this community who may subsequently leave the program and return M preexisting addictive
behaviors.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE QTY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR,
THAT.
While recognizing tate growing opiate addiction problem in our area and the need for
appropriate treatmen4 we believe the establishment of a methadone vinic in our community
to be premature given the lack of a fully developed State-wide policy, the desires of the law
enforcement community to address this problem through enforcement, education, and
altemative treatment methods, the condnuing concerns which have been expressed about the
long-term effectiveness of such programs, and the lack of adequate information on program
need, monitoring and control procedures, and community Impact. We all upon the State
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services to defer the
ansideration of such a clinic in Bangor M allow local law enforcement to establish and
Implement a co-ordinated effort to address this problem through enforcement action and
education. We further request that this anon also be deferred until a coordinated state
policy is established which is clearly based on legislative intent, until questions raised about
the presence and operation of such a clinic in Bangor are fully addressed and answered, and
until an appropriate process for community education and participation is designed and
implemented.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT copies of this resolve be provided to the Commissioner of
the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Control, Governor
Angce ring, and appropriate members of the Maine State legislature including members of
our local delegation.
IN CITf COUNCIL
Nazcb 27. 2000
Nation for Passage
made and seconded
00-169
RESOLVE
71Ue, failing upon the Natae office
of Substance Abuse to Defer eant of a Methadon Clinic in the City
of Ranor
Assigned to
Caundlor