Stabbing probed outside Lowell methadone clinic

James wrote:

Methadone has save my life. Taking methadone strictly to avoid heroin does help>

Good for you, but I don't feel bad for you none what-so-ever. You should have never done heroin in the first place.

I can understand the hostility about what happened in front of the clinic. I am a 41 yr old female who is an upstanding member of this community who wakes up every morning doing the right thing everyday. A couple of years ago I had to have multiple surgeries and to my surprise ended up being a full blown addict because of the pain medication. I used to believe the same as you. I didn't just wake up one day and say "I'm going to be an addict today" so I know where your coming from. In this time I have still been the same person I always have been except for the dependence on pills. I go to work everyday and pay taxes as well, I do not rob people or do any harm to others. Just recently I made the phone call for help at Habit-Opco, and I would like for anyone who thinks that I or the people who really want the help shouldn't be in the same category as the "junkies". Yes their are bad people out there and I am NOT one of those people. So before you make your judgment take into consideration that not all people messed up on pills or drugs or whatever their drug of choice is a bad person. Because one day when you least expect it YOU could end up the same way.

Private Person wrote:

I can understand the hostility about what happened in front of the clinic. I am a 41 yr old female who is an upstanding member of this community who wakes up every morning doing the right thing everyday. A couple of years ago I had to have multiple surgeries and to my surprise ended up being a full blown addict because of the pain medication. I used to believe the same as you. I didn't just wake up one day and say "I'm going to be an addict today" so I know where your coming from. In this time I have still been the same person I always have been except for the dependence on pills. I go to work everyday and pay taxes as well, I do not rob people or do any harm to others. Just recently I made the phone call for help at Habit-Opco, and I would like for anyone who thinks that I or the people who really want the help shouldn't be in the same category as the "junkies". Yes their are bad people out there and I am NOT one of those people. So before you make your judgment take into consideration that not all people messed up on pills or drugs or whatever their drug of choice is a bad person. Because one day when you least expect it YOU could end up the same way.

I agree NEVER SAY NEVER.

Private Person wrote:

I can understand the hostility about what happened in front of the clinic. I am a 41 yr old female who is an upstanding member of this community who wakes up every morning doing the right thing everyday. A couple of years ago I had to have multiple surgeries and to my surprise ended up being a full blown addict because of the pain medication. I used to believe the same as you. I didn't just wake up one day and say "I'm going to be an addict today" so I know where your coming from. In this time I have still been the same person I always have been except for the dependence on pills. I go to work everyday and pay taxes as well, I do not rob people or do any harm to others. Just recently I made the phone call for help at Habit-Opco, and I would like for anyone who thinks that I or the people who really want the help shouldn't be in the same category as the "junkies". Yes their are bad people out there and I am NOT one of those people. So before you make your judgment take into consideration that not all people messed up on pills or drugs or whatever their drug of choice is a bad person. Because one day when you least expect it YOU could end up the same way.

The difference here is that you KNOW you have a problem and WANT to do something about it. Most of the "clientelle" of the methadone clinic have no intention of getting off dope, they use the methadone, at TAXPAYERS expense, as a substitute, and they abuse that also.

I used to be a heroin addict, and have been on methadone for six years. Since starting at the clinic, i've put myself through college, had two kids, own a house, and make almost 65k a year. Without the methadone clinic, i'd still be useless and contributing NOTHING to society. Some people give it a bad name, yes, but in the whole it is a good tool to help people transform their lives. I know plenty of people who have done as well as me getting off heroin with the help of methadone.

You can't say "you should've never tried heroin in the first place". You don't know what it feels like if you've never done it, or what state of mind the person was in when they DID try it. Sometimes the curiosity gets the better of you.

Methadone is a life saver I'm tryna get some

Where is this clinic located? How do I get into one?