Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

November 12, 2009

Methadone still a problem in area

Addiction cases continue, but no recent fatalities

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- Months have passed since four Traverse City residents died of prescription drug overdoses, but local authorities contend a rash of painkiller abuse hasn't ebbed.

Three people died from methadone overdoses between February and June, and another died with a mixture of methadone and another drug in his system. No confirmed fatal overdoses have been reported in recent months, authorities said, but the problem remains.

"Methadone is staying pretty stable; it's not going anywhere," said Becky Lelito, director of detox at Addiction Treatment Services, Traverse City's only detox facility. "It continues to be a big problem in Traverse City."

ATS sees 10 to 12 methadone addiction cases a month, Lelito said, a number that hasn't changed throughout the year. Another 20 or so people check in with addictions to other prescription drugs.

Methadone, prescribed as a potent painkiller, also is used to help heroin addicts break their addiction.

Police continue to probe local overdose deaths, and officials hope a recent blitz of community education will cut back on the region's prescription drug problem.

Studies show that 80 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs obtain it from friends and family, said Pat Nestor, director of Munson Medical Center's Behavioral Health Services. Because of this, improved community awareness and prescription drug security could significantly reduce the problem, he said.

"The community is the culprit, many times knowingly, many times inadvertently and unknowingly," he said.

A television advertising campaign warning residents to lock up their drugs is ongoing, and a recent program allowed area residents to safely dispose of unused prescriptions.

Munson and its affiliates also sent letters to more than 1,000 regional physicians that requested they use a system that allows them to check what prescriptions patients have received in the past.

The system is designed to prevent "doctor shopping" -- addicts who go to new physicians once their old doctor refuses to prescribe any more medications.

"Every prescription originates with a physician," Nestor said. "It's important that we continue to educate physicians on the problem, and the depth of the problem."

The deaths of Jaime Lynnelle Gadberry, 31, Steven Paul Doherty II, 33, Laura Page Kluko, 21 and Nicholas Adamski, 26, remain under investigation. None of the victims had a prescription for the drug.

Investigators know who provided the drug to each victim, Traverse City Police Capt. Brian Heffner said, as well as who received the legitimate prescription in each instance. Heffner wouldn't detail what investigators still hope to find before requesting charges in the deaths.

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