York/Adams drug commission plans methadone clinic for Hanover-Adams area
That's because the closest methadone clinic is in eastern
The proposal is still in its early stages, said Warren, who serves as commission administrator. The commission hopes to have a provider for the clinic narrowed down by this fall, but because the group still has to find an acceptable location, no timeline exists yet for when the clinic might open.
When it does, though, area officials hope it will help combat the growing number of heroin and prescription drug additions in the
Benefits and risks
Methadone, a synthetic opiate, works by occupying the brain receptors that are usually stimulated by opiates like heroin and prescription painkillers, Warren explained. People recovering from illegal addictions can stay on the drug for months or years, using it to avoid the painful withdrawal symptoms typically associated with quitting opiates.
"The brain responds to it the same way it would with heroin," Warren said. "The only difference is the person doesn't get the high, and they're able to function daily the way you or I would."
The medication, though, only stays in people's systems for 24 hours, meaning they have to take it daily. And because it is a synthetic opioid that, like heroin, can lead to addiction or fatal overdose, it has to be distributed by an accredited clinic.
The need for daily transportation to a clinic is often one of the biggest hurdles people face when they choose methadone treatments, Warren said, meaning the closer county officials can bring a clinic to the people who need it, the better.
Methadone, though, is somewhat controversial in addiction treatment communities, according to the
"Critics have cited the belief that methadone treatment merely substitutes one addiction for another and that achieving a drug-free state is the only valid treatment goal," the
The drug can also be abused, and, like any other opiate, has a value when sold on the street, Warren said.
Still, the medication can be a powerful tool for people who might not otherwise quit illegal drugs, and, when administered in accordance with federal guidelines, has minimal risks, he said.
Warren and many others, including the
"I think that a treatment facility in our area would be beneficial knowing that there is only one clinic in
Next steps
Members of the
They also know, though, that making the clinic a reality will not be easy, at least if prior experience is any indication.
The commission's Springettsbury Township center had to change its planned location multiple times because of snags in funding or concerns from neighbors who didn't want to live next to a methadone clinic.
"There was a great deal of community resistance," Warren said.
A little more than five years ago, though, officials found a relatively isolated plot of
Warren said he hopes they can find an equally suitable place for patients near
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