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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 4, 2009 · 8 Clinic will serve Halton residents Continued from page 1 T he Home of Fine Broadloom Since 1952 Open Mon-Wed. 9-5 Thurs.-Fri. 9-7, Sat 9-5 Green Rd. Grays Rd. Centennial Prwy. For Timeless Quality, Service & Price Barton St. E. www.vartanianrugs.com 320 Green Rd. at Bar ton · Stoney Creek · 662-6395 905-560-1166 drugs such as heroin and brand name drugs such as Dilaudid, Percodan, Demerol, OxyContin and Percocet. Benakopoulos said the clinic will operate on a referral basis and will serve only Halton residents. He is hoping to open the clinic in midSeptember and points out that the opening is something that should be celebrated rather than feared. "This is an invaluable service that we will provide. It is something that is going to result in positive outcomes for the region and positive outcomes for the people of Halton, as well," said Benakopoulos. "We can save people from their addictions, save people from dying, save people from committing crimes due to their drug-seeking behaviours." The Halton Region's Commissioner and Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Nosal noted there is a need for this type of clinic in Halton. In a 2008 report, Nosal estimated there are between 450-900 potential methadone patients within the Region of Halton. At that time the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario stated there were 281 Halton residents registered with MMT programs outside the Halton Region. In his report, Nosal noted that having to travel outside the community can make addiction recovery that much more difficult. "Having to travel outside of Halton for MMT creates a significant burden for some of these Halton residents due to insufficient public transportation, work interruption, travel costs and the inability to link to ancillary services for counselling, medical care and social support," stated Nosal in the report. "While some residents may be able to receive their methadone prescription drugs at a limited number of pharmacies in Halton, all of these residents must travel outside Halton to participate in both mandatory activities for MMT (urine screening, visits with doctors) as well as voluntary treatment activities (specialized counselling, peer support, case management)." Nosal said the vast majority of the people who would use the MMT Centre in this area would probably use it to combat addictions to prescription drugs, obtained legally or illegally, as opposed to illegal drugs like heroin. Executive Director of the Kerr Street BIA Richard Messer acknowledges that an MMT facility may be needed in Halton, however, he questions the centre's decision to establish itself at 143 Kerr St., where it will replace the photography shop Photosynthesis. "We believe the location itself is not a correct location for such an organization. We believe it is in close proximity to a high school, it is in close proximity to a licenced establishment (Moonshine Café). It is in a commercial shopping district, which is a vibrant, revitalized See Clinic page 19