By Melissa Nisbett
Despite community fears and a flurry of protest during the summer, Ottawa Police haven’t received any formal public complaints about a methadone clinic in Somerset Ward since its opening in late June.
“So far, no complaints have come on my desk,” says Sgt. Kim Cooper of the Centretown Community Police Centre.
The clinic is one of 20 throughout the province run by Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres and is located beneath a seniors’ residence at 401 Somerset St. W.
The clinic administers methadone cocktails to help stabilize individuals addicted to drugs such as heroin and opium.
Some Somerset Street residents have been vocal in their fears that the methadone clinic would attract more drug users and crime to the neighbourhood.
Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes says she is pleased that she hasn’t received any complaints about the clinic but the location is still a major problem with her.
“I’d prefer if the clinic were located in a commercial business district or in the health centre on Cooper Street. I’ve asked the owners of the clinic to find another location but they haven’t shown any willingness to move.”
Dr. Jeff Daiter, of the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres, says there‘s no reason to move the clinic.
“Anybody reasonable can see we have a financial investment in the clinic and we must honour our lease,” he says.
“Why are we supposed to move? There’s 180 people using our clinic who are very happy coming here.”
Holmes says she and local business organizations have met with police and asked to have more beat officers on Bank Street and in the surrounding area.
“I’m interested to see whether this clinic reduces crime and helps people get off drugs,” she says. “We must determine if there’s any increase in drug activity in the area.”
Cooper says Somerset Ward receives no extra policing compared with other areas of Ottawa and any complaint the police receive would be thoroughly investigated.
“Somerset Ward is allotted regular patrol officers 24 hours a day and a community police centre officer,” she says. “It’s no different from anywhere else.”
Just because no one has complained to police about the clinic doesn’t mean all residents are happy about their new neighbours.
“The drug addicts come and stand in our lobby sometimes as early as 7 a.m. though the clinic opens at 8:30 a.m.,” says Pierrette DesRivieres, president of the executive committee for Ottawa-Carleton Housing, referring to the lobby of the senior residence.
“They’re sitting on the steps with coffee and leave trash and papers everywhere.”
DesRivieres says she’s lived at the nearby seniors’ residence for 17 years and is worried about the safety of her grandchildren and other visitors in the area. She says it was “inappropriate” for the city to give a permit to the clinic without asking for seniors’ input.
Holmes says she will stay in touch with her constituents and local organizations over time to see if the clinic becomes a problem.
“I want to see if the clinic is a real benefit to society,” she says.