A Calgary methadone clinic has just signed a 10 year lease, but only after being forced to relocate three times by frightened business and home owners. Lawyer Hugh Ham, who speaks for the clinic said, "Methadone clinics are set up and exist to keep people off street drugs and to allow them to live normal, productive lives, and there are thousands of people in this city who need that kind of help." Teen Challenge responds.

Teen Challenge is an abstinence-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation program with locations across the country including Priddis, AB. Teen Challenge has also encountered this attitude of: We applaud what you do, but not in my backyard!!

I understand the desperation and hopelessness people with addictions endure, and the sheer terror taking this step towards recovery can bring. Unless you’ve been there, it’s hard to understand the kind of strength that getting clean, and staying clean, requires. Shouldn’t we, as a society, make it easier — not more difficult for addicts to choose recovery?

In my opinion, methadone is often a band-aid solution, because substitute treatments alone are simply changing the addiction and not dealing with any of the root problems. Those who enter the Teen Challenge residential program go cold turkey, do white-knuckled sobriety. We don’t allow any addictive substances, including methadone.

Drug addicts are the new lepers. Everyone agrees that addicts need help and that more needs to be done. Every person who seeks help for their addictions should be able to find it, and not be looked down on, or marginalized, for taking concrete steps toward that positive change. Amen?

Juan Manigault
Executive Director,
Teen Challenge Alberta

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Calgary methadone clinic signs 10-year lease

Last Updated: Saturday, November 28, 2009

A controversial methadone clinic in Calgary has found a permanent home in the Foothills Industrial Park in the city's southeast.

On Friday, the city's development appeal board endorsed a development permit allowing the Second Chance Recovery Clinic to stay there permanently, dismissing complaints lodged by nearby business owners.

The clinic has already been forced from three sites because of public opposition — first from the Greenview Industrial Park and then from the neighbourhoods of Forest Lawn and Braeside.

Lawyer Hugh Ham, who speaks for the clinic, said it has been a tough time for people who use the clinic.

"For the patients, this is huge because there's been enormous stress on them," he said. "The stress of them not knowing whether the clinic was ever going to find a location, and whether they were going to be able to continue treatment — the stress was just terrible for them."

Ham said people have the wrong idea about the clinic's clients.

"Methadone clinics are set up and exist to keep people off street drugs and to allow them to live normal, productive lives, and there are thousands of people in this city who need that kind of help," he said.

"They are not dangerous people. They aren't even threatening people. They're just people trying to get back to a normal life."

The clinic has signed a 10-year lease at the site.

The clinic treats about 500 people trying to kick addictions to heroin and prescription drugs.

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