FENCES AND SCREENS CAN'T HIDE THE SHAME OF THIS COMMUNITY!
An article dated May 18 in "Village Soup - Our Community on the line", Waldo County, Maine, is headlined, "Methadone case settled, clinic clear to build." The approval reflects a settlement reached with the city's code enforcement officer - clearly reflecting a judgment by the city that its refusal to issue a permit would not stand up in court.
The bad news: part of the agreement requires the operator to "fence and screen the property to limit public view and ensure patient security." Say what? How sad that the price of opening a life-and-death treatment facility without further legal battle requires acceptance (and implicit endorsement!) of the uniquely pejorative view of patients who receive medical care for their opiate dependence.
posted by RGNewman, MD @ 10:05 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I am a patient and advocate that LIVES in this litte community. It has been a seriously hard won battle to get this clinic going. I will always be thankful to the patient/owner of the clinic for sticking with her convictions and standing up to this community.
I grew up here. My Grandparents and Greats and Great-Greats did as well. Maine is my home. Rockland is my "roots". I hoped that my daughters roots would be here as well.
It is a sad day when the people you have known all your life and have always believed would be there for you--let you down when you need them as much as I needed them when I went into methadone treatment.
I want to personally thank you, Dr. Newman, for answering to a column in a local newspaper (www.bangordailynews.com) named "finding a fix". This particular "column" has been used several times over to futher the hatred of methadone and methadone patients in our little state. Thankfully, they have allowed patients, advocates and families to respond to these discriminating articles. I can't thank you enough for adding a level of expertise--a "this came from a DOCTOR" peice-- to these responses.
Thank you!
Kristan Hilchey
Director
ARM-ME Chapter
I am a patient and advocate that LIVES in this litte community. It has been a seriously hard won battle to get this clinic going. I will always be thankful to the patient/owner of the clinic for sticking with her convictions and standing up to this community.
I grew up here. My Grandparents and Greats and Great-Greats did as well. Maine is my home. Rockland is my "roots". I hoped that my daughters roots would be here as well.
It is a sad day when the people you have known all your life and have always believed would be there for you--let you down when you need them as much as I needed them when I went into methadone treatment.
I want to personally thank you, Dr. Newman, for answering to a column in a local newspaper (www.bangordailynews.com) named "finding a fix". This particular "column" has been used several times over to futher the hatred of methadone and methadone patients in our little state. Thankfully, they have allowed patients, advocates and families to respond to these discriminating articles. I can't thank you enough for adding a level of expertise--a "this came from a DOCTOR" piece-- to these responses.
Thank you!
Kristan Hilchey
Director
ARM-ME Chapter
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