Methadone clinic shuts its doors.

Byline: TIM CHRISTIE The Register-Guard

Staff members and clients of the CODA methadone clinic gathered Friday to hug, cry and say goodbye.

Portland-based CODA decided in December to close its Eugene methadone clinic because of lawmakers' decision to cut drug and alcohol treatment benefits in the Oregon Health Plan.

The closure forced 215 clients to scramble for the daily dose that keeps them off heroin and put 14 staff members out of work. About 100 clients have been able to sign up for treatment at Eugene's other two methadone clinics, said Michael Connelly, manager of the Eugene clinic, leaving more than half seeking other alternatives.

Since the closure was announced in mid-December, CODA staff has been systematically lowering clients' methadone doses, Connelly said. "It's not as bad as one would imagine," he said. "We've got to take the good news and silver linings and learn what we can from our experience."

Even with a month and a half to prepare, patients and staff found it hard to say goodbye on the clinic's last day.

Standing and sitting in a circle in the sparsely furnished lobby, they took turns giving thanks, expressing their love and wishing each other luck. Boxes of tissues made the rounds to sop up the flow of tears. One client unleashed a profanity-laced outburst at Tim Hartnett, CODA's executive director, for shutting the clinic on such short notice.

"The closure of this clinic is devastating to me," said the woman.

The woman stormed out of the office, followed by a staff member. She returned a few minutes later after she calmed down a little.

Hartnett said he was sorry about his decision to close the Eugene clinic but the nonprofit agency had no choice. Keeping the clinic open any longer would have jeopardized CODA's programs in Portland, he said.

"You either make a bad decision that will cause suffering or you make a worse decision that causes more suffering," he said. "I'm very sorry it caused you pain. I think it's a miserable situation."

Others kept their anger in check, if not their tears.

Bobby Higdon has been off heroin since 1996, and been coming to the CODA clinic for a year and a half. He said it was the people at CODA who made the difference for him.

"I'll leave a little piece of my heart here with you folks," he said, his voice breaking. "It's easier said than done, but we have to keep a positive outlook and we can make it."

Debra Guffie of Roseburg was seizing on the clinic closure as an opportunity to get off methadone for good. She's winnowed her dose down to 60 milligrams a day. She'll continue to get treatment at the Integrated Health Clinic, but plans to keep cutting her dose until she's off methadone for good. She wants to learn to type and try to get a job.

"I just had no hope for life when I came here," she said. "It was from this that I got a life."

Don Addison, a Lane Community College instructor and part Choctaw Indian, led a Native American-inspired closing ceremony. Wearing a black shirt with a yellow diamond pattern and beaded leather moccasins, Addison talked about his own recovery years ago, and the mixed blessing that is methadone.

"Thank God for methadone," he said. "For many years, methadone saved my life, but then I had to move on."

Methadone became "liquid handcuffs" for Addison, he said. Not until he was forced to get off methadone was his recovery complete. That was 15 years ago.

Addison burned some sage in an abalone shell, fanning the embers with a feather fan to the four points of the compass. He recited an Indian prayer: "Great Father, bless this circle, bring us healing, give us a new life."

And he sang a prayer song, keeping rhythm on a horsehide drum.

FREE TREATMENT GROUP

Starting Feb. 12, Michael Connelly will lead a free treatment and support group for people who have lost their methadone treatment benefits. The sessions will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the yurt behind White Bird, 341 E. 12th Ave., Eugene.

- The Register-Guard

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PAUL CARTER / The Register-Guard Don Addison holds a native American ritual and prayer to observe the clinic's closing.