Methadone program questioned

The mother of a teen who died of a methadone overdose and the leader of an organization that helps people with addictions are raising questions about the province's methadone program.

Michelle Mitchum, whose son Colton died after taking methadone that wasn't prescribed to him, is calling on the province to do more to ensure the powerful drug doesn't end up in the wrong hands.

"I am trying to get some changes made so this doesn't happen to someone else's child," Mitchum said.

Mitchum said she has been angry sinceColton, 16,died seven months ago, but she's trying to turn that anger into action.

Methadone is used to try to wean people off serious drug addictions some people use it indefinitely to keep them off drugs such as OxyContin or heroin.

Mitchum isscheduled to make a presentation to a provincial government round table on methadone in St. John's Thursday.

Ron Fitzpatrick, the executive director of Turnings a program that helps people who've been released from prison, saidtheprovinceneeds to expand the methadone treatment program by finding more doctors willing to offer the drug.

Fitzpatrick said denying recovering addicts methadone will compel some of them to commit crimes to get drugs.

He said more access to methadone will keep communities safer.

Fitzpatrick said he hasworked with two people where police allege one threatened to light a drug store clerk on fire andthe othertried to stab a police officer.Fitzpatrick said the incidents happened after the people were denied methadone.

"If they had to been put back on the methadone, neither one of them would have did them jobs," he said.

Methadone costs about $2,500 a year per patient. Instead, Fitzpatrick fears the two will get long, expensive jail terms.

"Now they're going to spend a million dollars just on those two people," he said.