Controversial methadone clinic opens in Parkdale
Posted July 7, 2011 9:44 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A methadone clinic that has sparked protest among neighbours on a quiet residential street in Parkdale opened its doors to clients Thursday.
The clinic at 21 Strickland Ave., near Queen and Brock Streets, is operated by Breakaway Addiction Services and will serve about 110 clients a week. Neighbours, who learned the facility was opening less than a month ago, are upset about the perceived lack of public consultation.
Resident Aki Kyrou said he’s not against the program, but believes the clinic would be better served in a more accessible location on Queen Street, for example, and not on a quiet, residential street.
Area resident Sharyn Abelson agrees. “It’s not who these people are, it’s the fact that it’s a methadone clinic on a residential street,” she said. “I’m sad for losing this very quiet street atmoshphere that we love so much,” she admits. “And then I’m concerned for the worst case scenarios.”
Local councillor Gord Perks said the clinic has the right to operate at the Strickland location because there are no zoning or bylaw restrictions.
“The clinic is going into an area that it is appropriately zoned for – any kind of medcial clinic – a dental clinic, a doctor’s office. And in law you have to treat all of those clinics the same,” he told CityNews.
Breakaway director Dennis Long insists the clinic will provide highly professional and low volume assistance to very “stable” patients. The clinic moved to Strickland because its former home was in a building on Niagara Street that is slated to be demolished.
Perks said the group contacted the Parkdale Residents Association to inform it the clinic was moving into the neighbourhood.
The clinic’s manager, Robert Martel, adds that he understands neighbour’s worries, but in the end believes the service will improve the area.
“I really respect the fact that people have some concerns and some fears basically not on understanding the nature of the treatment. If you treat this population it disengages them from a very chaotic lifestyle and that’s a real benefit to communities.”
The province, which provides funding for Breakaway, admits the clinic should’ve been more open with area residents.
