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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 2016)
December 14, 2016 Page 3 INSIDE This page Sponsored by: Drug Clinic Investigated Addictions expert fights to keep doors open O PINION pages 6-7 page 8 S PORTS Arts & ENTERTAINMENT pages 9-14 by Z achary S enn t he p ortland o bServer One of Oregon’s only inde- pendently-operated methadone clinics is facing the threat of having its doors shuttered by state officials and the Drug Enforcement Admin- istration, and the longtime African American expert in addictions treatment for the clinic believes that discrimination may be the impetus behind on-going investigations. The Recovery and Methadone Clinic, which is also known as the RAM Clinic, is located on North- east 82nd Avenue. It has operated without issue for nearly 20 years, according to its clinical manager and board-certified opioid treat- ment counselor, Harrison Danley. Throughout this time, Danley said the clinic consistently met state standards and passed routine DEA inspections, but claims the relationship between the clinic and regulators broke down over the last year. A search warrant issued by the U.S. District Court on behalf of the DEA faults the clinic for dispens- ing medication during a one-month lapse when a licensed physician was not present at the clinic. Dan- ley asserts something similar hap- pened a few years ago when a clin- ic doctor was absent and “The state ordered the clinic to stop enrolling new patients, and only fulfill stand- ing medication orders. And that’s what we did.” Danley claims they followed the same procedure laid out five years prior by the Oregon Health Author- ity when the RAM clinic’s licensed photo by Z achary S enn /t he p ortland o bServer Harrison Danley, a board-certified expert in opioid addictions and treatment, is alarmed at attempts to close one of Oregon’s only independently-operated methadone clinics, the Recovery and Methadone Clinic, also known as the RAM Clinic on Northeast 82nd Avenue. medical officer was returned to a state-run addiction treatment pro- gram earlier this year. The search warrant against the RAM Clinic also claimed that 48 wafers of methadone were unac- counted for; a result that Danley explains is not so uncommon with the clinic distributing 2,000 to 3,000 wafers on a monthly basis. “When those wafers come, they’ll break up in pieces. But we take those pieces and send them back to where they come from… We report all of that stuff,” he said. Danley believes that the clinic first came under the scrutiny of the Oregon Health Authority when two former patients filed complaints, stating that they had been threat- ened or harmed physically. He claims that these patients were up- set because the clinic had refused to dose them due to the fact that c ontinued on p age 5 Health Screenings Offered Saturday African American Wellness Village hosts annual event M ETRO C ALENDAR C LASSIFIEDS page 11 page 13 pages 14 by c hriSta M c i ntyre t he p ortland o bServer Mark your calendar for Satur- day, Dec. 17 as the African Amer- ican Health Coalition kicks off its annual Wellness Village, a free event with dozens of health-relat- ed booths and a wide variety of health screenings, held this year from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Song Community Center, 220 N.E. Russell St. The non-profit coalition has put together an excellent opportuni- ty for members of the community to get on track with their health during the 24th annual event by offering free tests for blood pres- sure, pre-diabetes, diabetes, hear- ing, vision, dental, depression and anxiety. Partnering with OHSU and the Black Men’s Coalition, Wellness Village will also offer a new activ- ity for participants every 30 min- utes, and drawings for prizes and gift certificates. The African American Health Coalition has certified master trainers for chronic disease man- agement. They offer 6 week train- ing sessions for hypertension, pre-diabetes, diabetes and cancer that usually cost $250, but after pre-screening, the coalition is of- fering them for free for up to 30 people during the event. Compli- mentary health-related books are also included. A dental clinic will offer screen- ing and help community members connect with OHSU dental school services. For a number of decades, physicians have linked dental and mouth health to overall wellness. OHSU’s Casey Eye Clinic will have two booths and a van at the event. They will be offering vi- sion screening services, including free glasses and tests for macular degeneration and glaucoma for up to 40 people on a first come, first c ontinued on p age 5
