ACK - I haven't been to Boston in a while, and although I believe I know the area you are referencing, I'm not sure enough to say I'm 100% understanding. I do however clearly remember the guys always selling flowers and offering to wash your windshield for donations.
Resident 2B - Apologies accepted. No worries.
Mr. Moyer - Thank you so much for posting that letter. A first hand account of the experience is more valuable than any numbers or statistics we could ever begin to analyze. Furthermore, mentioning Ray Delucca brought back some very sad memories for me. Ray Delucca was a very young Laconia resident whose life was cut seriously short by methadone. Ray worked for me at my family restaraunt Nadia's Trattoria in Gilford for a little while. I remember getting a phone call from my Mother early in the morning. When I answered the phone I could hear by her tone she was distraught. She told me "The dishwasher died". At first I was under the impression she was making reference to the actual piece of equipment that washes dishes. I couldn't imagine her crying over this but I said "It's okay Mom, we will just buy another one. We can finance it". That's when she told me that it was Ray that died. Again I replied to her in disbelief..."But he's only nineteen"! I remained in disbelief the entire day.
We attended his service held at the Cemetary near the Superior Court. I remember it being a very rainy day. There were hundreds of people there when we arrived. I admired his Mother for her bravery and courage to stand up and address everyone in the audience, specifically the younger people. She told them her son had made a choice and suffered severe consequences from that choice. She did not want to see anyone else that young lose their life so tragically and suddenly. We did not know Ray very long, maybe one month, yet I sobbed like he was a family member. I could not believe what a price this boy paid, and how short his life was truly cut. He had not even had the chance to experience all the typical, joyous landmarks in life. Marriage, children, buying the first home...such a shame. May he rest in peace and God bless him and his family. Instead of becoming bitter and angry, his Mother has taken her emotions and experience and dedicated them to educating the public about methadone and it's potential dangers.
At this time the Laconia "Methadone Task Force" was formed as a branch of the Laconia Police Department. As part of their first project they adamently hunted down and found the people who provided Ray Delucca with the methadone that ultimately cost him his life. Their business came to a screeching halt as Judge David Huot arraigned the man who was the distributor of the methadone at his hospital bedside. The night prior he had suffered what I think was a minor heart attack. Regardless, the officials found no sympathy for his position and enforced the law, which I found admirable. I felt relief and justice for Ray and his family when I read of this in the local newspaper. Eventually the man and two others were found guilty of several charges regarding distributing prescribed narcotics, one of them being methadone. A victory for Ray and his family, and those around him who suffered from such terrible loss.
On the other hand, I have received a PM from a rather new forum member regarding the Laconia methadone clinic. She found this forum through a search engine and became very interested in this thread. She is currently a patient at "Concord Metro Treatment Center" which is owned by Colonial Management, the same company that will be operating the Laconia Clinic. Her preference is to remain anonymous, however she
really, really wants to contribute to this conversation. She fears being scrutinized or challenged in the present or future. I tried to encourage her to post regardless but on the other hand I do sympathize with her. After re-reading this thread I composed a set of questions for her to answer that I thought would help in our discussion. She sent me an e-mail this morning stating she will finish her answers tonight. Some of the questions I sent her were:
1.) Could you please walk us through a day as a patient of this operation?
2.) What are the side effects of methadone?
3.) How long have you been in treatment?
4.) Have you experienced any relapses?
5.) How helpful are the staff?
6.) Do you feel the clinic is genuinly concerned for you or do you feel as though you are nothing but a number?
7.) Is there problems with crime inside or outside the clinic area i.e. the parking lot?
8.) Does methadone impair your ability to operate machinery i.e. your vehicle, or impair your ability or judgement in any matter?
In her first PM to me she introduced herself and explained her situation. She then stated that although she sympathized with the letter posted by Mr. Moyer, she was 100% sure that there was a difference in the way these clinics operate in larger cities. The clinics that are in the media spotlight are always the bad ones, and the media emphasizes on that. Furthermore that the way that methadone is portrayed is not 100% correct. I asked her to emphasize further and am awaiting her response. I think it would be great contribution.