CITY HALL SAM: Battling The Methadone Industry

July 18, 2013 | Filed under: Columns,Subject Categories | Posted by:
UNDAUNTED SEVEN, elected officials representing both political parties in Northeast take pledge of allegiance to open major community meeting at Lincoln HS Tuesday night, dedicating themselves to continue fight to stop opening of city-approved methadone clinic at Frankford & Decatur in Mayfair. From left are Councilman Denny O’Brien, State Reps. John Taylor, Brendan Boyle and Mike McGeehan, State Sen. Mike Stack, State Rep. Kevin Boyle and Councilman Bob Henon. Photo by Harry Leech

UNDAUNTED SEVEN, elected officials representing both political parties in Northeast take pledge of allegiance to open major community meeting at Lincoln HS Tuesday night, dedicating themselves to continue fight to stop opening of city-approved methadone clinic at Frankford & Decatur in Mayfair. From left are Councilman Denny O’Brien, State Reps. John Taylor, Brendan Boyle and Mike McGeehan, State Sen. Mike Stack, State Rep. Kevin Boyle and Councilman Bob Henon. Photo by Harry Leech

A large crowd gathered at Lincoln HS in Northeast Philadelphia to contest Healing Way’s methadone rehabilitation center. The neighbors and politicians have been fighting for two years and the most-recent upper hand went to Healing Way when Common Pleas Court JUDGE IDEE FOX ruled in its favor. But the community and politicians will not let this go without a fight and they showed up almost unanimously at a recent rally. Among them were STATE REPS. MIKE MCGEEHAN, JOHN TAYLOR, BRENDAN BOYLE and KEVIN BOYLE, COUNCILMEN BOB HENON and DENNY O’BRIEN, and STATE SEN. MIKE STACK.

MAYFAIR AND HOLMESBURG residents packed Lincoln HS Tuesday night as they heard from their Northeast political leadership on progress battling an approved Methadone clinic at Frankford & Decatur Streets. Here residents get horn support from passing motorists, raising din outside school as meeting got underway. Photo by Rory McGlasson

MAYFAIR AND HOLMESBURG residents packed Lincoln HS Tuesday night as they heard from their Northeast political leadership on progress battling an approved Methadone clinic at Frankford & Decatur Streets. Here residents get horn support from passing motorists, raising din outside school as meeting got underway. Photo by Rory McGlasson

Most of these politicians support recovery programs, but are wary of endless methadone use. But Healing Way is unique in that it is a for-profit methadone treatment center that does not have a city or state contract to provide services to clients in need. It is focused solely on making a profit, and is perceived as a cash cow and a neighborhood destroyer.

Speaking of Sen. Stack, a fundraiser was held in Pittsburgh for him. The host committee for the event was the Democratic Minority Leader, STATE SEN. JAY COSTA; BILL CLINTON confidant LASER PALNIK; trial attorney BILL CAROSELLI; and election lawyer CLIFF LEVINE. The event was held at the Mansions on Fifth Hotel in Pittsburgh’s Shadyside neighborhood.

Another event was held the following day where highly regarded labor leader BOISE BUTLER joined Delaware River Stevedores President BOB PALAIMA to thank Stack for his work on behalf of the Philadelphia ports.

Another Northeast Philadelphia politico, State Rep. Brendan Boyle, is working hard on his fundraising for the 13th Congressional Dist. race. He had an impressive quarter. Surprisingly, the fundraising leader in the seat to succeed gubernatorial candidate ALLYSON SCHWARTZ was STATE SEN. DAYLIN LEACH. Leach led Boyle, DR. VALERIE ARKOOSH and MARJORIE MARGOLIES in the fundraising race. Leach reportedly has utilized his connections from serving as the campaign chairman of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee to help his congressional fundraising. He has also capitalized through connections in the fringe community. He has been a staunch supporter of legalization of marijuana and advocates of that cause have supported him financially.

The hot summer has fueled some hot action in City Hall. A Special City Council Committee has started hearings on the building collapse at 21st & Market. This tragic accident killed many innocent people. Council is looking to beef up inspections, licensing, and training requirements for demolition contractors to prevent a future tragedy. Three hearings have already been held and two more are scheduled.

Five Members of Council are leading this important initiative: CURTIS JONES, JR. (chair), JANNIE BLACKWELL, BOBBY HENON, JIM KENNEY and MARIA QUIÑONES SÁNCHEZ. Look for Henon to use his building-trades experience to play a pivotal role developing solutions and improvements.

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2 Responses to CITY HALL SAM: Battling The Methadone Industry

  1. I see nothing wrong with methadone clinics and all the good that methadone has done for the opiate-dependent. However, I do not like the sound of this particular clinic, as these types of for-profit clinics often have very high prices.

    Whether this clinic is for-profit or not is irrelevant to those protesting it, though. I have read the flyers in my neighborhood, and they are ridiculous. People have the right to know all the good that methadone has done over the past 45+ years.

    Methadone is the only safe treatment for opiate dependent women in pregnancy. Methadone has no long-term affects on the children of these women; this has been proven over and over again in study after study. Methadone allows those who were junkies yesterday, to be functioning members of society today, without the pain and fear associated with detox.

    Why do people feel that addicts do not deserve to have treatment close to their homes? Should you not be allowed to have your family physician close to home, simply because he has a prescription pad? I can assure you that the drugs your doc hands out are abused far more often than methadone. Methadone patients have to submit to random drug screens, and they have to take their medication in front of a nurse every day. However, Oxycontin and Percocet are handed out without question.

    Those who are protesting this clinic have obviously never been in a position where they needed this kind of help, so how can any of them pass judgment?

    Sarah
    July 18, 2013 at 1:32 pm

  2. The vehement opposition to the establishment of a methadone treatment facility – one that has been approved by the various regulatory authorities and by the Common Pleas Court – is tough to understand. The article mentions not a single substantive fear, whether evidence-based or not. In any event, there is something extremely arrogant in politicians with no medical background seeking to dictate what medical treatment should or should not be provided, and for how long.

    Regarding the specific criticism that this clinic would be focused on “making a profit,” hey folks, this is America! Anyone think the bottom line is irrelevant to healthcare providers in any field of medicine – or to hospitals, health insurance companies, etc.? This criticism – preoccupation with the dollar – is particularly striking in an article that describes the “fundraising race” of those who are seeking public office.

    Ultimately, for many individuals dependent on prescription painkillers or heroin, treatment can be a life-saver, very literally. Denial of treatment has tragic consequences for them, and for the entire community.

    Robert Newman, MD
    July 19, 2013 at 8:30 am

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