Miramichi methadone clinic suspends 'carry-outs'

The Miramichi Addiction Recovery Clinic has suspended the portion of its program that allows some patients to take methadone home, in a move it says was made to protect its clients and the community.

Patients who were doing well at home were allowed to self-administer methadone. However Marilyn Underhill, vice-president of professional services for the clinic, says the facility cancelled "carry-homes" in January because some of its clients were being harassed to sell their supply.

"[W]e had a few clients come to us to say that they had been approached," Underhill said Wednesday. "As a means for us to protect the health and safety of our methadone clients and the community, then that's why MARC made the decision to discontinue the 'carrys' at that time."

Health Minister Mike Murphy says there have been similar problems with the carry-out system in a couple of locations across the province.

Underhill says so far the decision hasn't had a negative effect on the program, and no one has dropped out because of the change.

Underhill says the program will be reviewed on an on-going basis before a decision is made to reimplement.

The 628-person-long waiting list for methadone maintenance programs across the province outnumbers thosealready enrolled in programs.