In the spotlight: local methadone clinics

Given the current state of opiate treatment in NYC, I view methadone clinics as being a needed service.

This view is created, in part, by the difficulty in accessing treatment for addiction. Faced by low success rates and high costs, the Medicaid managed care companies deny treatment.

The rehabs struggle to stay in business. The advocates struggle to advocate for a population many people dislike and/or fear:

http://www.nynp.biz/index.php/breaking-news/20897-advocates-support-substance-abuse-bills-adding-consumer-protections-

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/new-york/2014/06/09/anti-heroin-bills-pass-state-senate/10260629/

At this stage of the "new" epidemic, police are put in difficult, conflicting roles:

Social worker?
Paramedic?
Law enforcement?

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/nyregion/cuomo-adds-100-officers-to-units-fighting-heroin.html?referrer=

As usage expands, and more communities and families are affected, the conflict will lessen. One of these roles will win.

Until then, 20,000 NYPD are carrying a life saving antidote:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/05/27/new-york-police-department-naloxone/9630299/

This week, not only did a huge beer hall open down the street from the Bergen st Methadone clinic, but new stats are out about the increasing toll heroin is having:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/nyregion/heroins-death-toll-rising-in-new-york-amid-a-shift-in-who-uses-it.html

I don't see any politicians stepping forward to state they would like their district to be a safe heroin injection site: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/new-documentary-makes-the-case-for-supervised-heroin-injection-sites-in-new-york_55dc7b46e4b0a40aa3ac26bc

What about the ones on Broadway near Willoughby in Bushwick? Is there some attention being given as far as we know?

There are lots of methadone clinics around NYC. Here's a partial list:
http://newyorkcity.ny.networkofcare.org/mh/services/subcategory.aspx?tax=RX-8450.5000

They have varying degrees of success keeping their neighbors happy.

Gothamist has published a pretty good story on a segment of the methadone population: http://gothamist.com/2015/08/27/nyc_summer_panhandlers.php

The wait list for such programs is significant.

The clinic at 880 Bergen will soon be converted into residences.

 

Interesting. I live next door to this clinic, which attracts an interesting but seemingly harmless clientele of folks who like to hang out on the block all day. Is it being torn down?

No. From the application :

"CONVERT THE EXISTING MEDICAL OFFICE TO 13 APARTMENTS IN THE 1ST AND 2ND FLOOR OF EXISTING BUILDING"

Right, it is just being converted.

It also seems the front clinic building and the mid rise behind it are part of the same lot.   

DOB link

As a result of it being the same building, this alteration may be in the St Marks mid rise. The methadone clinic does not presently have 2 floors, and the application says "no structural alterations"

The methadone clinic may not be going anywhere.

Rachel was able to confirm that the Methadone clinic is not going anywhere.   https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160223/crown-heights/13-apartments-replace-office-space-at-14-story-crown-heights-building