Methadone Clinic to Be Discussed With Public

By John Trumbo, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Jan. 3–An opiate treatment center could be dispensing methadone to addicts in the Tri-Cities as early as March if permission is granted by the state.

Two public hearings on the proposed center are scheduled today from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Pasco Public Library, 1320 W. Hopkins St., in Pasco and from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Keewaydin library, 405 S. Dayton St., in Kennewick.

CRC Health Group of California would like to open an outpatient methadone-dispensing clinic at 7101 W. Hood Place, Suite 201 B, in Kennewick. Clients would be screened to qualify for the program, and would receive regular counseling at the clinic.

As many as 375 people in the Tri-Cities who have opiate addiction problems could benefit from the clinic, said Dennis Malmer, a supervisor for Washington’s Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

The public hearings will provide information about how the state determined the need for an opiate treatment program in the Tri-Cities, the proposed location and what is needed to obtain state approval. Public testimony also will be taken, which will be considered in the certification process.

Malmer said CRC operates four similar treatment programs in Washington and also has programs across the nation serving more than 22,000 clients. State officials have determined that the Tri-Cities has approximately 1,100 people — about 1 in 200 — who have drug addiction problems, and one third of those “might be in need of some type of opiate treatment program services,” Malmer said.

CRC would set up the program with clients paying for methadone prescriptions, which are expected to cost approximately $325 to $400 a month. Malmer said that also would cover the cost of counseling services provided by CRC to clients.

Once the program is established, CRC Health Group could apply to the state for funding that would subsidize costs for clients who are qualified to receive assistance, he added.

Malmer said CRC will have to build up the client base because participation is voluntary. He said Clark County’s program, which is a year old, just recently reached enrollment of 100 clients.

There are only two other opiate treatment programs in Eastern Washington, Malmer said. Spokane County runs its own, and Comprehensive Mental Health of Central Washington, a private nonprofit organization, serves clients in Yakima County.

Benton County Commissioner Claude Oliver said the need “is there” for some kind of drug addiction services. CRC’s proposal is a private venture that does not require any input or approval from the counties.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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