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10 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 29, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Methadone to kick drugs By Stephanie Hounsell METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP planning a florida florida vacation rates as low as $85/ On your next Florida vacation, don't be satisfied with a `two-bed-andwashroom hotel room' when you can stay in a luxurious and well-appointed condo, Villa or Pool Home! Find homes available at all the popular Florida destinations including Disney World! night MANY vacation homes to choose from! All areas of Florida. You choose where you want to be. Choose from Condos, Villas, Pool homes and from 3 to 8 Bedroom homes Deal ith yw directlner for t the ow dos, on ool C &P Villas mes! Ho IT US AT VIS The best place to start planning your Florida Get-Away! Betty-Lou Kristy wishes there had been help available to her son before he died of a drug overdose at age 25. It wasn't as if they didn't try. For years, Kristy and her son, Peter Beattie, tried to find effective help, but couldn't. It was a mixed drug overdose that killed him and part of Kristy. "There are no words to describe the loss of a child and the journey of grieving that follows -- a journey that will be with me for the rest of my life," said Kristy, pointing to four photos of her son projected onto a screen. Now, Kristy is taking her sorrow and channeling it in an effort to help others in similar circumstances. She believes it's imperative to develop a Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) program in Halton. "Had this been available for Pete, I know unequivocally that he would be standing before you today," she said. Kristy made her presentation to Halton Region's health and social services committee last week on the heels of a staff recommendation that council support creation of a MMT program for Halton if funding becomes available. Committee members ended up supporting the recommendation. MMT is a harm reduction treatment in which people addicted to "My life did a complete 180 and I went from the brink of suicide to being a functioning member of society." Oakville resident previously addicted to opiates, age 28 drugs manage their dependence by taking methadone, states a staff report. "(It) helps people manage their opiate dependence and stabilize their lives," the report states, adding it can be lifesaving. Some of the benefits of MMT include lowering the risk of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C viruses by reducing the frequency of injecting drugs and sharing needles. It also improves physical and mental health and reduces criminal activity, the report states. But it's a "harm reduction approach" and not a cure. There are anywhere from 450 to 900 potential methadone patients in Halton, with 281 residents currently registered with such programs outside Halton, states the report. When Kristy was seeking help for her son -- who became addicted to opiate pain killers after they were prescribed for gastric-intestinal flare-ups -- the treatment available either didn't help or made things worse. The physical withdrawal symptoms made it impossible for him to stop using, she said. "As Pete spiraled out of control, we both became terrified. I was terrified for him and Pete was fast becoming more terrified of living than dying." Kristy's worst fears came true Dec. 23, 2001 when her son died. Following Kristy's presentation, committee was addressed by a 28year-old Oakville resident who said he'd tried unsuccessfully numerous times to quit taking opiates and was then prescribed methadone. He said he was able to stop all his opiate use one week later. "My life did a complete 180 and I went from the brink of suicide to being a functioning member of society," he said. Two years ago, a Methadone Maintenance Treatment Community Working Group was formed and came to the conclusion MMT is needed in Halton. The working group aims to complete a funding proposal for the creation of such a program, which will be submitted to the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). "They've done super work," said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Bob Nosal. "This has my 100 per cent support." Responding to a question from a councillor, Nosal said he thinks the chance of receiving funding from the LHIN is slim. The item is to go before regional council today.