<<

NorthShore Inline Marathon champs SplitSplit second secondss win by slim margins

$97 IN COUPONS DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuneibuneINSIDE Sunday, September 16, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 140,000 readers every Sunday$2 Duluth seeks Methadone: ’60s treatment new plan to pay comes with deadly risks today for street work PETER PASSI [email protected] Faced with the harsh reality that Duluth’s long- term source of funding for street improvements may be gone forever, city leaders are searching for a cure. And their medicine could be tough for resi- dents to swallow. Possible remedies include higher taxes, steeper street assessments, cuts in city services or a less- ambitious effort to improve and maintain city roadways. Even if these unpleasant solutions can be avoided in the long run, funding interruptions promise to slow badly needed street improvements in the short run. Mayor Don Ness said the challenging situation and the slate of unattractive options facing Duluth underscore the importance of fighting to restore the city’s prior funding source through the courts. CASINO CASHOUT The predicament stems from the city’s contin- ued inability to collect a share of revenue from the Fond-Du-Luth Casino, as it had in the past. See Streets, Page A5 Cirrus crash in Missouri kills 5 Associated Press and News Tribune staff Joe Kall of Duluth holds a picture of his son, Terence Kall, and some of the liquid methadone Terence used as part of his treat- SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—A Cirrus SR-22 private ment for opiate addiction. Terence Kall died on April 18, 2010, at age 42 from a methadone overdose. plane crashed early Saturday in southwestern Mis- Bob King / [email protected] souri, killing the , his three children and a businesswoman, authorities said. BRANDON STAHL cost, a News Tribune investigation has Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman [email protected] found. Inside Jason Pace said the single-engine plane went down Since 2001 in Minnesota, 392 people about 12:30 a.m. northwest of the town of Willard, ethadone, a drug available since ■ News Tribune findings the 1960s and deemed by the Na- have died of methadone-involved over- killing all five people on board. The plane appeared ■ tional Institute of Health and the doses. From 2006 to 2010, the number of Why is methadone consid- to have been headed toward the Springfield airport Centers for Disease deaths almost equals those ered the best treatment for when it crashed about five miles away. Control as “the who died from firearms. opiate addiction? “The plane totally disintegrated after the Mmost effective treatment for Methadone In the Northland, at ■ How the News Tribune crash,” said Pace, who had been to the site. “It opiate addiction,” is in least 38 users have died conducted the investigation into burned, just into pieces. It was a very tragic and essence a risk-versus- from methadone overdoses methadone horrific site.” since 2001. reward system. Pages A6-7 Troopers were securing the scene and waiting Proponents say it’s better Acostly fix At least 11 of the North- for investigators from the National Transportation to have addicts of drugs such land’s reported methadone Online extra Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administra- as heroin and Oxycontin hooked and func- deaths since 2001 are of people with ties to tion to arrive. Cirrus Vice President Bill King told tioning on methadone — itself a strong, the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Go to duluthnewstribune.com to the News Tribune the company also had dis- risky narcotic — than to be breaking laws Chippewa near Cloquet, which helps ex- view a map charting patched a team to the crash site. to get a fix. plain why Carlton County has the highest methadone deaths in Minnesota “We’ve got an accident team that’s down there per-capita methadone death rate in But in Minnesota, and the Northland in between 2000 and 2010. working with the NTSB,” he said, adding: “Our particular, that treatment comes at a steep See Methadone, Page A6 greatest concern is for the family. ” See Crash, Page A4

HOW TO REACH US CONTENTS Lotteries...... A2 Scrapbook...... F Classified ...... E Obituaries...... C4-5 Sports...... D TodayTomorrow News tips: (218) 723-5300 Partly sunny, late Home delivery: (218) 723-5252 Faces & Names...... A2 Opinion...... B1-5 TV listings ...... F8 Partly cloudy Games ...... F2 Outdoors ...... C6-8 Weather...... D8 chance of rain (800) 456-8080 High: 72 Low: 47 High: 55 Low: 46 Page A6 Duluth News Tribune | Sunday, September 16, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

TUESDAY Treatment for drug Patients admitted The number of methadone-involved deaths and Methadone Costs: About half of addiction in to Minnesota’s narcotics deaths has increased in the region, methadone patients in the Minnesota has state and countrysince 2000. state get their treatment free. increased everyyear methadone programs SEPT. 23 Acostly fix since 2007, yet the 2,081 Completion: Only about 5 percentage of 1,966 Deaths involving opioid drugs in Minnesota* percent of methadone patients 1,763 TODAY patients who 1,641 Methadone Heroin Other opiates or synthetic narcotics** The drug: The costs associ- in Minnesota finish treatment. complete methadone 1,302 200 188 ated with methadone treat- SEPT. 24 treatment lags far Increases, ment continue to rise in Profits: More than half of the TOTALS 2001-2010 behind the other TOTAL: 8,753 150 Minnesota. country’s methadone clinics 1,068 121% kinds of treatment in Increase, 2007 to 2011: 60% are for-profit. 135 COMING MONDAY 100 the state. 76 Abuse: Some addicts say SEPT. 25 61 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 57 methadone is their preferred The clinic: Former staff mem- 50 392 1,325% drug of choice. bers of the methadone clinic in SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Health, 16 News Tribune analysis 4 59 300% Duluth speak out. NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS 0 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10

In 2003, Kall hurt his back *Some deaths involved overdoses from multiple drugs, such as methadone and heroin Average completion percentage of Minnesota ** Includes opioid-based drugs such as Oxycontin, hydrocodone and morphine !Methadone at work and was prescribed Continued from Page A1 the opiate-based narcotic chemical dependency programs,2007-2011 SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Health, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS Oxycontin for the pain. But Minnesota, more than three he became addicted to that Long-term Short-term Hospital times as high as the state’s painkiller and ultimately Methadone Nonresidential residential residential inpatient rate. sought narcotics on the Deaths per 100,000 residents “If this were bird flu, streets, said his father, Joe 4.80 we’d be on the cover of Time Kall, a retired chief engi- Increase, 2001-2010: 157% 4.06 5.46%57.94% 57.38%73.66% 62.84% 3.56 magazine. We’d be in front neer at the University of 2.75 of the cameras on ‘60 Min- Minnesota Duluth heating 2.06 2.34 2.27 1.39 1.65 1.73 utes,’ ” Phil Norgaard, direc- plant. SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Human Services, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS tor of human services for “He would do anything to 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 the band, said of the deaths get them,” he said. on the reservation. “This is In September 2006, Kall SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Health, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS a threat to public health.” enrolled as a patient at the Drug addicts treatedfor heroin, other As the number of deaths Lake Superior Treatment across the state has in- Center in Duluth, and, with narcotics in Minnesota Methadone-involved deaths by county creased, so has the cost to assistance through taxpayer- taxpayers. Methadone treat- funded state health insur- Treated for heroin Deaths per ment has become a thriving ance, replaced his addiction Number of deaths from 100,000 Treated for other narcotics County methadone,2001-2010 residents industry, with half of the pa- to painkillers with an addic- Rate per tients in Minnesota on some tion to methadone. Total 100,000 Year-over-year CARLTON 11 3.0 sort of public assistance to Records provided by his residents increase CASS 5 1.6 pay for the care. BELTRAMI 1.3 father show four years of 1,322 6 And yet some of the being prescribed daily high INONA 7 1.3 methadone paid for by pub- doses of the drug. 2007 1,960 62.35 ANOKA 43 1.2 lic money and used to treat “I know he wanted to get 3,282 MEEKER 3 1.2 AITKIN 1.1 patients is sold on the off of the drug, but he was 2 KANABEC 2 1.1 streets, where dealers can afraid to,” Joe Kall said. 1,475 HENNEPIN 139 1.1 get hundreds of dollars a “The last two years he was 2008 2,489 74.96 20% ITASCA 5 1.0 dose. walking around like a zom- 3,964 ST.LOUIS 21 1.0 “Huge quantities of ille- bie. He spoke in bullet STEVENS 1 0.9 gal methadone are being phrases. He acted like he MARSHALL 1 0.9 1,724 used in the communities was drunk.” WRIGHT 11 0.9 and being used without a On April 18, 2010, he died 2009 3,301 94.80 26% CLAY 5 0.8 prescription or without med- in his home at age 42 from a 5,025 RAMSEY 45 0.8 COTTONWOOD 0.8 ical direction,” Norgaard methadone overdose, with 1 PENNINGTON 1 0.7 said. medical records showing 1,902 DAKOTA 25 0.6 Data kept by the Min- that methadone was the only 2010 3,899 109.36 15% POLK 2 0.6 nesota Department of drug in his system. Police re- 0.6 5,801 BECKER 2 Human Services, the state covered five bottles of FREEBORN 2 0.6 agency that licenses and in- methadone in his home, in- ROSEAU 1 0.6 spects the clinics, suggest cluding one bottle that was 3,446 RENVILLE 1 0.5 that methadone’s track three-quarters empty. 2011 4,867 155.90 43% MCLEOD 2 0.5 record doesn’t compare fa- Kall left behind a 15-year- BENTON 2 0.5 8,313 DODGE 0.5 vorably to that of other drug old son. 1 MOWER 2 0.5 treatment programs. “His son doesn’t like to WASHINGTON 10 0.4 In the past four years, for talk about it that much,” Joe SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Human Services, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS CHISAGO 2 0.4 example, patients dis- Kall said. “He felt his dad MILLE LACS 1 0.4 charged from Minnesota’s had abandoned him, pretty PINE 1 0.3 methadone clinics have much.” Minnesota patients treatedfor addiction to STEARNS 5 0.3 higher rates for relapsing The director of the Lake CROW WING 2 0.3 and being jailed after their Superior Treatment Center heroin and other opiates RICE 2 0.3 discharge — both key meas- did not return repeated MORRISON 1 0.3 OLMSTED 0.3 ures the agency uses for the phone calls for comment. Increase: Increase: Increase: 4 10,000 161% 148% 153% DOUGLAS 1 0.3 state’s treatment providers A representative for Colo- SCOTT 3 0.2 — than patients in the nial Management Group, 0.2 8,000 SHERBURNE 2 state’s other chemical de- which owns the Lake Supe- Year-over-year increase: CARVER 1 0.1 pendency treatment pro- rior Treatment Center along 2007-08 21% TOTAL377 0.7 grams. with more than 50 other clin- 6,000 2008-09 27% 2009-10 15% SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Health, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS And the rate at which pa- ics across the country, told 2010-11 43% tients successfully complete the News Tribune from 4,000 methadone treatment in Florida that the company Minnesota? Five percent. does not speak to the media. U.S. methadone-involved deaths Agency officials say com- However, Dr. Tom Payte, a 2,000

paring the effectiveness of corporate medical director 5 153 0 8 methadone treatment to for Colonial Management 5, 5,29 70

’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 1 4,511 other forms of chemical de- Group, said in general that 4, 65 4,228

345 1999- Treated for Treated for Totals 3, 8 pendency treatment is com- overdose deaths can occur 1, 915 heroin other opiates 72 2009 paring “apples to oranges,” among patients. He said 2,826 2,209 TOTAL: Deaths because addiction to opiates those should be rare so long SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Humans Services 35,569 is distinct from other kinds as the treatment is being and Public Safety,News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS 1999 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 of chemical dependency. properly delivered. 1.8 DHS officials said they “Methadone remains, I’d Dependence, who cited sev- deaths his office has seen 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.5 1.5 1.1 eral federal studies on the are mostly from addicts who Rate per 0.30.3 0.5 have not done any studies to say still, the gold standard 100,000 examine how well for treatment in terms of ac- issue. buy methadone off the 1999 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 methadone treatment works ceptance and effectiveness Officials with the state streets. in the state, and defend its and overall safety,” Payte Department of Human Serv- “We’re seeing deaths of SOURCE: Centers forDisease Control, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS use. said. “There are risks in- ices say that of the 79 deaths people who have no prescrip- “What we rely on are na- volved in methadone treat- from methadone the DHS tion for it,” Kundel said. found from 2008 to 2010, only addicts who go to the methadone, Strobl said. tional studies that have ment. Overdoses can and do LIQUID OR PILL FORM methadone clinic are using For the others, she said, shown that methadone ther- occur, and they are preventa- 12 were enrolled in a methadone clinic. The two types of other drugs. the decedents had a pre- apy is the best practice in ble.” methadone available — ei- “What we’re seeing is scription for methadone, but health care,” said Maureen But the Northland has OVERDOSE EXPLANATIONS DIFFER ther from doctors who pre- that people who use died due to misuse of the O’Connell, the DHS assis- seen a different trend en- Minnesota has had one of scribe it in pill form for methadone to treat opiate drug and/or combining it tant commissioner for chem- tirely. the highest increases of pain, or from methadone addiction are consistently with other narcotics, includ- ical and mental health Of the area’s 38 methadone-related deaths in clinics, which provide it using street drugs to supple- ing heroin. Most of the cases services. methadone-related overdose the country: a 1,325 percent deaths, the News Tribune only in liquid form —have ment that addiction as well,” involved apparent inten- ‘PEOPLE DO DIE FROM IT’ jump since 2000. The U.S. in- could conclusively deter- both been heavily abused in Wilson said. tional misuse of their pre- Methadone works by oc- crease since 2000 was mine only one was tied to the Northland, local law offi- Others are finding a con- scription, with the amount cupying the same brain re- 623 percent. misuse of the drug for pain, cials say. nection between deaths and of pills out of count for the ceptor sites affected by Many supporters of according to death and med- Often, abusers use both use of methadone from ad- prescription date, Strobl opiates, blocking the “highs” methadone treatment say ical records, police reports, forms of methadone, said diction clinics. said. Three deaths were sui- and “lows” and relieving the the deaths aren’t of people and interviews with surviv- Darren Berg, a detective In 2003, medical exam- cides. She said she found craving and withdrawal undergoing treatment for ing friends and family mem- with the Cloquet Police De- iner A. Quinn Strobl pub- only one person who was symptoms for those drugs, drug addiction but of people bers. Thirty-six deaths partment who specializes in lished one of the first prescribed the methadone the Centers for Disease Con- who have been prescribed appear to be from people narcotics investigations. studies looking at the cause for pain, did not misuse it, trol and Prevention ex- methadone for pain. who were drug addicts using “A lmost every one of of deaths from methadone but still died. plained in a 2002 fact sheet. In the mid-1990s, doctors methadone as part of their those guys has been kicked in Minnesota. What it will take to stop Because it’s a synthetic opi- began prescribing treatment or to get high, ac- out of the (methadone) Of 96 deaths she re- the methadone-related ate, it can only be used to methadone for pain because cording to the interviews clinic; they’ll just go to their viewed from 1992 to 2002, she deaths isn’t an easy answer, treat opiate addiction. it was a cheap alternative to and data reviewed, while the doctor and get it in pill found a third were of people said Norgaard, director of When given in stable narcotics such as Oxycontin. cause of one death could not form,” Berg said. in methadone treatment pro- human services for the Fond doses, it shouldn’t cause But it can be unpredictable be determined. By law, the clinic is sup- grams, while another 39 per- du Lac band. The rise in highs or lows of its own, so and can stay in a user’s sys- “I have not come across posed to check patients to cent were of people who deaths isn’t just about abus- it allows the client to work tem for days.A methadone one person who was using ensure that only methadone used it recreationally. Only ing methadone but about a and function normally in so- patient can take it, not feel a the methadone for pain pur- is in their systems. Berg and 15 percent were given dramatic increase in abuse ciety, the CDC said. desired effect, take more and poses,” said Dr. Richard Pu- methadone addicts said that, methadone for chronic pain. of all opiate drugs. But it can make people overdose. umala, the head medical despite the law, users will Nearly 10 years later, “We have wittingly — high if given in large doses. It can be such a difficult examiner for Carlton sell the liquid and take pills Strobl is still seeing deaths through drug companies — It also goes through the sys- drug to prescribe that in County, whose office has to keep levels of methadone from methadone-toxicity or unwittingly — through tem relatively slowly, so it July 2012, the Centers for identified 15 methadone- in their system. due to abuse of the drug. As doctors and administration should be taken only once a Disease Control found that related deaths since 2003. Often, they’re using other the head of the Midwest of the drugs — flooded the day. methadone was responsible Some people who use drugs in addition to Medical Examiner’s Office, American society with syn- All of that requires that it for a third of the country’s methadone to get high, said methadone to increase their which provides coroner and thetic opioids, and we have be used under strict guide- deaths from opioid pain re- Puumala, “don’t realize that high. The majority of people forensic examination serv- not understood the potential lines. lievers, despite being pre- it sometimes takes hours for in Minnesota who have died ices for numerous counties, consequences of our behav- “It’s a Schedule II nar- scribed far less than other the stuff to kick in. So they from a methadone-involved including Anoka and Isanti ior,” he said. “Highly damag- cotic,” said Nick Reuter, pub- narcotic pain killers. take another dose, nothing overdose have other drugs in in Minnesota and Douglas ing and addictive drugs lic health analyst for the “The clear majority of happens, take another dose, their system, ranging from County in Wisconsin, she require greater scrutiny, and Substance Abuse and Men- methadone deaths are and then I get to see them other opiates to sedatives to said her office has seen 28 we have not given them the tal Health Services Agency. driven … by the extraordi- the next morning (in the cocaine and alcohol, records deaths from methadone level of scrutiny that they “It is a dangerous drug. So nary use of methadone in medical examiner’s office). show. from 2008 to 2011, with 10 of deserve.” people do die from it, even in pain management,” said That’s the usual mode.” Duluth police Sgt. Rodney those coming in 2011 alone. treatment programs.” Mark Parrino, president of In St. Louis County, As- Wilson, who works with the Seventeen of the 28 News Tribune staff writer Duluth native Terence the American Association sistant County Coroner Dr. Lake Superior Drug and deaths involved the decedent John Lundy contributed to Kall is one of those people. for the Treatment of Opioid Donald Kundel said the Gang Task Force, said many using someone else’s this report. duluthnewstribune.com Duluth News Tribune | Sunday, September 16, 2012 Page A7

As the number of opiate-based deaths have Among the News Tribune’sfindingson methadone in Minnesota increased in Minnesota, so have opiate-related ᔢ The rate at which patients suc- ᔢ Taxpayers have spent $43 million methadone from 2005 to 2011, from $3.2 arrests and seizures. cessfully complete methadone treat- since 2005 to supply methadone to peo- million to $10.6 million. ment in Minnesota is 5 percent. ple who don’t have private insurance. ᔢ Since 2007, state investigators ᔢ Use of methadone treatment in That doesn’t include the cost of provid- have cited many of the state’s Duluth policecalls for serviceinvolving the state has grown 60 percent since ing patients with transportation to methadone clinics for more than 250 2007. methadone clinics, which sometimes violations, the most serious of which methadone 2009-2012 ᔢ Despite the existence of involves paying for cab rides as far as include lying to investigators, inade- TOTAL: 289 methadone treatment, the rate of opi- from Duluth to St. Cloud. quately staffing clinics and hiring un- 108 ate abuse and arrests has steadily in- ᔢ Officials with the Minnesota De- trained counselors, counselors having sexual relationships with patients, and 61 69* creased over the past six years. partment of Human Services, the 51 ᔢ Some methadone clinic patients agency charged with oversight and li- clinics not keeping proper control of sell the drug on the streets, where they censing of the state’s methadone clin- its methadone and failing to ensure 2009 2010 2011 2012 can get hundreds of dollars a dose. ics, say they didn’t keep track of how that patients weren’t selling the drug. *As of July 30 That has resulted in an increased bur- much public money was spent for ᔢ Since 2001 in Minnesota, 392 peo- den to law enforcement. Duluth police, treatment until that information was ple have died from methadone-involved SOURCE: Duluth Police Department, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS for example, saw methadone-related requested by the News Tribune. What overdoses. In the Northland, at least 38 calls for service double in two years, the data showed was a 231 percent in- people have died from methadone over- Narcotics arrests in Minnesota from 51 in 2009 to 108 in 2011. crease in spending of public money on doses since 2001. Increase: Increase: Increase: Increase: 255% 3,000% 109% 216% 350 Many consider methadone treatment 300 Year-over-year increase/decrease 2007-08 -1% 250 2008-09 68% 2009-10 25% 200 2010-11 52% to be the best for opiate addiction 150 JOHN LUNDYAND BRANDON STAHL who is so vociferous in his advocacy The longer-term risk is heart ar- [email protected]; that he has been referred to in print as rhythmia, Reuter said. Because of 100 [email protected] “the methadone pope.” that, he said, programs should give po- 50 It might not be perfect, but it’s the Interim methadone treatment is tential clients EKGs. best solution we’ve got. preferable to no methadone treatment The average length of treatment, 0 at all, Newman said. Interim treatment Reuter said, is 6.8 years. But he said he ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 That sums up why methadone pro- ponents say that despite the risks, it’s means methadone is offered without has known patients in their 80s who Heroin Morphine Oxycontin Totals the best treatment for opiate addiction. support services. He cites interim have been using methadone for 30 or 40 “It has been recognized by the most treatment instances from Hong Kong years. Narcotics seized by lawenforcement authoritative, objective voices nation- to Saint John, New Brunswick, to New Indeed, methadone advocates say its ally and internationally for decades as York City, where he is president emeri- effectiveness shouldn’t be measured by in Minnesota being the most effective form of treat- tus of the city’s third-largest health- the ability of clients to stop using it at ment for narcotic addiction,” said Dr. care system. some point. Instead, they say opioid ad- Increase: Increase: Increase: Robert Newman, director of the Baron “It’s not the ideal way, but compared diction should be understood as a 166% 3,950% 138% Edmond de Rothschild Chemical De- to abandonment, anything’s ideal,” chronic illness similar to diabetes or 4,000 pendency Institute of Beth Israel Med- said Newman, a methadone advocate depression. 3,500 ical Center in . for more than 40 years. “The alterna- “I’d love to see someone go in and Treatments for most drug addic- tive was stay on the street, shooting say, ‘You know what, diabetics? We’re 3,000 tions involve a combination of medica- dope.” going to discontinue insulin therapy in 2,500 tions and behavioral therapy, Using an analogy thatcrops up fre- another six months,’ ” said Mark Par- according to the National Institute of quently, Newman said a diabetic would rino, president of the American Asso- 2,000 Drug Abuse. be given insulin even if nutritional ciation for the Treatment of Opioid 1,500 Methadone, itself an opiate, is used counseling were not available with it. Dependence, a trade group. “Can you The primary short-term risk from imagine that kind of discussion? It 1,000 to treat addiction to heroin and other opiates because its effect is gradual methadone is overdose, Reuter said. does not exist.” 500 and sustained, reducing the desire for But he said deaths from overdose “It’s not a treatment that works for 0 other opioid drugs while preventing occur far more often when methadone everybody, ” Newman said of ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’07’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 withdrawal symptoms, according to is given for pain than when it is given methadone. “But compared to most Heroin Morphine Oxycontin the National Institute of Drug Abuse. as treatment for heroin addiction. A treatments of chronic medical ill- (in grams) (in grams) (in tablets) Administered properly, it is neither in- CDC “Vital Signs” report on July 3 nesses,it is extremely effective. It is SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Humans Services toxicating nor sedating, and its effects cited studies based on medical exam- very readily made available on a mas- and Public Safety,News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS do not interfere with regular activities. iner data that concluded fewer than sive scale to all who want it. And it can The Centers for Disease Control and 25 percent of deaths from methadone be made available at a very low cost.” Prevention, in a 2002 fact sheet, said overdoses involve clients in opioid ad- But it’s only relatively cheap. The when methadone is used to treat opiate diction programs. average cost per patient for methadone Why and how we addiction, it produces a 30 percent Both Reuter and Newman said they treatment at the Hennepin County lower death rate than among opiate ad- were surprised by the News Tribune’s Medical Center is about $4,500 a year, dicts who are not treated with analysis showing that, of 38 said Dr. Gavin Bart, who directs the methadone. It also results in reduced methadone-related overdose deaths in program. examined methadone criminal activity, improved family sta- the area, 36 appeared to be drug ad- “Compared to the cost to society for bility and employment potential, and dicts using methadone as part of treat- repeat hospitalizations related to over- improved pregnancy outcomes, the ment or to get high, and only one was dose, treatment of Hepatitis C, HIV, CDC said. someone prescribed methadone for lost jobs, inability to support family, in Minnesota Nick Reuter, a senior policy analyst pain. being on public assistance, crime-re- for the Substance Abuse and Mental “That is the antithesis of every lated costs and criminal justice en- BRANDON STAHL ness of methadone treat- study I’ve seen published,” Newman forcement related costs,” Bart said, “all [email protected] Health Services Administration in ment, the News Tribune Washington, D.C., adds a caveat. said. of these things are dramatically re- In early 2012, the News first asked the state’s De- “We’re sure that methadone is effec- The risk of dying from methadone duced when people are in treatment Tribune got a tip that sev- partment of Human Serv- tive only when the medication is com- treatment probably occurs in the earli- and on medication.” eral people in the Duluth ices, which licenses and bined with other therapies like est phases of the therapy, Reuter said. If the end goal of methadone treat- area had overdosed and died inspects the programs, what counseling, vocational, rehabilitation “The first two weeks of treatment ment is abstinence from drugs, Bart from methadone in recent records it uses to examine and all those things,” Reuter said. “So are very tenuous,” he said. “There’s a said, “none of our treatments work years. not only the effectiveness of it’s not the medication alone.” lot of risk. The patient is sort of in very well,” he said. “But if you look at Taking a cue from the methadone but other forms But methadone is effective enough treatment and sort of not in treatment. it as a reduction in use and improved of chemical dependency Seattle Times, which used that it should be made available even They’re still out doing things that are social indicators, that’s where we start treatment. The DHS pro- state data to investigate the when counseling isn’t, said Newman, dangerous.” seeing the differences.” link between methadone vided admission and dis- deaths in Washington state charge reports for all and people using methadone chemical dependency treat- for pain, the News Tribune ment providers in Min- obtained a copy of a data- nesota. That data allowed base maintained by the Min- the newspaper to look at the nesota Department of performance of the state’s Health of all people who methadone clinics and com- have died from drug-related pare it to other types of poisonings from 2000 to 2010, chemical dependency treat- the most recent year the ments. data was available. To determine whether That database listed peo- use and abuse of opiates was ple who died from accidental increasing in Minnesota, the methadone overdoses and News Tribune obtained ar- sometimes provided addi- rest and seizure data from tional descriptions of the the state Department of deaths, such as whether Public Safety, as well as data other drugs were in their from the Federal Drug En- system. forcement Administration, BE HEALTHIER. The News Tribune also which tracks the legal distri- obtained medical records, bution and sales of narcotics medical examiner reports, down to three-digit ZIP police reports and examined codes across the country. For court files to find example, Duluth, Herman- BE HAPPIER. methadone-related deaths town and Proctor share the from 2010 to about July 2012. “558” ZIP code. An extensive review of The News Tribune also those records, along with in- reviewed numerous state terviews with surviving and federal research reports BE MEDICARESMART. friends and family members, on methadone deaths and found that the majority of hundreds of pages of inspec- the methadone-involved tion reports on methadone deaths in St. Louis and Carl- clinics throughout the coun- ton counties were from peo- try and interviewed dozens ple using the drug in of drug experts, state offi- addiction treatment or abus- cials, law enforcement offi- ing it to get high. cials, methadone counselors To examine the effective- and current and former methadone patients. Join us forafreePrepare forMedicaremeeting. We’llansweryourquestions andhelpyou learnabout Original Medicare andour wide rangeofplans includingCost, Medicare supplement,PartDand PPO. Visitus •Quick. onlineat bluecrossmn.com/medicaremeeting or call 1-877-508-2227(TTYusers Installation is asimple matter of Custom Step lowering into place &leveling asingle call 1-866-518-8449)from8a.m.to8p.m.toreserve your spaceorlearn more. •Free pre-cast unit. Removal of former steps estimates. takes only minutes. • The practical solution •Permanent. in permanent concrete. When:Thursday, September20, 1p.m. Made of the same quality materials as America’s Where: TheInn on Lake Superior finest highways. Harmful ashes, chemicals & salt are the only deterrent 350Canal Park Drive, Duluth to lifetime use. Call today 218-384-3066 Service representativesand licensed salesrepresentatives areavailable when youcall. Availabletoresidents of theservice area.AMedicare-approvedPartD

Del Zotto Corp sponsorand health plan with Medicare contracts.Asales person will be present R001723355 1900 CTY. RD. 1•WRENSHALL, MN. 55797 with informationand applications.For accommodations of personswithspecial Like boats? needsatsales meetings,call thenumberabove. Shipping traffic every day in the Blue Cross® andBlueShield® of Minnesota is anonprofit independentlicensee News Tribune. Send your photos of theBlueCross andBlueShieldAssociation. to [email protected] H2461_082211_N01 File &Use 08/28/2011;Y0052_082211_M01_MN File &Use 08/29/2011 BUSINESS MONDAY Career switch nears million-dollar success DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuneibune Monday, September 17, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 90,000 readers every weekday$1

Methadone

Acostly fix Controlled doses sold for cash on the streets BRANDON STAHL stronger than (Oxycontin),” he said. ing to local law enforcement experts and [email protected] “With pot, you get a little bit of a head current and former users of the drug. y 19, after suffering two injuries for buzz. With methadone, it was throughout Stanius never enrolled as a patient at the which he was prescribed narcotic your whole body. You’d get a warm glow, a treatment center, but he said he never had a Bpainkillers such as Lortab and Oxycon- sense of well-being.” problem getting the liquid form of the drug. tin, Hermantown High School graduate Under federal law, if patients prove “I just bought it from (patients) at the Daniel Stanius was addicted to opiates. their trustworthiness at methadone clin- center. There was a lot of trading and sell- “I started graduating to stronger ones,” ics, they can get up to a month’s worth of ing of methadone and other pills, and he said. “By 23, I was a real heavy user.” take-home doses of the drug. It’s intended drugs in general,” he said. “You’d go there By 26, Stanius was serving a nine- to be a reward for patients, who start their in the morning, and everybody would be month sentence at the Northeast Regional treatment by having to go to a clinic each waiting there; everybody is talking: ‘What Corrections Center for illegally possessing day, six to seven days a week to take their are you going to do with yours?’ ” methadone, which, he told the News Trib- dose. Getting take-home doses is standard Three registered confidential police in- une, had become “my drug of choice.” practice at methadone clinics around the formants who worked extensively with And his favorite type of methadone: country and is fully legal. area law enforcement on major narcotics the liquid form provided at methadone But the pressure to sell those doses can cases over the past year told the News Daniel Stanius, who was addicted to opiates, talks clinics, including at the clinic in Duluth, be extremely high, as they go for about $1 Tribune that dealing take-home doses is about how liquid methadone was his preferred the Lake Superior Treatment Center. a milligram on the streets, with doses common. way to get high. Bob King / [email protected] “It gets you very, very high. I think it’s ranging from 50 to 300 milligrams, accord- See Methadone, Page A4 Council wants city chambers better for all

PETER PASSI [email protected] Steps are being taken to make Duluth’s City Council chambers more hospitable for people with disabilities —or at least a bit less uninviting. Councilor Emily Larson noted that many people find council chambers an in- timidating setting, but Duluth’s City Hall can feel especially off-putting for people with disabilities. Last week, Larson and fellow councilor Linda Krug successfully introduced a measure reducing the lead time required to request a sign language interpreter for a City Council meeting from two weeks to two days. The resolution, which was passed unanimously Sept. 10, also directs city staff to look into the cost of providing closed captioning for broadcasts of council meet- ings on public access television. Meanwhile, Councilor Jim Stauber has been working with Duluth City Architect John Finkle of Duluth (center) pulls his wooden boat down East Superior Street in Duluth with the help of Kyle Brownlee, 13, (left) and James Tari Rayala on a plan to better accommo- Marceau, 13, both of Duluth, on Sunday afternoon. Finkle spent about nine months handcrafting the wooden boat and was taking it down to date wheelchairs in the council chambers. Lake Superior to launch it for the first time. Photos by Clint Austin / [email protected] See Council, Page A6 People power delivers handmade Anti-US outrage began with Christian activist NANCY A. YOUSSEF AND AMINA ISMAIL McClatchy Newspapers boat to lake CAIRO—A crude video about the Prophet Muhammad that triggered an un- PETER PASSI precedented outbreak of anti-American [email protected] protest last week moved from being a When it came time for John Finkle of Duluth YouTube obscurity in the U.S. to a touch- to test the Grand Banks dory he’d worked nine stone for anger across the world through a months to build, he wouldn’t dream of hitching it phone call less than two weeks ago from a to the back of a smoke-belching vehicle. controversial U.S.-based anti-Islam activist Instead, Finkle relied on people power to move to a reporter for an Egyptian newspaper. the boat to Lake Superior. He called on friends and Morris Sadek, a Coptic Christian who neighbors Sunday afternoon to pedal and pull the lives in suburban Washington, D.C., whose dory to water from its birthplace in the backyard anti-Islam campaigning led to the revocation of the Dorothy Day House, 1712 Jefferson St., of his Egyptian citizenship earlier this year, which is home to Loaves & Fishes, a social justice had an exclusive story for Gamel Girgis, who organization where Finkle regularly volunteers. covers Christian emigrants for al Youm al Finkle and his bicycle entourage created quite Sabaa, the Seventh Day, a daily newspaper in the public spectacle Sunday as they snaked their Cairo. Sadek had a movie clip he wanted Gir- way down Superior Street, banking south down John Finkle rows his wooden boat in the waters of Lake Superior on Sunday afternoon. gis to see; he e-mailed him a link. See Boat, Page A4 The boat is a Grand Banks dory, a traditional design that was used in Newfoundland. See Protests, Page A6 HOW TO REACH US CONTENTS Games...... D4 Opinion ...... A5 TodayTomorrow News tips: (218) 723-5300 Business Monday...... B Faces & Names...... A2 Sports...... C Home delivery: (218) 723-5252 Classified...... D Lotteries...... A2 TV listings...... D6 30% chance of rain Mostly sunny (800) 456-8080 Comics ...... D5 Obituaries ...... B5 Weather...... C6 High: 56 Low: 35 High: 56 Low: 40 Page A4 Duluth News Tribune | Monday, September 17, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

!Methadone COMING TUESDAY Continued from Page A1 Methadone Costs: About half of methadone patients in the Still working undercover state get their treatment free. and fearing for their lives if SEPT. 23 they were identified, they Acostly fix Completion: Only about 5 asked that their names not be used for this article. SUNDAY percent of methadone patients Often, the informants The drug: The costs associ- in Minnesota finish treatment. said, the dealing takes place ated with methadone treat- SEPT. 24 near the treatment center, ment continue to rise in Profits: More than half of the and patients will lie to treat- Minnesota. country’s methadone clinics ment counselors about suf- are for-profit. fering withdrawal TODAY symptoms to get higher Abuse: Some addicts say SEPT. 25 doses of the drug. methadone is their preferred The clinic: Former staff mem- Two informants said that, drug of choice. bers of the methadone clinic in together, they know about 30 Duluth speak out. patients at the clinic. They said they don’t be- lieve any of the 30 are using itive for other drugs some- Treatment Center. the drug for its intended times should have their Barney told the News purpose. methadone dosage increased Tribune that he informed “They’re not taking it to to help them with the crav- police he had his take-home get help; they’re taking it to ings for illicit drugs. doses stored in a lockbox get high,” an informant said. In some cases, overdosing and that it appeared as if Asked how quickly a liq- on the liquid methadone has Martineau stole his lock-box uid dose of methadone could While serving time at the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, Hermantown High School led to deaths in the area. key and injected the be obtained, an informant graduate Daniel Stanius reflects on abusing methadone. Bob King / [email protected] Of the 38 methadone- methadone. Police reports in responded, “Give me the involved deaths in St. Louis the case said they found hy- money … and I’ll find some Federal rules on methadone take-home doses SEVERAL AREA OVERDOSES and Carlton counties identi- podermic needles filled with within the hour.” The number of take- fied by the News Tribune, at methadone in Barney’s Liquid methadone is a Time in Maximum number of take-home home doses methadone pa- least seven were from ingest- home, but Barney “was thick liquid and requires a treatment doses permissible tients can get and when they ing liquid methadone. The adamant that he never used veterinary needle to shoot can get them are governed rest either could not be read- those needles to inject him- 1-90 days One take-home aweek, and one take-home if the program is by federal laws, which states ily identified from records self or anybody else.” up. As a result, many stores closed for Sundays and state and federal holidays. that sell those kinds of nee- can make stricter but can’t or were from the pill version Methadone patients dles have seen them stolen 91-180 days Three take-homes aweek, and one take-home if the weaken. of the drug. drink the drug; injecting it program is closed for Sundays and state and federal holidays. or used in overdoses. L&M In Minnesota, which ad- Records show criminal with a needle, the favored Fleet supply in Cloquet has 181-270 days Three take-homes aweek, and one take-home if the program heres to the minimum fed- charges were filed in only method of abusers, is said to taken to locking up the is closed for Sundays and state and federal holidays. eral rules, after 90 days of one of the overdose deaths give a quicker, more intense store’s veterinary needles, good behavior, patients can from liquid methadone, but high, according to addicts 271-365 days Six take-home doses aweek, with the seventh dose those charges were dropped interviewed for this report. requiring an ID proving the administered at the clinic. get two take-home doses; at buyer is 18 or older. Store six months, patients can get for lack of evidence. “The county attorney After 1year Up to 14 days of take-home doses at atime, with two doses three take-homes; at nine The Minnesota Depart- looked at it and did not file manager Larry Tisdell said administered at the clinic per month. L&M took those steps after months, patients can get up ment of Human Services, charges,” Cloquet Police De- police told them a young stu- After 2years Up to 31 days of take-home doses at atime, with one dose to a week’s worth; after a which licenses and monitors tective Darren Berg said of administered at the clinic each month. dent overdosed using a vet- year, patients can get up to methadone clinics, said they the methadone death. “The are looking at strengthening key was in Martineau’s pos- erinary needle that appeared SOURCE: U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, two weeks’ worth; and after to have come from L&M. Code of Federal Regulations, Title 42,Section 8.12 NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS two years, they can get up to rules and enforcement of session.” “Now we’re tracking who a month’s worth of take- take-home methadone dosing. Barney told the News “The diversion-control Tribune that his methadone buys them,” he said. Florida coroner who was wasn’t doing bottle checks — home doses. procedures are in the federal treatment was subsidized The director of the Lake one of the first to raise the selecting patients at random Patients generally have to regulations; they’re not in through state health insur- Superior Treatment Center alarm on methadone deaths to bring their take-home show that they’re not abus- the state regulations. We ance and that he was dis- did not return repeated in the early part of the 2000s, doses back to the clinic to ing the drug or any other don’t have the direct author- charged from the Treatment phone calls for comment. has been part of numerous prove they were taking the narcotics, which methadone ity to enforce the federal re- Center after Martineau’s A representative for Colo- studies looking at deaths as- prescribed dosage. clinics test through urine quirements,” said Jerry death. nial Management Group, sociated with the drug. He The ability to prescribe screens. Kerber, the inspector gen- Barney’s brother, Randy, which owns the Lake Supe- said laws pertaining to take- take-home doses is regulated “Those are not the (pa- eral for the DHS. died from overdosing on liq- rior Treatment Center along home doses should change. by the federal Substance tients) most likely to abuse uid methadone in 2008 after with more than 50 other clin- Before being contacted by Abuse and Mental Health their privileges,” said Jane ‘A WICKED DRUG’ years of drug abuse. Randy’s ics across the country, told the News Tribune, he said Services Administration. Maxwell, a senior research The take-home doses father, Randy Barney Sr., the News Tribune from he had never heard of more Nick Reuter, a senior public scientist with the University have also been misused — said his son started abusing Florida that the company than a weekend’s worth of health analyst with the fed- of Texas School of Social even when not sold on the drugs at age 11 or 12 and be- does not speak to the media. methadone being provided eral agency, which is Work who has done exten- streets, records show. came a patient at the Lake However, Dr. Tom Payte, a for patients to take home. charged with licensing and sive study on methadone- In three cases in Duluth, Superior Treatment Center corporate medical director “You’re putting a large accrediting methadone clin- related deaths. for example, young children at about age 17. for Colonial Management amount of methadone out ics, acknowledged the trust But 15 current and former have gotten hold of their In 2007, Barney’s father Group did speak with the onto the street that can be can be abused, and doses can patients of the Duluth cen- parents’ liquid methadone said, his son quit methadone News Tribune. He said di- used, misused and abused be diverted. ter who spoke to the News and overdosed. The chil- treatment but would still version will happen but that and — even worse — “If diversion is an issue, Tribune, along with addicts dren, all younger than 5, sur- drink and abuse other his company has policies in diverted,” he said. we do take steps to immedi- like Stanius, said the safe- vived. In two of the cases, drugs. Then he took liquid place at all clinics to limit it Records requested by the ately seek compliance,” guards put in place to limit charges weren’t pressed be- methadone at the same as much as possible. News Tribune of state and Reuter said. “But abuse does the abuse of take-home cause police investigators dosage he was on before He also said that crimes federal agencies show that happen. You’re giving a med- doses can be easily circum- felt there wasn’t enough evi- leaving the clinic, his father associated with drug abuse the Lake Superior Treat- ication with abuse potential vented. dence to prove neglect; in said, and died at the age of would be far worse if ment Center has never been — methadone — to people “People would fail (urine the other, Duluth police are 23. He was survived by a methadone weren’t offered. cited for its patients selling who have had substance screens), and they would say, investigating whether neg- daughter who was 3. “A ddiction is an incur- their take-home doses. abuse issues in the past, in- ‘Well I’m still going through lect occurred. “It’s such a wicked drug,” able, progressive, often fatal However, earlier this year cluding diverting the sub- withdrawals because this At least three deaths from Barney said. “It’s an epi- disease. It’s not curable, but the Minnesota Department stances. You can reduce and isn’t enough,’” Stanius said. liquid methadone have oc- demic up here.” it is treatable,” Payte said. of Human Services, which have all the things in place In response to finding curred on the Fond Du Lac “Our purpose is to improve licenses and oversees to reduce the risk of that other drugs in the patients’ Reservation. the quality of life, and elimi- methadone clinics, cited the happening, and take actions urine, the clinic “would Daven Martineau of Clo- nate the crime and all the treatment center for violat- when you identify it happen- raise up their methadone,” quet died in November 2011 other negative aspects of the ing regulations aimed at ing, including kicking the he said. “The best way I can when he was at the reserva- addict lifestyle.” controlling the take-home patients out of programs. think of it is: You’re adding tion home of friend Tony gasoline to a fire.” ‘ABUSED AND … DIVERTED’ doses. Among those viola- But we can’t eliminate it 100 Barney, who was then a pa- tions: The treatment center percent.” Methadone proponents tient of the Lake Superior Dr. Bruce Goldberger, a say patients who do test pos-

Luebeck marveled at his !Boat friend’s talent, saying: “He Continued from Page A1 makes wood sing.” Upon reaching the beach, Lake Avenue, with the 16½- Hinkle pulled some fresh- foot wooden boat in tow. The baked bread, smoked white- vessel rode on two wheels, fish and a jar of apple juice just like its companions en from his green canvas knap- route to a pebbled Canal sack, encouraging his Park beach for the launch. helpers to partake. While some people were After everyone had had incredulous about the idea their fill, Hinkle and his of hauling a boat by bike, friends carried the boat into Finkle had no hesitation. the gentle waves of Lake Su- “It’s way more fun like perior. Instead of christen- this, and it’s so doable,”he ing the dory with wine, said. Hinkle trickled apple juice A bicycle is Finkle’s pri- down its hull. mary means of transporta- John Finkle of Duluth christens his wooden boat with fresh He still hasn’t decided tion, all year round. He also apple juice as it is launched into Lake Superior on Sunday af- what to call the boat but said volunteers a couple days each ternoon. Go to duluthnewstribune.com to see more photos and with confidence: “She’ll tell week at Duluth’s Bike Cave, a video of the launch. Clint Austin / [email protected] me her name, in time.” where he helps build and re- pair bicycles using mostly sal- he was not the least bit sur- sistent with who he is and vaged or donated parts. prised to learn Finkle would how he does things. He be- Troy Stafne, a cabinet- not use a motorized vehicle lieves in living in a non- maker who lives next door to to move it. mechanized manner, ” the Dorothy Day House, “This is 100 percent con- Luebeck said. SMILES ARRIVE watched the boat’s progress with keen interest. “A t first, I wondered what MKGInternational Martial Arts Academy IN ALITTLE GREEN TRUCK he was doing, but from the way he handled his tools, it was clear to me that he knew One Month of FREE what he was doing,” Stafne We deliver six days aweek all over said. Finkle said a lot of hand Thai Boxing the Twin Ports. Call us today— planing was required to and we’ll deliver today! shape the white pine plank- ing for the dory,with its Classes graceful sweeping lines. The (New Students Only) www.engwalls.com design was based on boats originally built in New- DULUTH 218-727-8961 foundland, using time-tested lapstrake or clinker tech- SUPERIOR 715-392-4711 niques. Holding true to tra- dition, Hinkle used pine tar to ensure the boat’s planking would be watertight. Finkle’s dory operates as MKGInternational is proud to a nimble rowboat, but it also be partofthe Thai Boxing can be converted to a sail- Association boat with the installation of a removable mast. Roger Luebeck drove Call 218.940.6655 from his home in Minneapo- 1621 W. Michigan Street lis to witness the launching Duluth of his friend’s boat and said G)e (y. G)e f'&*.

R001782224/0822 www.mkginternational.com DNRK9 gets the gun in shoplifting case BACK PAGE DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuneibune Tuesday, September 18, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 90,000 readers every weekday$1 East students sharing Getting state space with wildlife to pay for methadone ‘easy scam’

BRANDON STAHL [email protected] When Brandon Castellano Methadone was a drug dealer working in Cloquet and Duluth, he sold marijuana and painkillers such as Oxycontin —but his Acostly fix most profitable drug was methadone, he said. And much of that methadone, he said, was paid for by the state of Minnesota. The 33-year-old was a drug addict whosaid he enrolled as a patient at the Lake Superior Treatment Center about six years ago and got state-funded health insurance to pay for it. He said he started going to the methadone clinic not to get off drugs but to maintain his addiction —and to sell the Duluth East students Chase Karaste (left) and Colin Humphreys use a diameter tape to measure a tree in the forest behind drugs he was using. “It was a free high,” said Castellano, who pleaded guilty the school on Thursday. The National Wildlife Federation has designated Duluth East an official habitat area because of to selling Oxycontin in 2009. He said he’s since turned his efforts the school is taking to preserve and restore wildlife habitat. Photos by Bob King / [email protected] life around and is studying at the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College to be a chemical dependency counselor. “I was on (state-subsidized) Medica. That’s all it was.I was Duluth East grounds certified as wildlife habitat as getting my high for free every day. It was always there, every day. classes move into the forest, work on sustainability “It was an easy scam,” he added. He said staff at the clinic would ask if he was looking for JOHN MYERS a job. jmyersuluthnews.com “I didn’t need to,” he said. “I had a lot of money through hen Duluth school officials first selling drugs.” planned to expand the former About half the patients admitted to the state’s Ordean Middle School into the methadone clinics had their treatment paid for through current East High School, they publicly subsided insurance programs such as Minnesota got in hot water for threatening Care or Medicaid, records show. And as the number of pa- Wan eagle’s nest in a pine forest near the school. tients in methadone treatment has grown — 60 percent Neighbors complained that too many trees since 2007 — the burden to taxpayers has increased. would be cut to handle the big school, athletic See Methadone, Page A5 fields and parking lots, threatening the wild na- ture of the neighborhood —if not the eagle family itself. Indeed, about 100 trees were cut down to ac- commodate the new stadium. Jury selection for Proctor But plans were changed and accommodations made that not only saved the eagle’s nest but al- lowed school officials to seek Minnesota Depart- bar death trial begins today ment of Natural Resources certification for the Duluth East science teacher Jenny Madole explains how to identify a MARK STODGHILL remaining woods as an official state school forest. Now that will be up to a tree using bark and needles. This particular tree is a Scotch pine in [email protected] jury to decide. See Habitat, Page A5 the forest behind the school. At left is student Martha Clanaugh. Defense attorney Richard Jury selection begins Holmstrom told Judge Mark today in State District Court Munger on Monday that the in Duluth in the case of the prosecution offered his 33-year-old St. Michael, client, Paul Joseph Welle, Minn., man accused of unin- Hezbollah leads massive anti-US protest in Lebanon an 81-month prison sentence tentional second-degree if he would plead guilty to murder and first-degree ZEINA KARAM deadly violence and anger demonstrator was killed, sign of ebbing in the week second-degree manslaughter manslaughter. Associated Press at the United States across and battled with officers after protesters first in the death of Dale Ander- If Welle is found guilty of the Muslim world. outside the U.S. Embassy in swarmed the walls of the son outside a Proctor bar. unintentional second-degree BEIRUT — In a rare pub- murder, he faces a guideline lic appearance, the leader Although the massive, Jakarta, Indonesia, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. Holmstrom told the court well-organized rally in world’s most populous Mus- Four Americans, including that he encouraged his 15-year prison sentence. of the militant Hezbollah “This case is a tragic group exhorted hundreds Beirut was peaceful, pro- lim country. the U.S. ambassador to client to take the plea deal. Libya, died amid a demon- accident that involves self- of thousands of supporters testers in set The turmoil surround- But Holmstrom said that stration in the eastern defense,” Holmstrom said Monday to keep up the cam- fires near a U.S. military ing the low-budget video Welle told him he wanted to Libyan city of Benghazi. after the hearing. paign against an anti-Islam base, clashed with police in that mocks the Prophet go to trial because he didn’t video that has unleashed Pakistan, where one Muhammad showed no See Protests, back page commit a crime. See Trial, back page HOW TO REACH US CONTENTS Faces & Names...... A2 Opinion...... A6-7 TodayTomorrow News tips: (218) 723-5300 Classified...... D Lotteries...... A2 Sports...... C Home delivery: (218) 723-5252 Comics ...... C7 Markets ...... A2 TV listings...... D4 Mostly sunny Mostly cloudy, rain chance (800) 456-8080 Games ...... C6 Obituaries ...... B4 Weather...... C8 High: 54 Low: 39 High: 57 Low: 40 duluthnewstribune.com Duluth News Tribune | Tuesday, September 18, 2012 Page A5

Payments from the stateofMinnesota for !Methadone SUNDAY COMING SUNDAY Continued from Page A1 The drug: The costs associated Methadone Completion: Only about 5 per- medication-assisted therapy with methadone treatment cent of methadone patients in (includes methadone and other drugs for opioid addiction Since 2005, the state has continue to rise in Minnesota. Minnesota finish treatment. treatment) sent $43 million in reim- MONDAY SEPT. 24 bursements to the state’s In millions of dollars methadone clinics, accord- Abuse: Some addicts say Acostly fix Profits: More than half of the 01020304050 ing to data provided to the methadone is their preferred country’s methadone clinics are News Tribune by the state’s drug of choice. for-profit. 07/01/2005 -06/30/2006 Department of Human Serv- TODAY SEPT. 25 Through insurance ices.From 2005 to 2011, total Costs: About half of methadone patients in the The clinic: Former staff members of the providers reimbursements more than state get their treatment free. methadone clinic in Duluth speak out. tripled. 07/01/2006 -06/30/2007 Through counties SPENDING WASN’T TRACKED doesn’t normally separate that Medica pays for trans- are able to receive treat- When the News Tribune transportation costs to portation for its privately ment. This often includes Total first asked the Department methadone clinics from covered clients as well as overcoming barriers such as of Human Services how other health-care trans- those who are publicly sub- transportation. To get 07/01/2007 -06/30/2008 much public money had portation spending —and sidized. clients treatment when they been funneled to methadone even if it did, it wouldn’t “Do you want addicts in need it, they sometimes clinics since 2005, the DHS track specific costs to a controlled situation going must travel long distances, said it didn’t start keeping 07/01/2008 -06/30/2009 methadone clinics, such as and getting their which increases costs. This track of that amount until for taxis. methadone, where they’re immediate need for treat- July 2011. Much of the travel to the under treatment and trying ment must be balanced with Increase, The DHS said it tracked Duluth methadone clinic ap- to do something about it?” transportations costs. DHS money spent for all treat- 07/01/2009 -06/30/2010 2005-2011: pears to be done by cab. A Andis asked. “Or do you and the managed-care plans ment, but it didn’t break out typical morning at the Lake want to let addicts go out on are aware that these costs 231% methadone treatment ex- Superior Treatment Center the streets and get their fixes may be better managed and penses. can see up to a dozen cabs on the street? Because what will continue to looks for “We pay a per-member, 07/01/2010 -06/30/2011 pull up to a clinic.A cab ride you’re talking about, gener- ways to do that.” per-month amount to cover to and from the Fond du Lac ally, is a significant amount Dr. Tom Payte, a corpo- all services,” said Maureen reservation is about $80. of crime associated with rate medical director for $27,095,127 O’Connell, DHS assistant Most patients need to go to that, including robberies Colonial Management Totals $15,948,892 commissioner for chemical the clinic daily to get their and so forth to get the Group, which owns the Lake $43,044,020 and mental health services. methadone. money to get their fix.” Superior Treatment Center, Added DHS spokes- But the rides can be far DHS doesn’t track the said his company works to woman Patrice Vick: “We more expensive than that. costs for transportation to reduce diversion from the SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Human Services, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS don’t slice and dice things When there’s a waiting list methadone clinics, said clinics while also keeping exactly the way reporters to get in at the Lake Supe- agency spokeswoman Karen costs low for patients who sometimes think we should rior Treatment Center, the Smigelski. want to get legitimate treat- and the way other people state will pay cab fare for pa- “DHS does not collect spe- ment. MethadoneMethadone papatients’tients’ transportation transportion cocosts,,22012012 think would make sense just tients in Duluth to get treat- cific pickup or destination But some patients, he because of how we work ment at clinics in the Twin information from non-emer- said, will still abuse the pro- Methadone patients on state-funded health insurance can get their transportation with those plans.” reimbursed —even if thattransportation means being driven hundreds of miles Cities and St. Cloud. In 2012, gency medical transporta- gram. away.The amount one health insurance provider,Medica, has paid for its In June, DHS agreed to Medica —one of several tion providers,so we are not “There are all kinds of Duluth-area members on state-funded health insurance to get transportation to request the reimbursement companies that manages the able to provide information people who come into the methadone clinics out of the area: amounts from the various state’s health insurance for trips to methadone clin- treatment programs,” he health insurance providers Month-by- plans — paid $231,608 for its ics,” Smigelski said in an e- said. “Some people think that manage the public Duluth clients on state- mail. they can get a free high, but Total rides month Average health-care plans for the Month (one way) Cost increase per ride funded health insurance to Smigelski said the Legis- if that’s their motivation, state, such as Medica, Blue be taken, most by cab, to the lature recently created a they won’t get much out of January 69 $16,143 $234 Cross and UCare. Twin Cities or St. Cloud, at medical transportation advi- it.” February 85 $20,624 28% $243 an average cost of about sory group, and “an impor- For Castellano,he said he March 117 $25,680 25% $219 $500 RIDE TO THE CLINIC $500 per patient per day. tant component of its work got state-funded rides to the April 232 $62,653 144% $270 The cost to taxpayers will be establishing a moni- methadone clinic when he May 431 $106,509 70% $247 doesn’t end with reimburse- “Talking about the public ments for methadone treat- dollar, that is adding sub- toring process with more ac- needed them. Totals 934 $231,608.70 $247.98 ment. stantial expense to the pub- countability that will He said he feels guilty Because it’s considered a lic dollar to transport people provide DHS and the public about abusing the system SOURCE: Medica, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS legitimate medical expense, to make sure they have ac- with more information.” and essentially getting the most of the state’s patients cess to methadone treat- When asked why the state drugs he was selling for free, on subsidized health-care ment,” said Glenn Andis, the reimburses for transporta- but at the time he had no re- plans also get their travel to senior vice president of tion costs for methadone grets. methadone clinics reim- Medica. treatment, Smigelski re- “I was high and making bursed if they can’t afford it. It’s one of the reasons sponded in an e-mail: “We money,”he said. “The hard- But how much the trans- Andis said he believes an- want to make sure that en- est part of addiction to get portation costs taxpayers is other clinic should be rollees who need methadone over was the money I was unknown. The DHS said it opened in Duluth. He noted treatment for an addiction making.”

Duluth East student Kurt “I’ve always used the outdoors as a Granger finds a classroom in some way. But this is a seed top in the more coordinated effort to make this a forest behind the school that he’ll better place for wildlife and birds to later identify. make it sustainable. It’s also going to make it a better place to learn.” Jennifer Madole, Duluth East High School science teacher

which the school district is !Habitat short of, and the collabora- Continued from Page A1 tion is seeking grants from local organizations and busi- Efforts to preserve and nesses. add habitat on the grounds “We’ve got the (National already have earned “Certi- Wildlife Federation) certifi- fied Wildlife Habitat” desig- cation. But we still have a lot nation by the National of work to do. We’re just get- Wildlife Federation, a seal of ting started,” said Shawn approval for efforts to help Roed, East activities director. the chickadees, woodpeck- Maybe most importantly, ers, deer, bear, pine marten, students already are heading eagles and many other outdoors to take it all in. species seen on the property. “I think it will help. We’re “I’ve always used the out- making more room, more doors as a classroom in some shelter for the animals and way, ”said Jennifer Madole, birds,” said Nicole Heskin, East science teacher. “But an East senior who last Duluth East forestry student Parker Shearer uses a tree scale this is a more coordinated ef- spring helped pull buck- stick to measure a tree’s diameter in the forest behind Duluth thorn out of the forest. “A nd fort to make this a better East High School during a recent outdoor class. place for wildlife and birds to removing the invasives is make it sustainable. It’s also going to help the native going to make it a better species do better. ” our own piece of the Earth a have the whole school ob- Elijah Hammer (left) and Patrick Watson, Duluth East High place to learn.” Heskin is helping Madole School students, look for samples of leaves and plants in the Teachers, administrators, this semester with 40 stu- healthy, green space that serve what’s going on up helps restore the ecological there,”she said. “We’d need forest behind the school as part of a forestry class. students, neighbors, conser- dents in the school’s popular Photos by Bob King / [email protected] vation groups and others forestry, fish and wildlife balance,” Mizejewski said in to get some grants to make have joined forces to create class. She’s active in FFA, or announcing the federation’s something like that happen. habitat, plant native trees Future Farmers of America, certification of the East cam- But it would really get the like birch and tamarack, rip and hopes to translate her pus. “Encouraging your students involved.” out invasive species like love of the outdoors and neighbors to join with you buckthorn and plan a school wildlife into a career in zool- can lead to a neighborhood grounds that will attract and ogy. or community habitat that hold wildlife. That includes East junior Kyle Lindblad provides wildlife with native grasses and plants to was walking the school for- greater incentive to call your attract birds, bees and but- est near Superior Street last piece of the Earth home.” terflies and that require no week, measuring different East already is doing that, pesticides or fertilizers and tree species for the forestry, and habitat efforts by don’t need to be mowed. fish and wildlife class, when Madole and others have Fornew construction or to upgrade to amore energy-efficient It’s all part of the school he found a 21-inch diameter helped smooth ruffled feath- home, there’s no better time to add Andersen quality. district’s larger sustainable tamarack tree. ers of neighbors who schools initiative. But the “I’d never seen one that weren’t crazy about the East effort is also aimed at big before, only little ones in prospects of a bigger school. softening the footprint from the swamps and stuff,”he “We’re neighbors now. I the big increase in concrete said. “This is pretty cool. It was one of those who and asphalt on the old Or- was huge.” thought it’s too small a space dean school grounds. An or- Madole hopes a wilder, for a high school,” said Brian chard is planned to ring the morenatural school grounds Ronstrom, whose Superior baseball field. Vegetable gar- will help foster students’ Street home abuts the school dens will sprout along 40th learning in other subjects forest near the stadium. “But Avenue East. There are plans like music, literature and it’s a done deal and we have for student-built birdhouses even math. to get along. Actually, it’s and bat houses.A rain gar- “I think getting kids out- working better than I antici- den will be developed to help side will help push them in a pated. …They seem to be re- slow the runoff from paved- lot of areas not necessarily ally interested in making over areas into a nearby to do with ecology,” she said. this as friendly as possible, stream. David Mizejewski, Na- for the neighbors and the an- Science, agriculture and tional Wildlife Federation imals.” even shop classes are in- naturalist, said small habitat Madole said the nesting eagles on the site, which volved. There’s even a move- efforts can make a bigger dif- AvAIlABle oNlyAtthe pArtIcIpAtING DeAlerS: ment for a contest to rename ference than it may appear at might have come close to DULUTH the seasonal stream that first blush. scuttling the new high 823 Belknap St # 110 4609 Grand Ave. runs through the school for- “It’s easy to feel that there school altogether, could now GLASS& Duluth, MN 55807 become teachers in their Superior, WI 54880 est. (Nobody likes the cur- is no hope for wildlife in our 715-394-5588 MIRROR 218-727-8596 rent “Fortieth Avenue East modern world of smog, traf- own right. COMPANY www.duluthglass.com R001789092 Creek” name.) Some of the fic and asphalt. But there is “I’d love to get a camera www.superiorglass.us projects will take money, hope.Each of us can make up in that nest so we could The Andersen Truckload Sale won’t lastlong, so hurryintoday! Sale ends 10/31/12. Donald Kundel 1933-2012 Duluth doctor dies in plane crash D1 $43 IN COUPONS DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuneibuneINSIDE Sunday, September 23, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 140,000 readers every Sunday$2 GOP reps now oppose budget cuts they voted for

JAMES ROSEN Budget Control Act on Aug. McClatchy Newspapers 2, 2011, which contained $1 WASHINGTON —Repub- trillion in defense cuts over lican congressional leaders a decade and threatened are backing away from a trig- hundreds of billions more ger system of forced spending through forced reductions. cuts that they hailed 13 “I got 98 percent of what I months ago as a herald of fis- wanted,” Boehner said then. cal discipline and for which “I’m pretty happy. ” GOP lawmakers voted by Other GOP leaders also large margins. praised the deal at the time Josh Bergsted stands outside the seminary in Hancock, Mich., where he attends school. Bergstedt is a former patient at the With the forced cuts — and have done recent about- called sequestration on Capi- faces. Lake Superior Treatment Center. Bergstedt said got high on methadone, and he eventually quit treatment before joining the tol Hill —slated by law to Among seminary. Photo for the News Tribune by David Archambeau take effect Jan. 2 and with no them is Rep. deal in sight to replace them, Paul Ryan, the Republicans say the re- R-Wis., the ductions could harm the mili- House tary, and they’re blaming Budget Former patient says treatment President Obama. Committee Obama, in turn, is accus- chairman, ing the Republicans of flip- BOEHNER who’s now flopping by rejecting strong Republican budget controls they once presidential nominee Mitt championed. Romney’s running mate. was ‘just another addiction’ The $1.2 trillion in forced Boehner now says he cuts, part of an August 2011 never supported the forced law to raise the debt ceiling by cuts alone but only as part of BRANDON STAHL “I wasn’t being honest the same amount, would be a broad package of budget [email protected] with them,” he said. “But Methadone split roughly in half between controls that tied the debt- n 2008, after years of we’re drug addicts. This is Online extra defense and non-defense pro- ceiling hike to offsetting re- abusing painkillers what we do. We just want to ! grams over nine years. ductions. The sequester such as Oxycontin and get higher and higher.” Read the entire series at In a move to deflect the wasn’t meant to take effect, Lortab, Duluth native Two months later, his Acostly fix duluthnewstribune.com. GOP attacks, Obama has ex- Boehner adds, but was in- Josh Bergstedt enrolled records show, his dosage empted military personnel tended instead to goad Con- Iat the Lake Superior Treat- had quadrupled. As the from the $54 billion in possi- gress and Obama into SEPT. 16: TODAY: months went by, Bergstedt reaching a bipartisan accord ment Center. He said he had The drug: Costs associated Completion: About 5 percent ble defense cuts next year as hoped to be off the metha- exhausted his savings pay- he released a congressionally that would replace the ing for the methadone be- with methadone treatment of methadone patients in mandated report on how he’d $1.2 trillion in deficit reduc- done treatment program continue to rise in Minnesota. Minnesota finish treatment. and drug-free within a fore he was put on state implement the forced cuts. tion with a different path to month. health insurance, which SEPT. 17: COMING MONDAY: “This report confirms that the fiscal target. “But after the first day, I then paid for the treatment. Abuse: Some addicts say Profits: More than half of the the president’s ‘sequester’ is a Boehner notes that the was just lit,” he said. “I’m He was still on high doses of methadone is their preferred country’s methadone clinics serious threat to our national GOP-controlled House of thinking, ‘This is treat- methadone, but instead of drug of choice. are for-profit. security and must be re- Representatives in May ment? Holy cow. ’” being high, he said he placed,” House Speaker John passed the Sequester Re- Bergstedt, 29, said he plateaued. The drug, he SEPT. 18: TUESDAY: Boehner responded. placement Reconciliation wanted to get higher, so he said, was turning him into a Costs: About half of The clinic: Former staff The Ohio Republican’s Act, a bill to replace the told his counselor he was zombie. methadone patients in the members of the methadone stance was at odds with his $1.2 trillion in forced cuts having withdrawal symp- state get their treatment free. clinic in Duluth speak out. celebratory pose after toms to get stronger doses. See Methadone, Page B4 Obama signed the 2011 See Cuts, Page B5 Astronaut draws crowd at air show JOHN LUNDY and heavy jackets were the made indoor displays partic- in line to see him. Johnson, [email protected] uniform of the day, and insu- ularly popular. Among them who flew two shuttle mis- Undeterred by a brisk lated cups of steaming cof- was the half-of-a-hangar oc- sions — including the sec- north wind, clouds and occa- fee the most common cupied by NASA. It included ond-to-last shuttle mission, sional sprinkles, thousands accessory. a lunar rock, tributes to as- commanded by Mark Kelly of people streamed into the At about 12:30 p.m., as tronauts John Glenn and — didn’t just slap his name grounds of the Duluth Air- spitting rain and an extra- Neil Armstrong and a on the prints. He took the show on Saturday to gaze strong puff of wind tem- chance to get your picture time to engage in conversa- up at mind-bending aerial porarily stalled the aerial taken with your face in the tion, especially with chil- acrobatics, marvel at huge displays, one child was get- cutout of an astronaut. dren, even as the line grew airplanes and wonder at ting a $5 hand-dipped ice Better yet, it included an and bent around a corner of the latest in aeronautic cream cone and no one was actual astronaut. For a cou- the hangar. technology. at the fresh-squeezed lemon- ple of hours on Saturday, Among them was the Col. Gregory H. Johnson, a NASA astronaut, listens to Kristi The show’s first day took ade stand. But about 50 peo- Col. Gregory H. Johnson Neill family of Thunder Bay, Rollag Wangslad, president of Airspace Minnesota, during the place in very early autumn, ple were waiting in line at a signed autographs on his Ontario: Robert, Julie, Duluth Airshow at the Duluth International Airport on Saturday but there probably have vendor stand with the single picture (and on at least one Ashley, 12, and Connor 9. afternoon. Go to duluthnewstribune.com to see a photo gallery been warmer Christmas pa- word “Coffee” above it. cast) and bantered with chil- from Saturday’s event. The air show continues today from rades. Knit hats, sweatshirts The unruly weather dren and adults who waited See Air show, Page A8 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clint Austin / [email protected] HOW TO REACH US CONTENTS TodayTomorrow News tips: (218) 723-5300 Faces & Names...... A2 Obituaries...... D4-6 Sports...... C Home delivery: (218) 723-5252 Games ...... F2 Opinion...... B1-3 TV listings ...... F8 Partly cloudy Partly cloudy (800) 456-8080 Lotteries...... A2 Outdoors ...... C6-8 Weather...... B6 High: 55 Low: 38 High: 64 Low: 38 Open to the Public! Premier Sponsors RSVP at www.duluthchamber.com

10.11.12 Enjoy the bagpipes. Gain the Thursday,October 11, 2012 knowledge. Celebrate the tradition

4:00 pm |Wells Fargo Evening Pre-Party City Side Convention Center Kick-start the evening with friends and brews 5:00 pm |Registration &Reception LakeSuperior Ballroom Enjoy the pre-dinner social hour /cash bar 6:00 pm |Dinner &Program LakeSuperior Ballroom 8:00 pm |National Bank of Commerce After-Party Mayor R.T. Rybak |Minneapolis, MN French River Room will illustrate how Duluth and Minneapolis can share ideas on enshuring both communities remain compelling, remarkable places to live and work. Wrap-up the celebration at the popular after party Member FDIC R001795072 Page B4 Duluth News Tribune | Sunday, September 23, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

“The successes of as Percocet when she was 23. said. “We looked at each !Methadone methadone are those who In 1980, she was arrested as other.Ibelieve we both Continued from Page A1 Methadone vs.other forms stay on it,” said Dr. Gavin part of a large sting of nar- started crying. We sat and Bart, the director of the divi- cotic drug sales in Duluth prayed for awhile, went to “I was living in my par- sion of addiction medicine and narrowly escaped bed, woke up the next morn- ents’ basement, completely of treatment at Hennepin County Medical prison time. She went to ing, and went to the depressed,” he said. In data reviewed from 2007 to 2011, the effectiveness of Center. treatment but continued to methadone clinic down in “Methadone was just To Bart, successful abuse narcotics, which even- the Cities. another addiction. It was methadone treatment appears to lagbehind other types methadone treatment might tually saw her do time in the “That was 18 years ago.” two years of hell. You’re of treatments for chemical dependencyinMinnesota. mean the patient is on the state prison in Moose Lake, Mix said she’s been on functioning, but with that drug for life. where she said she contin- methadone ever since, often amount of drugs in your “It’s not controversial in ued to use and sell drugs driving down to the Twin system, how can you be Average completion percentage of Minnesota the world of addiction treat- such as painkillers and Cities each day until a clinic a productive member of ment,” he said. “There are heroin. opened in Duluth. society? chemical dependency programs,2007-2011 societal controversies, and “Even after all of that, I She said she now takes a “A t some point it dawned it’s related to stigma. But no didn’t learn a lesson,” she high dose of methadone Hospital on me: I’m just going to die Long-term Short-term one says, ‘My God, you’ve said. “My kids were taken each day and has no plans to Methadone Nonresidential residential residential inpatient like this.” been on high blood-pressure away from me.” get off the drug. In 2010, Bergstedt became medicine for this many The drug abuse contin- “I’m an addict; I’ll always one of thousands who have years? You need to stop.’ ” ued, getting to the point, she be an addict,” she said. “I dropped out of the state’s 5.46%57.94% 57.38%73.66% 62.84% By that measure, Duluth said, where she would often would rather have methadone programs with- resident Sharon Mix is a spend hundreds of dollars a methadone there and be on out completing the treat- methadone success story day on drugs. One night methadone than have any ment. From 2007 to 2011, 94 SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Human Services, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS who wouldn’t show up in the while at a motel in the Twin chance in hell of going back percent of the state’s discharge numbers. Cities with her husband, to that lifestyle.” methadone patients who left The 56-year-old said she Mix said she did her “last the programs did so without Client in jail/prison last 30 days at admission started abusing narcotic pre- blast.” completing the treatment. Client arrested in last 30 days at discharge scription medications such “It was like nothing,” she Continued on next page That dropout rate puts Increase/ decrease methadone treatment dead last in successful completion 5.5% Methadone 4.4% rates among other types of 9.7% chemical dependency treat- ments in Minnesota, the 12% News Tribune found. Nonresidential -7.2% But that isn’t the only 4.8% area where methadone trails 13.1% other treatment options. Long-term residential -9.0% Patients discharged from 4.1% methadone programs also 15% were more likely to be in jail Short-term residential -11.6% 30 days after being dis- 3.4% charged and had more po- tential for serious to 8.4% extreme withdrawal symp- Hospital inpatient -4.7% 3.7% toms and relapse when com- pared to treatments such as 0% 100% long- and short-term resi- dential programs. The results come from a News Tribune analysis of Percent of patients with serious-to-extreme chemical dependency treat- ment admission and dis- withdrawal potential charge data provided by the Minnesota Department of At admission At discharge Increase/ Human Services. The decrease agency provided the data 8.1% when the newspaper asked Methadone 3.7% for a way to evaluate the ef- 11.8% fectiveness of methadone 0.6% treatment in the state. Nonresidential 0.6% Other discharge data pro- 1.2% vided by the DHS showed 1.9% that, judging by additional Long-term residential 0% criteria the agency uses to 1.9% evaluate outcomes of chemi- SAVE MONEY! Pick up acopy of the cal dependency treatment, 7.6% Sunday,September 30, 2012 Short-term residential -5.2% methadone failed to help pa- 2.4% tients in areas such as abil- ity to control emotional 14.3% problems and ability to find Hospital inpatient -10.9% to get the October P&G brandSAVER housing and jobs. 3.4% Dr. Marvin Seppala, chief 0% 100% coupon booklet. medical officer for the Cen- ter City, Minn.-based alcohol and drug addiction treat- R001797663 ment center Hazelden, called Percent of patients with serious-to-extreme the News Tribune’s findings relapse potential concerning, especially the lack of completed treatment. At admission At discharge Hazelden, which offers Increase/ abstinence-only treatment decrease for opiate addiction, has 29.7% about a 53 percent comple- Methadone 5.8% tion rate, Seppala said. 35.5% “If success is defined as 45.6% weaning them off, then ab- Nonresidential -15.1% solutely (methadone comple- 30.5% tion rates) should be higher than 5 percent,” he said. 77.4% Long-term residential -25.5% He said methadone can 51.9% be an effective treatment, Get 51% OFF but when its use isn’t effec- 80% tively monitored and the Short-term residential -28.8% 2game tickets drug can be easily diverted 51.1% and given without proper 82.1% and see the Clydesdales counseling, “you do get Hospital inpatient -27.1% much more of the down- 55% at the Duluth Heritage sides of methadone.” 0% 100% Sports Center or Mars At the Lake Superior Treatment Center, the only LakeviewArena methadone treatment Percent of clients with serious-to-extreme provider in Minnesota that’s north of St. Cloud, about 6 problem with readiness for change only percent of patients com- $ .84 pleted the program from 2007 to 2010, the News Trib- At admission At discharge une found. The average for 7 the state during that time 7.0% was 5 percent. Methadone 15.5% Deal Value $16-Discount 51% The director of the Lake 22.5% Superior Treatment Center 20.2% YouSave $8.16 did not return repeated Nonresidential 0.1% phone calls for comment. 20.3% A representative for Colo- 41.3% nial Management Group, Long-term residential -9.7% which owns the Lake Supe- 31.6% $20 rior Treatment Center along with more than 50 other clin- 37.4% Short-term residential ics across the country, told -15.5% 21.9% the News Tribune from Voucher Florida that the company 16.9% does not speak to the media. Hospital inpatient 1.6% However, Dr. Tom Payte, a 18.5% only .80 corporate medical director 0% 100% $ for Colonial Management SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Human Services, News Tribune analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS Iron RiverWI 9 Group did speak with the News Tribune. He said the goal of methadone treat- ment is not to wean the pa- trating situations where ical and mental health serv- Deal Value $20-Discount 51% tients off that drug. change just does not seem to ices. “We want to improve the occur,” he said. “They may When asked if DHS had a YouSave $10.80 quality of life for people,” not want to change. If they study measuring the effec- Payte said. “(Addiction) is don’t want to stop using, tiveness of methadone treat- an incurable, progressive, then what are we to do? Ob- ment in Minnesota, the often-fatal disease. The best viously they’re going to be agency acknowledged it did to purchase your voucher: results occur for people who out of treatment after a pe- not. stay in methadone treatment riod of time.” “Does the state aggregate R001797482-0920! long-term.” On the subject of that data?” asked Jerry Ker- www.duluthnewstribune.com/marketplace/whatsthe51/ Payte, who has worked in methadone treatment, the ber, inspector general for the Go to: the addiction field for 40 Department of Human Serv- DHS. “What you’re hearing years, said thousands of ices said the News Tribune’s us saying is: We haven’t or at duluthnewstribune.com or scan this Colonial Management pa- findings are flawed because done a lot of it, but it’s some- click the 51% QRcode with tients have successfully used they compare programs for thing that probably ought to button found methadone for years. But opiate addicts to programs be done.” your mobile even some addicts who seek for other kinds of addic- in the right STAYING ON METHADONE FOR LIFE device methadone treatment, he tions. Other health experts on mostcolumn,halfwaydownthepage said, won’t be successful “It compares apples to or- chemical dependency say with it. anges,” said Maureen it’s a mistake to equate effec- “I see some very positive O’Connell, the DHS assis- Forquestions or concerns please email [email protected] tive methadone treatment results; I see some very frus- tant commissioner for chem- with completion. duluthnewstribune.com Duluth News Tribune | Sunday, September 23, 2012 Page B5

Continued from previous page “We don’t know who care whether you brushed should be on methadone your teeth or combed your long-term,” he said. “We hair or did anything like 2 charged with depositing checks ‘IT’SA FOG’ don’t have a good test or pre- that. It’s Mix said she doesn’t get dictor that could tell me like a high from the methadone; today that this person super-bad rather,it allows her to func- should take methadone for flu. You just stolen from Obama headquarters tion normally “the majority the rest of their lives, and hated life.” of the time.” this person should be off of Bergst- ROSEMARY R. SOBOL paign. is headquartered, police “It isn’t something you it in a year or two. edt agreed. AND JENNIFER DELGADO They opened the accounts said. really get high from,” she “When they get really “The Chicago Tribune on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 at The checks were made said. “It takes away the need good recovery, they should STANIUS with- TCF Bank branched in two out to legitimate busi- to feel like you want to get be able to come off these drawals CHICAGO — Two men grocery stores, and pre- nesses, but the suspects de- high, but it levels you to the maintenance treatments.” from methadone are 10 were charged with deposit- sented fake documents to posited them in phony point where your body says Payte of Colonial Man- times worse than any street ing two checks stolen from open the accounts before de- accounts they had set up you are.” agement said because he drug I’ve ever taken,” he President Obama’s cam- positing the checks, one for under the names of those Bart of Hennepin County views addiction as a disease, said. “It’s the worst thing paign into bank accounts $24,857 and the other for companies, authorities Medical Center said proper he believes that even people you could possibly go they fraudulently opened. $23,839, prosecutors said. said. dosing of methadone pa- who enter methadone treat- through.” A judge Saturday set bail A comptroller with Ben Finkenbinder, the tients should prevent eupho- ment to abuse that drug When Bergstedt left the at $100,000 for Jessie Obama’s reelection cam- Midwest press secretary for ria and relieve withdrawal should still be kept on the Lake Superior Treatment Adams, who allegedly in- paign caught on to the the Obama campaign, said: symptoms. treatment. Center,he enrolled in Min- structed Willard Elam and scheme when two compa- “Three checks we sent to Getting high from “I don’t believe in termi- nesota Teen Challenge, an unidentified man who nies complained they had vendors made it into the methadone provided at a nating patients for noncom- where he said it took a year remains at large to open not been paid. It was not wrong hands, and after clinic “should be pre- pliance if we can keep them before he was able to get bank accounts at separate known how the three men learning of this we notified vented,” he said. in the system,” he said. “I sober and feel normal again. bank branches in the obtained the checks, prose- the police. We’re pleased But local chemical de- seldom see patients that ben- Now he’s studying to be- Chicago’s south suburbs. cutors said. that they’re dealing with pendency treatment experts efit from being kicked out come a pastor at the Inter- Adams is charged with one Adams, 36, of Joliet, Ill., the issue swiftly, and don’t and law enforcement offi- onto the streets. If we can Lutheran Theological count of organizing a finan- works for a general con- expect this to have any im- cials say patients they see continue to work with them, Seminary in Hancock, cial criminal enterprise. tracting company; Elam, 48, pact upon the campaign.” on methadone act as if we have a better chance of Mich., and gave his first ser- Bail for Willard Elam, of Dolton, Ill., is a laborer, An Obama campaign they’re high. establishing a relationship mon in June. who is charged with contin- authorities said. official, who spoke on the Richard Colson, supervi- and making a difference.” Reflecting on his time as uing a financial crime en- Police said Adams re- condition of anonymity sor of the Tegwii Recovery a methadone patient, he said terprise, was set at $75,000. WITHDRAWAL cruited Elam for the alleged because he was not author- Center on the Fond du Lac the treatment never worked Cook County prosecu- For methadone patients crime. ized to speak on the matter, Reservation, said many of for him because it was just tors said Elam and the who want to withdraw from The checks were stolen, said the checks were not the people he treats have left another drug to abuse. unidentified man were ac- the drug, clinics are sup- apparently last week, from taken from the campaign’s methadone treatment and “It was a hopeless cycle companied by Adams and posed to supervise that with- the Prudential Plaza build- offices, but rather from the describe getting high from for me,” he said. “You’re giv- pretended to be owners of drawal and have it done ing in downtown Chicago, building housing the head- the drug. ing drug addicts a license to companies that work with gradually over the course of where the Obama campaign quarters. He said treating patients be drug addicts.” Obama’s presidential cam- with a drug that can keep weeks, or even months, ex- them in that altered state for perts said. the rest of their lives is Methadone users who wrong. have gone through with- “You have a prison with- drawal unsupervised de- out bars,” he said. “You have scribe it as far worse than addicted these people,and coming down from other their lives essentially get narcotics.Dan Stanius, who flushed into some mutant spent time in jail for being reality. It’s a fog. Some of caught with illegal the best years of their lives methadone, said withdraw- won’t amount to anything ing from methadone was ex- other than a walk on a tremely painful. soggy beach on a foggy day. ” “It’s right down to the Seppala of Hazelden said bone: Everything hurts,” he he doesn’t believe people said. “(I) just had just horri- should be on methadone for ble pain. I wouldn’t eat at all, the rest of their lives. just hated life. You wish you wouldn’t wake up; you didn’t

that an Obama defeat by !Cuts Romney, coupled with their Continued from Page A1 party regaining control of the Senate, will put them in with a different mix of a position to dictate the spending reductions. terms of future spending But that measure, which cuts, focused heavily on non- passed along party lines and defense domestic discre- died in the Democratic- tionary programs. controlled Senate, contained The upshot is that the two a separate provision to sides probably will wait extend the Bush-era tax cuts until a “lame duck” session to all Americans when they of Congress after the No- expire Dec. 31 —a“poison vember elections —so-called pill” clause for Obama, who because some lawmakers wants to limit them to will be retired or voted from household incomes under office as of January —to try $250,000 a year. to replace the looming cuts Ryan says he voted for with a different mix of the sequester as part of the spending reductions. larger deal to raise the debt The post-election legisla- ceiling in the spirit of com- tive session also must decide promise with Obama and whether to let the Bush-era his Democratic congres- tax cuts expire Dec. 31 as sional allies, but never in- scheduled, to extend them tended the forced cuts to for all Americans as Rom- take effect. ney wants, or to adopt “I worked with President Obama’s plan of limiting Obama to find common them to households with ground to get a down pay- income under $250,000. ment on deficit reduction,” The two controversies are Ryan said linked because broader tax earlier this reductions would decrease month. “It revenues to the federal gov- wasn’t a big ernment, making it harder down pay- to reduce future deficits. ment, but it Romney, a former Massa- was a step chusetts governor, has ruled in the right out including military cuts direction.” in deficit reduction. He in- House RYAN stead wants large hikes in Minority defense spending. The Pen- Leader Nancy Pelosi, who tagon’s budget has doubled also voted in favor of the over the past decade, fueled plan a year ago, recently ac- by the Iraq and Afghanistan cused Boehner of not allow- wars and broader initiatives ing lawmakers to vote on a to fight terrorism. Democratic proposal to re- Steve Ellis, chief budget place it. analyst for the nonpartisan “It is a better plan,” the anti-spending group Taxpay- California Democrat said. ers for Common Sense in “It actually does end seques- Washington, said the de- tration through a mix of fense cuts that Romney and cuts and revenues. The rea- his GOP congressional allies son we have a problem here were targeting weren’t re- is because our Republican ductions in absolute spend- colleagues have refused to ing. have one red cent from the Instead, Ellis said, they wealthiest people in our are smaller increases than country contribute to re- those projected from the solving this fiscal crisis.” Pentagon’s current “base- That Democratic plan line” levels, which are in- had its own poison pill for flated thanks to unsustain- Republicans: bringing in able 9 percent annual post- more federal revenues by Sept. 11 hikes. ending the Bush tax cuts for “Even if we did the cuts those with household in- proscribed in sequestration, comes of $250,000 or more. we would end up with about Coloring the dispute is the same level of defense the presidential election, spending as we had in 2006,” now less than seven weeks he said. away. Since then, virtually all Obama hopes that a sec- U.S. troops have left Iraq, ond term and 23,000 have exited will give Afghanistan under Obama’s him in- 2014 withdrawal plan. creased “Gov. Romney’s suggest- clout to ing that we increase defense shape a new spending really ignores deficit- some of the big budget chal- reduction lenges facing us and growth package that’s happened in our de- OBAMA more to his fense sector,” Ellis said. liking, with “Clearly, there’s room to cut. “revenues” —to include tax We need to spend money hikes on the wealthy —as smarter instead of spending part of the mix. more.” Republicans are banking Take a peek inside an expanding Maurices B1 DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuneibune TP Monday, September 24, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 90,000 readers every weekday$1 Caregivers say they focus on treatment, not profits

JOHN LUNDY Superior Treatment Center its more than 50 clinics in 18 nonprofit providers. for-profit methadone clinics AND BRANDON STAHL Methadone or its parent company, states across the country. “In reality, for-profit and grew 21 percent from 2003 to [email protected]; Florida-based Colonial Man- Though some in the drug nonprofit programs are oper- 2010. During the same time, [email protected] agement Group, aren’t pub- treatment field question ated under the same guide- the number of nonprofit For Duluth’s Lake Supe- licly available. Colonial whether aquest for profits lines and regulations,” he clinics grew 2.3 percent. rior Treatment Center —and Acostly fix Management, the second- might pose a conflict of in- said. “In some cases, the for- “If it is a for-profit for more than half the metha- largest group of methadone terest, others dismiss the profits may be doing a better agency, doesn’t that imply to done clinics in the country — clinics in the country, keeps concerns. job of delivering services.” some degree a conflict of in- methadone isn’t only a treat- ment of Opioid Dependence, that information closely Payte said his focus is not The number of for-profit terest?” asked Don Jarvinen, ment. It’s a business. said of for-profit methadone guarded. A corporate medical on the money the company methadone clinics is grow- who trains chemical depend- “I would say it’s lucra- clinics. “If not, they wouldn’t director for the company, Dr. makes but on the quality of ing. Nationwide, according ency counselors at the Fond tive,” Mark Parrino, presi- be opening (clinics).” Tom Payte, said Colonial care the clinics provide. And to the Substance Abuse and Du Lac Community College. dent of the American Financial records showing Management has about 25,000 he said he sees little differ- Mental Health Services Ad- Association for the Treat- the profitability of the Lake patients spread throughout ence between for-profit and ministration, the number of See Methadone, Page A4

EMMY AWARDS TV drama ‘’ gets series, acting nods

LYNN ELBER Associated Press LOS ANGELES — “Homeland,” which puts the battle against terror- ism on American soil, was honored as best drama series at Sunday’s Emmys and earned trophies for stars Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. “Modern Family” was named best comedy. The drama “Homeland” stopped “Mad Men” in its tracks, denying the show a record-setting fifth tro- phy, kept from his fourth consecutive best drama award for “Breaking Bad,” and made “Mad Men” star an also- ran once more. The Emmys re- fused to play it pre- Kristina Hill conducts a math lesson with a small group of students at Proctor’s Bay View Elementary School last week. Small-group instruction is one dictably Sunday, DANES thing the school is doing to improve its students’ achievements. Photos by Steve Kuchera / [email protected] with Jon Cryer of “Two and a Half Men” earning a best actor award and Jimmy Kim- mel proving a game Bay View, Laura MacArthur have but uneven host. “I’m one of those pesky Brits,I apologize,”said LEWIS Lewis, who plays an new tools to raise achievement American in the es- pionage thriller. “I don’t really believe JANA HOLLINGSWORTH The Proctor and Duluth school [email protected] districts received renewable in judging art, but I grants from the state for being thought I’d show up t 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at “priority” schools. just in case.” Proctor’s Bay View Proctor’s is for $1.7 million, Danes, eye- Elementary School, and Duluth’s is for about $1.3 mil- catching in a everyone in Denise lion over the next three years, bright yellow dress LOUIS-DREYFUS Stenberg’s third- which is the term of the designa- that gracefully Agrade class picked up a book and tion. At each school, that money draped the preg- began to read. is paying for lots of teacher devel- nant actress, was The 15-minute break in the day opment and jobs. effusive. was happening throughout most Both schools have hired build- “My husband, of the school and is part of a ing operations managers to take my love, my life, school improvement plan re- over some duties of principals, my baby daddy, this quired by the Minnesota Depart- giving the principals more time to doesn’t mean any- ment of Education. The plan get into classrooms, observe in- thing without you,” followed new rankings that struction and coach teachers. she said to her CRYER placed the school among the They’ve also hired family- spouse, actor Hugh lowest-performing in the state, community liaisons to better Dancy. along with Duluth’s Laura connect parents and guardians to Backstage, Danes said she partic- MacArthur Elementary. schools and teachers. They’ve ularly appreciated one fan: Presi- Educators from Bay View and each hired someone to ensure dent Obama has said he’s a fan of Laura MacArthur were required to that improvement plans are being “Homeland,” about a Marine and write 100-plus-page improvement followed throughout the school. former POW who’s suspected of plans under a new accountability Nicole Appelwick works with Nathan Rogge and other students during Laura MacArthur increased its working for al Qaeda. system that replaced some of No time for small-group math instruction at Proctor’s Bay View Elementary data coach to full-time status, and “No pressure,”the actress said. Child Left Behind’s harsher man- School last week. Bay View created the position. “It’s way cool that he is a fan. It dates. They also applied for and Bay View increased its guidance speaks to the relevancy of the show, received large grants to help raise What’s being done at Bay View, had data coaches or teachers on counselor to full-time. Laura and it’s hugely validating.” achievement —and those grants said Principal Diane Morin, could special assignment as in larger MacArthur added a special educa- The acting trophies, along with a meant hiring people to do creative only be done in pieces without the districts, she said. tion teacher. best writing award for the show, things that, lately, there isn’t time grant. “Now we have the tools,” she or money to do in many schools. The small district has never said. “That’s the exciting part.” See Schools, Page A4 See Awards, Page A6

Get home delivery (218) 723-5252 Weather or (800) 456-8080 Campaign aims to clear way for pedestrians News tips JOHN LUNDY (218) 723-5300 It’s a close encounter of [email protected] the worst kind, and it’s the Contents sort of thing that has led Min- Today: James Gittemeier knows Classifieds D what it’s like to be a pedes- nesota transportation offi- Comics D5 Partly cloudy cials to a campaign to High: 67 Low: 44 trian on a crosswalk with no Games D4 place to hide. improve pedestrian safety. Lotteries A2 “It was at 10th Avenue East The Share the Road cam- Obituaries B6 by St. Luke’s,” the Duluth paign is an expansion of the existing campaign aimed at Opinion A5 man said. “The driver was trying to run left onto First bicycle safety that began in Sports C 2003. The pedestrian focus is TV listings D6 (Street). I had the crosswalk, and I was walking across. The under way, with ads appearing These ads on Duluth Transit Authority buses remind drivers Tomorrow: driver did not see me.I had to this month on Duluth Trans- that it is state law to stop for pedestrians at street corners. The Mostly sunny stick my hand out, and they portation Authority buses. campaign is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Trans- High: 60 Low: 41 stopped in time.” See Share, Page A6 portation. Clint Austin / [email protected] Page A4 Duluth News Tribune | Monday, September 24, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

"Methadone Number of opioid treatment clinics and patients in the U.S. “If you’re so concerned about the growth of Continued from Page A1 the private sector in methadone treatment, Increase, 2003-2010 what are you doing to counter that? What Some of Jarvinen’s stu- 2000 dents have gone on to work Facilities that offer methadone treatment 1,620 are you advocating?” at the Lake Superior Treat- 1500 Mark Parrino, president of the American Association for the ment Center. Jarvinen said 1,137 Treatment of Opioid Dependence those students have shared 955 19.1% concerns with him about the 1000 Private for-profit clinic, saying counselors 617 of all services, this one is a financial journalist who have high patient loads and 428 44.2% singled out to be damned for has looked at the economics aren’t able to provide the 500 2.3% the profit motive,” he said. of methadone for the publi- counseling needed to go 386 Private nonprofit 395 Newman, like Parrino, cation he founded, Treat- with the methadone. said the public sector should ment Magazine. An The director of the Lake 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 step up to the plate, and he alternative opiate treatment Superior Treatment Center applied his argument to Du- called Suboxone works bet- did not return repeated Total clients receiving methadone luth. ter, he said, and can be pre- phone calls for comment. A “The fact that people say: scribed by certified doctors, representative for Colonial 227,003 240,961 235,836 258,752 262,684 268,071 284,608 299,643 32.0% ‘Well, we’ve only got one meaning a visit to an addic- Management Group, which clinic and it’s a profit- tion clinic isn’t required. owns the Lake Superior SOURCE: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, News Tribune Analysis NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS making clinic and we’re con- The problem with Subox- Treatment Center along cerned about it,’” Newman one is that it’s a brand-name with more than 50 other clin- doesn’t suggest a lust for ex- said, “Hey, OK, I’ll accept all drug and much more expen- ics across the country, told your reservations. What are sive than methadone, Jack- the News Tribune from cess profits. Dr. Robert Newman of Methadone you doing about it? There’s son said. But when a generic Florida that the company Online extra no reason why Duluth could version becomes available, does not speak to the media. New York, who has worked in addiction treatment in the ! not develop a methadone cost will be less of a factor. However, Payte, who has Read the entire series at treatment alternative for It’s not clear when that oversight of the treatment public sector for 40 years, duluthnewstribune.com. said methadone shouldn’t be Acostly fix everybody who wants it.” will happen. U.S. patent pro- standards for Colonial Man- Even if there is a monop- tection for the Suboxone agement Group’s Minnesota considered a cure but a maintenance drug, much SEPT. 16: SUNDAY: oly, it doesn’t mean clients tablet ran out in 2009, ac- clinics, did speak with the The drug: Costs associated Completion: About 5 percent are paying too much, Par- cording to an October 2011 News Tribune. like giving insulin to diabet- ics or medication to an with methadone treatment of methadone patients in rino said. article in Bloomberg news. Payte, who has worked in continue to rise in Minnesota. Minnesota finish treatment. “If you figure the average But the manufacturer, methadone treatment for 40 epileptic. Once an individual has charge for a private patient Reckitt Benckiser of Great years and before working SEPT. 17: TODAY: in a private clinic per week Britain, introduced a Subox- with Colonial Management been addicted to heroin, Abuse: Some addicts say Profits: More than half of the there’s always a risk of re- is anywhere between $70 to one strip that dissolves operated two clinics in methadone is their preferred country’s methadone clinics $90 per week — while that’s on the tongue, which has Texas, said he’s careful to lapse, Newman said. Be- cause of that, if his own son drug of choice. are for-profit. not a national standard, it’s patent protection until 2025. make sure that the com- a sort of ballpark figure,” Reckitt marketed the film pany’s desire to make money or daughter were using SEPT. 18: COMING TUESDAY: methadone for an addiction Costs: About half of The clinic: Former staff Parrino said. “A re you see- version by offering U.S. con- doesn’t interfere with the ing programs charging sumers $45 per month to- care provided. and considered getting methadone patients in the members of the methadone weaned off, “I would beg much greater than that? ward their co-payments, He said nonprofit pro- state get their treatment free. clinic in Duluth speak out. Like $150 or $200 per week? Bloomberg reported. The grams can end up charging them not to,” he said. “The first time you shoot up again Not to my knowledge.” company introduced the more fees, are less con- Clients at the Lake Supe- Suboxone film in September cerned with competition, or the first time you use some kind of prescription the decision to wean them private programs will focus rior Treatment Center are 2010, and within the first provide less supervision of off the methadone should be more on how do they in- charged about $17 to $22 a half-year,it accounted for 41 methadone use and “don’t narcotic, you can die of an overdose.” very carefully considered.” crease their margin of profit day, or $119 to $154 a week, percent of the drug’s sales. seem to be as sensitive to the rather than do they offer ad- Patients are taken off NO PUBLIC-SECTOR ALTERNATIVE according to patient records In the face of that suc- needs of patients.” ditional services to patients. methadone, but it’s not a Of the 1,137 clinics in the examined by the News Trib- cess, so far no manufacturer “In the for-profit model, “I said, ‘But tell me, if quick fix, said Nick Reuter, U.S., 54 percent are for-profit une and data provided to the has offered a generic version there is a greater opportu- you’re so concerned about public health analyst for the like the Duluth clinic. Par- newspaper by Medica and of the Suboxone tablet. But nity to deviate or be a little the growth of the private Substance Abuse and Men- rino said that percentage is the Minnesota Department there’s nothing to prevent more creative in providing sector in methadone treat- tal Health Services Adminis- growing because the public of Human Services. State them from doing so. If the the services,” he said. “I was ment, what are you doing to tration. The average length sector isn’t doing its share. data suggests that the aver- generic does become avail- a little suspicious in moving counter that? What are you of treatment is 6.8 years, he He said he has heard from age cost to treat a patient on able, methadone treatment to the corporate model. But I advocating?’” said. state legislators complaining methadone is about $3,000 a centers likely would face a was pleasantly surprised. I Newman, who directs the “There are patients who that methadone treatment year. loss of business. feel like the treatment can biggest methadone treat- are now in their 80s who centers are making profit the As for the future, Jackson co-exist with the business ment program in the coun- SUCCESSOR TO METHADONE? have been continuing treat- central motive and keeping said: “I consider the side of it.” try at New York’s Beth Israel Whatever success Colo- ment for 30 or 40 years,” people in treatment longer methadone clinic business Medical Center, put it more nial Management Group and REASONS TO STAY ON METHADONE Reuter said. “What we put in than they need to. to be an extremely risky bluntly in defending his for- other methadone providers Other experts say that our guidelines is that as long “I said, ‘That’s possible,’” business.” profit colleagues. experience will be short- lengthy time in treatment as somebody is in recovery, Parrino recounted. “Some “I don’t understand why, lived, predicts Ted Jackson,

Piedmont has a family "Schools liaison this year who will do Continued from Page A1 things like deliver report cards, call parents and get “This is giving teachers them more involved in the the opportunity to do things school. they didn’t think they could Lincoln Park this year is do before,” said Morin, who using co-teachers for its herself was part of the special-education math and change. reading classes and for one One stipulation of the science class. grant was that principals “We can do some reteach- who had been employed at ing of different parts of the priority schools for more lesson for students who need than two years be replaced. it, and maybe help student Morin had been assistant break projects down into principal for Proctor’s mid- smaller pieces,” Principal dle and high school last year. Denise Clairmont said. The previous Bay View prin- The school has integra- cipal, Jon Larson, accepted tion specialists, a commu- the position as the school’s nity liaison and an family liaison and the dis- after-school homework club. trict’s federal program coor- It has also amped up reading dinator. instruction in sixth grade “It was a very difficult de- and increased reading com- cision,” Superintendent prehension work in all sub- John Engelking said. “With- ject areas in seventh and out Jon being willing to say, eighth grades. The goal for ‘Look, let me help with this,’ math, Clairmont said, is for (the plan) wouldn’t have students to reach a certain been as successful.” proficiency on every test. Glockle began at Laura “If not, there will be MacArthur last January and Laura MacArthur fourth-grade teacher Brian Gunderson lines his students up with their shoulder buddies before leading them some classroom re-teaching was able to remain in his po- from his classroom last week. Setting clearly defined expectations for behavior is one way the school hopes to improve its stu- or some after-school help, or sition. maybe a group that will dents’ test scores. Photos by Steve Kuchera / [email protected] work on a specific skill with CLASSROOM CHANGES a specific teacher,” she said. Students at both schools achievement gap. have seen changes in their The achievement gap is IS IT ENOUGH? daily routine, especially the disparity between white Morin was stunned, she when it comes to reading students and other ethnic said, when she learned that and math. groups; students who re- Bay View had been ranked At Bay View, there are 60 ceive special education serv- in the bottom 5 percent of more minutes a day of math ices and those who don’t; schools in the state for and reading for all grades. In students who live in poverty achievement. October, a voluntary after- and those who don’t; and “I know the quality of school program will begin, students learning English teachers here,” she said. “I centered on enriched learn- and those who speak it as see great things coming out ing led by teachers and with their native language. of this place. How could this busing provided. A new Focus schools weren’t eli- happen to us?” summer program starts in gible for grants, but they had What’s been put into June. to submit improvement place this year comes with On Wednesday at Bay Bay View elementary school Proctor superintendent John Laura MacArthur principlal plans to the state and set new understanding of the View, Julie Lysher’s fourth- principal Diane Morin. Engelking. Nathan Glockle. aside 20 percent of federal achievement gap, she said, grade class was in the mid- Title I money for such work. and support from parents and teachers. dle of its extra hour of are other adults they can go appropriate and focused. If also include teachers. Only low-income, or “They don’t like this math, split into small groups to right away. We are able to students aren’t any of those “When I surveyed teach- Title I, schools received des- label, either,” she said. working on specific skills, give them more attention.” things, he said, it’s lost in- ers,it was clear they wanted ignations.The state also “They want to see change. with two special education At Laura MacArthur, stu- structional time. to learn from each other,” named “reward” schools for We have to approach this teachers and a Title I dents will also get more indi- One of those “quick- Glockle said. “When I look high achievement. Pied- from a positive angle that we teacher also in the vidualized instruction in wins” that the school started at everything I’ve ever be- mont’s plan includes small- can get this done.I know we 27-student classroom. Part of reading and math, and more the year with, Glockle said, lieved, it is being put into group tutoring opportunities are able.” the improvement plan focus is being put on behav- is something called “shoul- practice right now. To create for at-risk students three Whether educators stick means having more educa- ior. der buddies.” Before enter- a community where teach- times a week and reading to the plan will “make or tors in classrooms during “When we looked at ing hallways for things like ers are learning alongside materials that have the same break us,” Glockle said. some math and reading Laura MacArthur, expecta- bathroom breaks, students students — that’s a dream.” covers but different levels of “Right now I can safely classes. tions for learning and behav- pair up shoulder-to-shoulder instruction inside, so stu- FOCUS SCHOOLS say teachers want to be suc- “We’re only in the second ior had dropped,” Glockle with a buddy and stay with dents in the same class don’t Duluth’s Lincoln Park cessful,” he said. “We had a week and getting our rou- said. “We weren’t sure how them in an orderly line as know what level other stu- Middle School and Piedmont summer retreat and talked tine down, but already (the to work with some of the be- they continue down the hall. dents are reading at, said Elementary were designated about where we are going to students) are so much more haviors we were seeing.” Students also might no- Principal Obst. as “focus” schools as part of be in three years. Our goal is engaged,” Lysher said. So,along with raising tice principals coming “It’s to push up reading,” the state’s new accountabil- to be a reward school. There “They don’t have to wait for achievement, Glockle said, through their classrooms she said, noting that many of ity system, meaning they is no thought of failure.” someone to make it all the educators are working on more often to observe. At the interventions began last are among the schools most way around the room. There students being cooperative, Laura MacArthur, that will year. responsible for the state’s “Right now I can safely say teachers want to be successful. We had a summer retreat and talked about where we are going to be in three years. Our goal is to be a reward school. There is no thought of failure.”

Laura MacArthur principlal Nathan Glockle DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuneibune Tuesday, September 25, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 90,000 readers every weekday$1 State revoking clinic’s license

Duluth’s Lake Superior Treatment Center will be the first methadone clinic in Minnesota to have its license revoked if an order by a state agency stands

BRANDON STAHL [email protected] The state of Minnesota says it will revoke the license for Duluth’s methadone clinic after what it said were numerous chronic and serious viola- tions of state and federal laws, according to an order issued Monday. The order follows years of problems at the Lake Superior Treatment Center, as detailed in a News Tribune investigation first published on Sept. 16. It’s the first time the state has revoked a methadone clinic’s license, according to the De- partment of Human Services. Since 2007, no other methadone clinic in the state has been cited for more violations of state and federal regulations, records show. Among those violations: failing to check that patients were properly using take-home doses of methadone — high-level doses of the drug that are popular on the street; providing false information to investigators; and overworking counselors by giving them case loads of 80 clients — 30 more than federal law allows. The clinic had 419 patients as of this week, according to the DHS. The revocation is effective at 6 p.m. on Oct. 8. The clinic can appeal the decision before then. People line up at 5:15 on a recent morning outside the Lake Superior Treatment Center in Duluth. The Minnesota Department of Human See Clinic, Page A4 Services has announced it will revoke the center’s license on Oct. 8. Bob King / [email protected]

SEPT. 16 The drug: The costs associ- Methadone ated with methadone treat- Patients predict increase in crime ment continue to rise in Minnesota. Acostly fix BRANDON STAHL ■ and at a slow pace, with dose ment of Human Services, SEPT. 17 [email protected] Former employees describe strength reduced week by which moved to revoke the Abuse: Some addicts say MONDAY working conditions at clinic week, or even month by clinic’s license, has no firm Profits: More than half of the If the Lake Superior ■ methadone is their preferred Treatment Center closes on Violations found at other month. plan for what to do with the drug of choice. country’s methadone clinics Oct. 8, current and former Minnesota methadone clinics Several opiate addicts Treatment Center’s 400-plus are for-profit. patients said they expect Pages A4 & A5 have told the News Tribune patients, but they are looking SEPT. 18 that it’s harder to come off for options. TODAY street crime to increase as Costs: About half of methadone than heroin. “I can’t tell the clients Violations: The state of Min- addicts seek other ways to methadone patients in the Methadone is used to re- “They’re going to get re- there today where exactly nesota says it will revoke the get drugs. state get their treatment “There’s going to be a lot place addicts’ use of opiate- ally sick,” said Jason Aebli, they’re going to go,” said license of Duluth’s free. more violence, more home based drugs such as heroin who has been a patient at the Anne Barry, a DHS deputy methadone clinic. invasions, more deaths,” said or narcotic painkillers such clinic for the past 2½ years. commissioner. “Simultane- SUNDAY Bridgett Tadych, who has as OxyContin. But meth- “There are going to be a lot of ously, we are looking at what Completion: Only about To see all the stories in the been going to the clinic since adone also is highly addic- people who are not going to the capacities are for other 5 percent of methadone pa- series “Methadone: A costly 2008. “People are going to go tive, and people on treatment be able to go to work, who are providers, and what are tients in Minnesota finish fix,” go to www.duluth back to what they were who come off the drug are not going to be able to take other solutions.” treatment. newstribune.com. doing. There will be crime, supposed to do so under the care of their kids.” more people in jails.” supervision of a physician The Minnesota Depart- See Effect, Page A4 Couple charged with neglect in child’s drowning Zoo cited for inadequate

STEVE KUCHERA in death. The and tried to find her parents. [email protected] shelter for farm animals complaint in the “Ultimately, Williams walked Thomas Jay Williams, 42, and case, filed Fri- up from the dam,” where he is MIKE CREGER Jenna Elizabeth Danish, 33, of day, alleges that the caretaker, the complaint said. [email protected] Danbury, Wis., had a habit of al- Williams was a “When Sperling told Williams regular drug she had found (Reena) all the way The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited the lowing their 3-year-old daughter, user who on Third Avenue, a half-mile Lake Superior Zoo for inadequate shelter for its farm Reena, to wander away — as she smoked syn- away from the Williams-Danish animals at the West Duluth facility. The zoo has since did, twice, on the day she thetic marijuana premises, Williams did not seem satisfied the USDA’ s demand that the zoo provide ade- WILLIAMS drowned, according to a criminal shortly before REENA WILLIAMS concerned and in fact acted as if quate shelter at its farm animal exhibit. complaint filed against them in Reena disap- it was ‘no big deal,’ in Sperling’s Six sheep and four goats died at the zoo during the Burnett County Circuit Court. peared. words. Williams seemed incoher- June flooding that devastated the region. The routine Reena’s disappearance Aug. 14 According to the complaint, ent to Sperling and seemed in inspection by the USDA on Aug. 28 found that a “lack of sparked a massive search. Her Wanda Sperling found Reena fact to ignore what Sperling was adequate shelter does not ensure the health, well-being body was found in a canal walking alone a half-mile from saying.” and/or comfort of the animals.” 25 yards from the family’s home home, looking for her mother, After Sperling returned home, Peter Pruett, director of zoo operations, said most of the next day. about 5 p.m. on the day she disap- a neighbor told her that Reena the protection for the animals is out of the zoo’s hands Williams and Danish have peared. Sperling brought Reena was “missing again.” as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources each been charged with a single to the Williams-Danish home, works to improve the drainage of Kingsbury Creek, DANISH count of child neglect resulting which is surrounded by water, See Drown, Page A5 which flows through the zoo property at Grand Avenue and 72nd Avenue West. Dave Sacks, a spokesman for the USDA, confirmed that the citation was addressed and corrected by the zoo. He did not know what that entailed. Pruett said mitigating the flooding in the zoo is the Packers lose on controversial ultimate solution. The culvert under Grand Avenue will be improved and a dam on the creek removed through projects in the call by replacement officials next two years, Pruett said. The zoo also will stretch the flood plain of the creek and build diversion channels around its historic bridges to avoid water backups. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (right, obscured) comes down The barn for the farm animals is well above the with the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and a win as time runs out flood plain, Pruett said, and animals will no longer be Monday night in Seattle. The final decision is only going to fuel debate about housed in the plain. the replacement officials coming off a weekend filled with disputed calls. Pruett said the citation had to be done after the ani- None will be debated more than this one. Seattle (2-1) won its second straight, mal deaths,but he is sure the work on the creek and the while Green Bay (1-2) saw its streak of wins in six straight road openers snapped. infrastructure on it will alleviate flooding and keep the Photo by Ted S. Warren / Associated Press animals safe. “USDA is taking no further action with regards to this incident,” Sacks said.

Get home delivery (218) 723-5252 Weather or (800) 456-8080 Muslim nations seek curbs on anti-Islam speech News tips PAUL RICHTER (218) 723-5300 Prompted by the anti- souring the mood at a gath- lamic groups such as the McClatchy Newspapers Muslim video produced in ering that diplomats had Organization for Islamic Contents UNITED NATIONS — California that has stirred hoped would yield new col- Cooperation, and leaders as Classifieds D1-3 Today: Mostly The annual U.N. General deadly riots around the laboration on Syria, the dis- diverse as Turkish Prime Comics C7 sunny Assembly meeting, which is world, delegations from pute over Iran’s nuclear Minister Tayyip Recep Er- Games C6 High: 59 Low: 38 intended to celebrate the major Muslim nations have development and the chal- dogan, Egyptian President Lotteries A2 world’s common values, arrived at the U.N. prepared lenges newly elected gov- Mohamed Morsi, and Iran- Obituaries C5 this year is exposing in- to demand international ernments face a year after ian President Mahmoud Opinion A6-7 stead the gulf between curbs on speech or media the “A rab Spring” toppled Ahmadinejad. Sports B Western and Islamic per- that they believe defame authoritarian rulers in the Erdogan, whom Obama views as a key ally, has de- spectives on freedom of their religion or the Middle East and North TV listings D4 clared that all 57 Islamic na- expression, posing an unex- Prophet Muhammad. Africa. Tomorrow: Mostly tions “should speak pected challenge for Presi- Western leaders say they The demand for limits sunny forcefully with one voice,” won’t give ground on free on anti-Islamic expression High: 58 Low: 38 dent Obama when he speaks there today. speech, but the clash is is coming from leading Is- See Speech, back page Page A4 Duluth News Tribune | Tuesday, September 25, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

How clinics fared in Measuring Minnesota’s methadone clinics Reason for discharge How patients fared 30 days after discharge national treatment measurements Using data from 2007 to 2010, the most recent year available, the News Tribune looked Number of years Number of years at statistics the Minnesota Department of Human Services uses to measure the Increase/ patients showed patients showed effectiveness of the state's methadone clinics by comparing patients before and after Increase/ Increase/ decrease in improvement in improvement in they're discharged from treatment. Average Average left Increase/ decrease in drug decrease in relapse and National Outcome Dimensions of completed without staff decrease use 30 days resistance continued use Measures* Addiction Measures** Clinic Address program approval in arrests after discharge to change potenial (max is four) (max is four)

Alliance Clinic 3329 University Ave., Minneapolis 3.9 37.3 74.1% -31% 92% 0.8% 4 0 Dakota Treatment Center 11939 River Hills Drive, Burnsville 2.3 45.5 110.7% -38% 55% -8.3% 3 1 Hennepin County Addiction Medicine Program 914 S. Eighth St., Minneapolis 5.5 46.2 265.7% -37% 151% 2.6% 4 1 Hennepin Faculty Associates Addiction Program 807 Park Ave., Minneapolis 6.3 41.2 391.0% -26% 106% -9.2% 1 0 Lake Superior Treatment Center 14 E. Central Entrance, Duluth 6.2 43.3 297.2% -57% 52% -18.4% 2 1 Rochester Metro Treatment Center 2360 North Broadway, Rochester 5.0 42.9 176.3% -35% 142% 0.1% 3 1 Specialized Treatment Services 1121 Jackson St., NE, Suite 105, Minneapolis 13.4 43.6 59.5% -49% 27% -7.8% 4 2 Specialized Treatment Services 1132 Central Ave., NE, Minneapolis 3.8 54.9 194.0% -25% 17% -1.0% 1 1 St. Cloud Metro Treatment Center 524 25th Ave. , St. Cloud 8.6 41.5 55.2% -88% -1% -11.0% 4 3 St. Paul Metro Treatment Center 2311 Woodbridge St., Roseville 2.3 50.5 1490.8% -43% 9% -6.7% 3 2 Valhalla Place 6043 Hudson Road, Woodbury 7.0 40.2 82.8% -43% 70% -8.5% 4 3

Averages 5.8 44.3 291% -43% 65% -6% 3 1

* National Outcomes Measures looks at patients’ performance before and after discharge, such as homelessness, arrest, alcohol and drug use ** Dimensions of Addiction records patient performance in areas such as withdrawal severity, biomedical changes and emotional problems

SOURCE: Minnesota Department of Human Services, News Tribune analysis NEWS TRIBUNE GRAPHICS Former employees describe years of problems at clinic

BRANDON STAHL while the staff members methadone and little else, plies of the drug were using mit to quality improvement, could count only seven in [email protected] said counseling was offered, said Greta Winter, who it properly — were rarely focus on the unique needs of the eight years she worked Problems at the Lake Su- it was at most about 20 min- worked there from August done, said Winter. each person the provider at the clinic; Winter counted perior Treatment Center utes a week. 2008 to May 2009 and then The DHS also cited the serves, and monitor the re- five. date back to at least 2003, The reason for the lim- again from January 2010 to clinic for failing to ade- sults of services,” according From 2007 to 2010, DHS about two years after the ited amount of counseling, September 2011. quately perform bottle to the CARF website. data indicates that about clinic opened, according to said LeAnn Ryan, who Group therapy sessions checks and adequately con- Whitehurst declined to 6 percent of the Lake Supe- eight former clinic staff worked at the Treatment mandated by the state “did duct urine tests. comment on the state find- rior Treatment Center’s pa- members who spoke to the Center from 2003 to 2011, not happen,” said Winter, Dr. Tom Payte, a corpo- ings at the Lake Superior tients were weaned off News Tribune. was that counselors were who is now a chemical de- rate medical director for Treatment Center. methadone. However, that’s In 2003, when Kathy not only expected to provide pendency counselor in De- Colonial Management Area narcotics investiga- one percentage point higher Jarve said she started as a the therapy but do all the pa- troit Lakes, Minn. Group, which owns the Lake tors told the News Tribune than the state average dur- counselor at the treatment perwork and patient intake, Indeed, among the viola- Superior Treatment Center that they’ve long had prob- ing that time. center, the clinic had about verify insurance, answer tions cited by the Minnesota along with more than 50 lems with drug-dealing Proponents of 90 patients. Even then, she phones and do the drug Department of Human Serv- other clinics across the among people who also are methadone treatment say and the other counselor had tests. And as the number of ices was a lack of group country, said he had never patients at the Lake Supe- lifetime treatment with the too many clients to ade- clients increased, so did the therapy. heard about the violations at rior Treatment Center. drug should still be consid- demands on the counselors, the Duluth clinic before “You talk to people who ered effective as long as pa- quately provide other serv- REPORTS OF DRUG SALES said Jarve and Ryan. being contacted by the News have gone there,” said Clo- tients are able to live normal ices to them, Jarve said. Another concern the for- “It was like you couldn’t Tribune. quet Police Detective Darrin lives and don’t abuse the “It was about bringing mer staff members said they keep up with the demand “I’m sorry to hear that all Berg, “(and they say) you medication. them in and getting them had: knowing the clinic’s coming into the clinic,” is not well with that depart- have a line of people stand- Jarve and Ryan said for dosed,” said Jarve, who clients were selling Jarve said. ment,” Payte said. “But I’ve ing there, talking about dope several years they never worked at the clinic until methadone on the streets never seen a situation that deals and trades.” brought their concerns to 2006 and is now the outpa- LONG LINES; ‘HURRY TREATMENT’ but able to do little about it. was beyond repair, but some- He added: “When you’re the attention of the DHS. tient treatment director for “It was all people did was Winter said she would times you need to make dealing with individuals In March 2002 and August Minnesota Teen Challenge run,” said Ryan, who also is often see clients appearing some changes.… You cer- who are using, selling, even 2004, the DHS released re- in Duluth. now a counselor with Teen to be selling doses near the tainly can expect to bring arrested for other crimes,I ports on the clinic, finding For methadone mainte- Challenge. “You could have clinic and would find nee- the clinic in line with state would have to say a large only minor violations. The nance therapy to be effec- someone in your office cry- dles nearby, a sign of and federal standards. number of those people are DHS did not have inspection tive, according to the ing and have someone methadone abuse, since There’s no excuse for some involved with the reports for the clinic from American Society of Addic- knocking on your door.” clients drink liquid take- of those types of infrac- methadone clinic.” 2004 to 2009, though inspec- tion Medicine, the drug They blamed part of the home doses. tions.” tions are supposed to be per- should be given with “psy- problem on federal law, If it was discovered that 6 PERCENT COMPLETION RATE The Lake Superior Treat- formed annually. chology and vocational serv- which allows up to 50 clients clients were selling Former Lake Superior ment Center has been ac- Eventually, Jarve, Winter ices, medical care and per counselor. That number methadone, they would be Treatment Center coun- credited by the Commission and Ryan said they spoke counseling.” must be reduced so coun- kicked out of the program selors said they told center on Accreditation of Rehabil- with DHS investigators and “With methadone, if all selors can spend more time or their take-home doses management they were con- itation Facilities since 2006 provided records to them at you’re doing is giving people with patients, Jarve and would be stopped, the for- cerned that few patients and was reaccredited for a various times from 2009 to medication and very little Ryan said. Records show the mer staff members said. But were weaned off methadone. three-year term in 2012, ac- 2012, hoping to bring change else, and there’s no real ex- treatment center was cited measures to prevent drug Jarve said in the four cording to CARF spokesman to the clinic. pectations on improving of for having a client-to- sales were taken too infre- years she was there, she Al Whitehurst. functional activities and im- counselor ratio of higher quently, they said. For exam- could only remember about To achieve CARF accredi- proving in your other life than 50-1 in 2009 and 2012. ple: six clients who completed tation, facilities must “com- spheres, you’re going to have “You have to build a rap- ᔢ Urine analysis, meant the treatment. Ryan said she many more problems,” said port with clients. You have to check whether patients Dr. Marvin Seppala, the to establish trust, and a good had drugs other than chief medical officer at working relationship, and methadone in their systems, Hazelden, a well-known alco- that takes time to do,” Jarve was supposed to be done hol and drug addiction treat- said. “This place was hurry once a month. Instead, it ment center northeast of treatment. We had lines that would happen, at most, Forest Lake, Minn. would circle around the every two to three months, But vocational services waiting room.” Winter said. were rarely offered at the With limited counseling ᔢ Bottle checks of take- Lake Superior Treatment provided, the clinic became home methadone — meant Center while they were “a dose and go” — slang for to ensure that patients who there, former staff members a clinic that provides were receiving large sup- told the News Tribune. And

repeat violations, including nial, Dr. Tom Payte, who !Clinic having excessive counselor works out of Texas, did Continued from Page A1 caseloads, not properly con- speak with the News Trib- trolling take-home doses, not une. Payte said he didn’t If it does, state law allows doing background checks on know about the revocation for the clinic to remain open counselors before hiring until he was contacted by and continue serving pa- them, failing to document the newspaper. tients until the issue can be treatment and procedures, He said the revocation decided by an administra- and having inadequate pro- could have disastrous conse- tive law judge, according to cedures for reporting possi- quences for the clinic’s pa- DHS Deputy Commissioner ble maltreatment of tients and the community. Anne Barry. children and vulnerable The patients “will die, Barry said if the clinic adults. overdose or go to jail,” Payte stays open during the appeal Inspectors also found in- said. “Some will just resume process, it will be subject to stances where clients were their illicit habits. unscheduled and random given increased dosages of “This is like suicide,” he site visits by DHS inspec- methadone without any rea- said. “It’s a cowardly way tors. She said if additional son or physicians’ order for out.” serious problem are found, the increase. The News Tribune began DHS can then move to im- “Many of the 56 viola- running its investigative se- mediately close the facility. tions are violations of law or Barry said she did not rule affecting the health, ries on methadone treat- know if an appeal had been safety or rights of individu- ment on Sept. 16. The filed as of Monday after- als served by the program,” newspaper reported that the noon. the report said. drug has killed nearly 400 The clinic’s license al- The clinic is owned by Minnesotans in the past 10 ready was on conditional the Florida-based Colonial years, including 39 in St. status because of violations Management Group. Admin- Louis and Carlton counties; found in a March inspection. istrators there could not be that few patients complete Many of those were repeats immediately reached for methadone treatment; that of violations found in 2009 comment and have previ- the drug has been easily di- inspections. ously told the News Tribune verted and sold on area According to Monday’s that the company does not streets; and the cost to tax-

order, inspectors reviewed speak to the media. payers for the treatment R001758423 the clinic on Aug. 2 and 3 However, a corporate since 2005 has been about and again found numerous medical director for Colo- $43 million.

health care. clients that we know of, that !Effect Barry also said the state we’re aware of,” Busche Continued from Page A1 would look into having other said. “A nd we’ll work with health-care providers in the the state to develop a plan. Member FDIC Those solutions include region provide methadone We are hopeful and confi- transporting patients to services on a temporary dent that the state is devel- other methadone providers, basis, but those providers oping a plan for these but the closest one is in would have to show they individuals.” Brainerd. Most methadone meet state and federal guide- Aebli, who said patients, especially those lines to provide those serv- methadone has helped turn new to treatment, need to ices. his life around, predicted take a dose of methadone at St. Louis County’s direc- that the problem of illegal the clinic each day. tor of human services, Ann sales of prescribed doses That would be burden- Busche, said she would look will seem minor compared some to clients and costly to to the state for how to deal to what will happen if the taxpayers, as the state pays with the majority of the Du- clinic closes. for transportation for clients luth clinic’s clients. “Some people are going to who are on state-funded “We’ll work with all the die because of this,” he said. duluthnewstribune.com Duluth News Tribune | Tuesday, September 25, 2012 Page A5 Overview of violations at other Nepal avalanche hit climbers Minnesota methadone clinics as they were asleep in tents

BRANDON STAHL dicate that comprehensive eral patients weren’t prop- BINAJ GURUBACHARYA [email protected] assessments were being erly assessed for treatment Associated Press conducted. or given required treatment The Lake Superior KATMANDU, Nepal — Fine: None information; others did not Treatment Center is far Mountaineers who survived have treatment plans up- from the only methadone DAKOTA TREATMENT CENTER a predawn avalanche high dated as often as required. clinic in Minnesota to be Report date: Dec. 9, 2011 on the world’s eighth-tallest Fine: cited for serious violations Violations included: None peak say they waited an of state and federal laws. Client continued to receive ST. CLOUD METRO TREATMENT hour for the sun to rise and Since 2007, the state’s De- take-home doses of CENTER then saw pieces of tents and partment of Human Serv- methadone despite failing a Report date: Aug. 8, bodies of victims strewn ices cited clinics in urine test; several client 2007 around them on the snow. Minnesota for more than files did not include docu- Violations included: Italian climber Silvio 250 violations after inspec- mentation of treatment Counselor file did not con- Mondinelli said he and a fel- tions by investigators, even progress; counselors super- tain adequate information low mountaineer were though the majority of vised more than 50 clients to determine competency; asleep when they heard a vi- those inspections were an- at a time. some patient treatment olent sound and felt their nounced beforehand to the Fine: None plans not being updated. tent start to slide. clinics, a News Tribune re- Report date: May 3, 2010 “It was only a few sec- view found. Fine: None Violations included: onds and we did not know When serious violations Note: The DHS did not A helicopter carries survivors from the debris field of an ava- Numerous clients were not what happened, but we had were found, the penalties provide inspection reports lanche on Mount Manaslu in northern Nepal that killed at least properly assessed for appro- slid more than 200 meters levied were modest. Lying of the program after Aug. 8, nine climbers on Sunday. Garrett Madison, Alpine Ascents priate treatment plans; (650 feet),” Mondinelli told to investigators was met 2007. International / Associated Press some client treatment plans the Associated Press on with a $200 fine, the same as did not include how they ST. PAUL METRO TREATMENT Monday. “A ll we wanted was when a clinic hired a coun- could walk made their way could complete treatment. CENTER for it to stop.” selor without doing back- CHINA down to the base camp while Fine: None Report date: Oct. 18, The avalanche hit at ground check. Report date: April 19, 2011 those who were injured were “The fines aren’t huge,” about 4 a.m. Sunday while Avalanche 2010 Violations included: more than two dozen picked up by helicopters. said Jerry Kerber, the in- Violations included: During an investigation, the climbers were sleeping in At least three of the vic- spector general for the DHS. Treatment director did not NEPAL clinic was unable to locate a tents at Camp 3 on Mount Kathmandu tiA total of 231 climbers and “It’s what the state law al- have required qualifica- client file; the program Manaslu in northern Nepal. BHUTAN guides were on the moun- lows us to issue.” tions. The center provided knowingly provided false At least nine climbers tain, but not all were at the Most often, however, false information to the and misleading information higher camps hit by the ava- fines weren’t levied, despite were killed and six are be- INDIA DHS, telling the agency that to investigators; client files BANGL. lanche. clinics repeatedly violating lieved still missing. Many of it would remove the direc- were falsified. Nepal Mountaineering state regulations. Most clin- the 10 survivors were in- Dhaka tor, but the director contin- Fine: $900 0 100 mi Department chief Balkris- ics were ordered to correct jured and were flown to hos- ued in that position. Report date: July 20, han Ghimire identified the the violations in 30 days. pitals by rescue helicopters. 0 100 km Fine: $200 2011 eight recovered bodies as Even if repeat violations Helicopters flew over the SOURCE: ESRI AP Violations included: Fabrice Priez, Philippe Lu- were found, many clinics HENNEPIN FACULTY ASSOCIATES slopes on Monday to search cien Bos, Catherine Marie still didn’t face fines or ADDICTION MEDICINE PROGRAM, Patient given take-home for the missing moun- Italians were flown there on sanctions on their license. MINNEAPOLIS doses of methadone despite taineers as climbers and Monday — Mondinelli, who Andree Richard and Lu- Clinics can go years be- Report date: May 20, failing a drug screen; group guides searched on foot. Res- has climbed the world’s 14 dovic Paul Nicolas Challeat tween state inspections, the 2011 counseling not being of- cuers brought down eight highest peaks, and fellow of France; German Chris- News Tribune found. State Violations included: fered. bodies — four French, one mountaineer Christian tian Mittermeyer; Italian Al- inspection records show no Program provided false in- Fine: None each from Germany, Italy Gobbi. berto Magliano; Spaniard report on the Lake Superior formation to investigators; Report date: May 20, and Spain and a Nepali Mondinelli said a third Marti Roirg Gasull; and Treatment Center between some counselors were not 2011 guide — and were trying to Italian climber and their Nepali Dawa Dorji. 2004 and 2009. Though DHS licensed. Violations included: retrieve the ninth from the Sherpa guide were sleeping Nepal has eight of the 14 administrators said the Fine: $1,100 Clinic was not participating 22,960-foot-high area where in another tent and both highest peaks in the world. agency’s goal is to inspect ROCHESTER METRO TREATMENT in state system measuring the avalanche struck, police were buried by the ava- Climbers have said in recent clinics every two years, the CENTER treatment outcomes for Chief Basanta Bahadur lanche and died. years that conditions on the agency also said there is no Report date: Aug. 30, chemical dependency Kuwar said. Gobbi said they were able mountains have deterio- statutory requirement for 2011 providers. Three French climbers to assist the injured with the rated and risks of accidents how often clinics must be Violations included: Fine: None and two Germans were help of Sherpa guides who have increased, with some inspected. Clinic failed to perform a Report date: April 27, transported to hospitals in came up from lower moun- blaming global warming. Kerber said the lag in background check on a 2010 Kathmandu on Sunday. Two tain camps. Climbers who inspections was due to the counselor before being Violations included: “lack of resources at DHS.” hired. Counselors were supervis- “A t the same time, we do Fine: $200 ing more than 50 clients at a the complaint said. Danish Reena was reported miss- follow up on complaints Report date: Aug. 30, time. Drown told another person that she ing shortly before 7 p.m. on that we’ve received, but the 2007 ! Fine: None was sleeping at the time. Aug. 14. Law enforcement, results of those don’t al- Violations included: Continued from Page A1 Report date: March 22, Searches of the Williams- rescue personnel and volun- ways take the form of a cor- No documentation of re- 2010 Sperling returned to the Danish house found drug teers searched the area that rection order,” he said. quired training for some Violations included: Williams-Danish residence, paraphernalia and synthetic night, aided by K-9 units and Of the state’s nine outpa- counselors; some client files Counselors supervising where she found a dog soak- and real marijuana. A sheet a Minnesota State Patrol hel- tient methadone clinics, five had no documentation more than 50 clients at a ing wet. was hung over the windows icopter equipped with an in- are owned by the Florida- showing they were address- time. “Neither Williams nor facing the canal, “com- frared imaging system. The based Colonial Manage- ing their treatment goals. Fine: None Danish seemed upset and pletely blocking the view of Wisconsin Department of ment Group, including the Fine: None Report date: Nov. 2, 2009 neither were looking for” Lake Superior Treatment the canal from the inside of Natural Resources searched SPECIALIZED TREATMENT Violations included: Reena, the complaint said. Center in Duluth. Colonial the house,” the complaint the St. Croix and Yellow SERVICES, MINNEAPOLIS Counselors were supervis- According to the com- Management also owns the said. rivers. The search effort Report date: March 31, ing more than 50 clients at a plaint, witnesses reported Dakota Treatment Center in The family’s home is on grew the next day, with more 2011 time; clients not appropri- seeing Reena wandering Burnsville, the St. Cloud an island in the Yellow River authorities and volunteers Violations included: ately screened for treatment alone up to 1½ miles away Metro Treatment Center, about one mile south of the joining the effort. Clinic failed to perform a and given necessary infor- from home several times in the Rochester Metro Treat- unincorporated village of Her body was found in background check on em- mation; ongoing evaluation the months before her death. ment Center and the St. Danbury and about 60 miles the canal shortly before ployee before hire; clients On May 21, Reena drove Paul Metro Treatment Cen- of some clients not per- south of the Twin Ports. The 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, “in an area missing information on reg- her battery-operated four- ter. formed. property is bordered by a that would have been plainly istry of methadone patients wheeler to a bridge about a An overview of some of Fine: None canal with a steep bank less visible from the west-facing in state; clients not properly quarter-mile from home. She than 25 yards from the windows of the house, had the violations found by state VALHALLA PLACE, WOODBURY assessed for treatment; was there with two anglers house. they not been obscured by investigators: Report date: July 30, progress reviews for pa- for 30 to 45 minutes “before “A s one witness indi- sheets,” the complaint said. ALLIANCE CENTER tients not taking place. 2009 Danish came and retrieved cated, because of the sur- Arrest warrants were is- Report date: April 10, Fine: None Violations included: her.” rounding water, the sued for Williams and Dan- 2010 Report date: April 16, Some employee files did not One witness told authori- Williams-Danish Premises is ish on Friday. Burnett Violations included: 2010 have records that back- ties that Williams and Dan- a particularly hazardous County Sheriff’s officials Some employee files did not Violations included: ground checks were con- ish “ ‘don’t pay too close and dangerous place to raise say the two turned them- include documentation that Counselor found to be hav- ducted on them or they attention to their child,’ that a 3-year-old child, especially selves in on Sunday. Bail was they were given required ing sex with a client, a vul- received required training; they are negligent parents, in view of the complete lack set at $25,000 each Monday, training regarding mal- nerable adult. client files didn’t have re- that (Reena) is dirty and of fences,” the complaint with the conditions that treatment of patients and Fine: None quired information on neglected, and that it was said. they maintain absolute so- substance use disorders; Report date: Jan. 10, chemical use history, previ- not uncommon for (Reena) Reena was known to go briety, do not use or possess some client files did not in- 2007 ous treatments, or assess- to wander off and go down near and even into the water, illegal drugs or substances, clude initial service plans; Violations included: Of ment summaries. to the lower dam,” the com- the complaint said. In mid- and continue to live in Bur- some client files did not in- the 33 violations found, sev- Fine: None plaint said. “She also re- April “she dove into the nett County or advise the marked that Williams is a water behind the house to clerk of court within 48 daily user of marijuana and retrieve her fishing pole, hours of moving. They are other mind-altering sub- which she had accidentally scheduled to make their ini- stances.” dropped.” tial appearances at 2 p.m. Another person told au- She was saved that time Wednesday. thorities that he and by Williams, who dived in If convicted, each faces a Williams were smoking syn- after her, remarking later maximum sentence of 25 thetic marijuana minutes that Reena showed no fear of years in prison and a before Reena disappeared, the water. $100,000 fine.

The Area’s Most Complete KITCHENTCCHHENNA ANDANNDDB BATHBATATH DEALERDEALEEAALE KITCHEN &BATHCABINETS .CLOSETS &SHOWER DOORS WATER FILTRATION &STEAM UNITS .SINKS &FAUCETS BATH FURNITURE &ISLANDS .CARPET &AREA RUGS CABINET HARDWARE &LIGHTING .TOILETS &TUBS COUNTERTOPS &BACKSPLASHES .TILE &HARDWOOD POT RACKS &CUTTING BOARDS

SAVE MONEY! Pick up acopy of the Free Undermount Sink with Sunday,September 30, 2012 Kitchen or Bath Purchase *up to $350 value with qualified purchase. See showroom for details!

to get the October P&G brandSAVER coupon booklet. 722.6306 .floortoceilingduluth.com .NexttoKohl’s

R001779007 Free Design Assistance .Find us on Facebook R001797663 Lubbers column: Replacement refs a mockery C1 DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuibunene We dnesday, September 26, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 90,000 readers every weekday$1 Gauthier’s off, Simonson’s on County wants to open new methadone facility

BRANDON STAHL [email protected] As the Lake Superior Treatment Center faces the revocation of its state license, St. Louis County wants to see if anyone else is inter- ested in running a methadone clinic for drug addicts in the Duluth area. The county expects to send out a request for proposals next week for another business or nonprofit to own and manage a clinic, said Ann Busche, the county’s public health and human services director. A consortium of representatives from St. Louis and Carlton counties, the Duluth Police Department and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Supe- rior Chippewa met last month to discuss the idea, and the same con- sortium will choose a provider from Erik Simonson and Jay Fosle campaign signs are seen Tuesday evening along Rice Lake Road in Duluth. Simonson is no longer a write-in candidate those who reply to the request for as he has been added to the ballot. Clint Austin / [email protected] proposals. Proposals will be due about 30 Minnesota Supreme Court write-in candidate. Few write-in need for change even more.” days from when they are sent out. Minnesota candidates have won Fosle said anger over the last- The consortium’s selection, how- rules Tuesday that Rep. Kerry ever, will only be a suggestion to the races against candidates whose minute ruling could turn things in state Department of Human Serv- Gauthier’s name must be names were on the ballot. his favor. ices, which licenses methadone Simonson, who had begun a providers. replaced on the Nov. 6 ballot “This action by the Supreme Busche said she doesn’t know write-in campaign complete with Court should send a strong message when another clinic might open. DON DAVIS signs around House District 7B, “Our next step would be to have Forum Communications to all the citizens as to how much our welcomed Tuesday’s ballot decision, government is broken,” Fosle said in a conversation with the state to say, T. PAUL — Duluth Democrats ‘Here’s a provider the community saying, “It’s a good day. ” a statement. “They cannot even stick can support,’ ” Busche said. are breathing a sigh of relief Simonson will face Republican to their own state statutes.” The DHS on Monday sent a letter after the Minnesota Supreme to the owner of the Lake Superior Travis Silvers, whose name will be He said there’s probably no time Court ordered state Rep. Kerry on the ballot, and Duluth City Treatment Center, Florida-based S to file a protest over the ruling and Colonial Management, saying it will Gauthier’s name replaced on the Councilor Jay Fosle, who is running he will focus on continuing his write- revoke the treatment center’s li- Nov. 6 ballot. a write-in campaign. cense after finding myriad chronic in campaign. Tuesday’s order means Erik Silvers said Tuesday’s ruling was and serious violations at the clinic “I’m not a quitter,” he said. “When Simonson will not be forced to run as “disappointing.” during inspections in August. The I get in campaign mode, no one revocation is effective Oct. 8; the a write-in candidate, a change that “It’s legislating from the bench works harder.” clinic can appeal it before then. If it enhances his chances in a state and rewriting the laws,” Silvers said. does appeal, the clinic can stay open House race with a Republican and a “I think (the ruling) highlights the See Ballot, Page A4 See Methadone, Page A4 Cutting-edgedatacenter opens

CANDACE RENALLS ternational Airport. Power [email protected] Involta lines are safely under- Twelve-inchthick con- TechnologyDr. ground. And set on high crete walls.Fifty-one secu- Rice Lake Rd. ground, it was immune even from Duluth’s 10-inch June rity cameras. Multiple W. Arrowhead Rd. MAP backup generators and cool- AREA rain. Rice “We build, manage and ing systems to keep opera- N. Lake Rd. tions going, no matter what. Arlington maintain the centers,” said center manager Lucas Mis- They’re some of the DULUTH disaster-proof features of telske, noting that Involta the new first-class Involta Ave. built its own fiber network data center on Technology in Duluth to do it. “We’re in Drive in Duluth, which has the business of hosting.” NEWSTRIBUNE GRAPHICS its grand opening celebra- The 24,000-square-foot center will store critical data tion at 3 p.m. today. most natural disasters. The for businesses in an elabo- But the Iowa-based com- site near Arrowhead and rately secure, climate- pany chose Duluth for its lat- Rice Lake roads is away controlled environment. est center because the city is There are multiple backup less prone to disaster. It’s from trains, freeways and Lucas Mistelske, manager of Involta’s new data center, talks about the center’s services in the systems for power, cooling less congested than big cities combustibles and out of the data hall that will hold clients’ computer servers. To see more photos of the Involta data center, and safe from terrorism and flight path for the Duluth In- See Involta, Page A4 go to duluthnewstribune.com. Steve Kuchera / [email protected]

Get home delivery (218) 723-5252 Weather or (800) 456-8080 Orr man protects apple trees from bear News tips (218) 723-5300 SAM COOK trees. He had told Depart- And he doesn’t want tree, and Novak had aimed [email protected] ment of Natural Resources bears destroying his trees. for the bear’s head. Contents Beryl Novak said the conservation officer Troy So the conservation officer “He must have moved Classifieds D bear tumbled from his apple Fondie that bears were told Novak he could shoot just as I shot,” Novak said. Comics D6 Today: Sunny wrecking his trees, breaking any bear that was damaging The next thing Novak High: 58 Low: 37 tree like “a hundred-pound Games D5 sack of flour.” But when he off his carefully grafted his apple crop, Novak said. knew, the bear was right in Lotteries A2 walked up to it, the bear branches. Novak has culti- Which is what he did Thurs- front of him, moving fast, Obituaries B5 looked up at him. Then it vated more than 100 vari- day afternoon. and it didn’t appear to be Opinion A5 scrambled to its feet and ran eties of apples on his 50 to 60 Now the bear was racing considering a detour. Sports C off, with Novak’s dog, Bucky, apple trees. One tree alone around his property, Bucky “I reacted instinctively,” in hot pursuit. has about 25 varieties, he hot on its tail. It was clear Novak said. “I took the rifle TV listings C6 up like a hockey stick and Novak, 62, lives a mostly said. He has strains from that Novak’s first shot from Tomorrow: smacked it in the mouth Mostly sunny quiet life alone in the woods Finland, Norway, Canada his .270-caliber rifle had not and Kazakhstan, in addition been lethal. The bear had with the rifle.” High: 63 Low: 43 near Orr. He lives largely off the land, and he raises apple to Minnesota. been 15 feet up in the apple See Bear, Page A4 Page A4 Duluth News Tribune | We dnesday, September 26, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

otherwise indicated. !Methadone That could be controversial Forced tests for DUI Ruling lets Army Corps off Continued from Page A1 among some methadone pro- ponents, who say the goal of suspects under scrutiny until a final decision is made methadone shouldn’t be to the hook for Katrina flooding on the revocation. wean patients off, but to pro- DAVID G. SAVAGE If the clinic closes, its 419 vide them stable lives no mat- Tribune Washington Bureau CAIN BURDEAU said its new ruling “completely patients will face difficult ter how long they’re on the Associated Press insulates the government from choices. They could find a way drug. Proponents compare WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court will liability,” leaving lawyers and to travel to methadone clinics opiate drug addiction to a dis- decide whether a police officer who stops a sus- NEW ORLEANS — A sur- residents baffled. in other parts of the state — ease and methadone as the pected drunken driver can force him or her to prise ruling by a federal ap- there are clinics in Brainerd, medication to treat that dis- take a breath test or have blood drawn at a hos- peals court that lets the Army “There are certain criteria St. Cloud and the Twin Cities ease. pital. Corps of Engineers off the where the federal government area; face a grueling with- “The successes of Judges across the nation are split over hook for paying compensation can be sued, and I think the drawal from methadone; apply methadone are those who stay whether forcing someone to undergo a blood for Hurricane Katrina’s cata- levee breaches is a perfect ex- for another form of treatment; on it,” Dr. Gavin Bart, the di- test constitutes an “unreasonable search”pro- strophic flooding isn’t going ample because the Corps of En- or find alternative, possibly il- rector of the division of addic- hibited by the Fourth Amendment. over well on the streets of New gineers is the one that legal, drugs. tion medicine at Hennepin The decision, due early next year, will de- Orleans. developed the levee system,” The local government at- County Medical Center, has fine the powers of the police and the rights of People in southern said Alvin Alexis, 62, who had tempt to find a provider for a told the News Tribune. “It’s motorists who are suspected of driving while Louisiana have long taken for two female cousins die in the second methadone clinic grew not controversial in the world intoxicated. granted that the flooding in the flood. from a failed attempt earlier of addiction treatment. There The justices agreed Tuesday to hear an ap- wake of the 2005 storm was a His home was flooded, and this year by the Superior are societal controversies, and peal from Missouri prosecutors who argued manmade disaster — one he moved his family across the Treatment Center — a sepa- it’s related to stigma. But no that because alcohol in the body quickly dissi- caused specifically by the corps Mississippi River to an area he rate business from the Lake one says, ‘My God, you’ve pates, police need to act quickly and require — and they have wanted the considers safer. Because he was Superior Treatment Center — been on high blood-pressure suspected drunken drivers to undergo either a agency to pay up for lost homes a renter, he said he got only to open a methadone clinic in medicine for this many years? breath test or a blood test. and property. $10,000 in federal aid. Duluth. The DHS initially You need to stop.’ ” But lawyers for the American Civil Liber- But on Monday, a three- Alexis was not a plaintiff in granted that approval but When asked about the po- ties Union argued that a police officer must ob- judge panel of the 5th Circuit then rescinded it in April after tential controversy of taper- tain a search warrant from a magistrate before Court of Appeals reversed its the case. the St. Louis County adminis- ing patients off methadone, compelling a suspect to undergo a blood test. earlier opinion and shot down Under federal law, the gov- tration and board fought the Busche responded: “I’m not an In March, the Missouri Supreme Court the only argument that had ernment cannot be sued over state. expert in this field. … I just threw out the blood evidence used against an succeeded so far in holding the actions that were based “on “The commissioner did say know that we do have con- alleged drunken driver and ruled that police corps accountable. The ruling considerations of public pol- that a clinic operator should cerns about the things (the must obtain a search warrant before forcing a also could make it extremely icy, ”the appeals panel wrote. be a local determination,” News Tribune) has found, and suspect to undergo a blood test. difficult to force the govern- The corps’ decisions regarding Busche said, the things found in its license The case began when Tyler McNeely was ment to pay damages for future the shipping channel fall under Now, with the Lake Supe- (of the Lake Superior Treat- stopped for speeding about 2 a.m. by a Mis- mishaps. that protection, the judges rior Treatment Center facing ment Center): individuals souri highway patrol officer. The officer said In March, the appellate wrote. closure, Busche said the con- kept on a certain dose; indi- McNeely’s speech was slurred, and he smelled court panel upheld a 2009 rul- Specifically, the ruling dealt sortium has sped up the viduals given an increase in of alcohol. When he stepped out of his car, the ing by U.S. District Judge Stan- with allegations that the Army process to find another dose without what appears to motorist was unsteady on his feet and failed wood Duval that had found the Corps let a shipping channel methadone provider. be stringent … medical ap- the roadside sobriety tests. corps liable for the flooding of called the Mississippi River- “If their license is revoked, proval. But when put in a patrol car, McNeely re- New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward Gulf Outlet erode wetlands and it’s likely the state will say “We want to ensure that in- fused to provide a breath sample. In response, neighborhood and St. Bernard swamp forests southeast of there is a need,” Busche said. dividuals who are able to be the officer drove him to a hospital where he or- Parish because the agency New Orleans. The channel was The operator the consor- tapered can be tapered, and dered a lab technician to draw a blood sample failed to properly maintain a tium picks will have to run the that (in cases of) individuals from the suspect. The alcohol content was shipping channel. That chan- built as a shortcut between clinic differently than the who need to be on some type 0.154, nearly double the legal limit of 0.08 per- nel, dug in the 1960s, funneled New Orleans and the Gulf of Lake Superior Treatment Cen- of maintenance dose, it is the cent. The officer made no attempt to obtain a Katrina’s storm surge into the Mexico, but the economic bene- ter, said St. Louis County lowest level of dose that is search warrant. city. Thousands of homes were fits never paid off, and only a Commissioner Frank Jewell. medically acceptable.” In court, McNeely said the incriminating destroyed, about 1,400 people few ships used it before Kat- “Clearly,we don’t want the Busche also said she test results should be thrown out because the died in the flood and much of rina. problems we presently have,” wanted to prevent patients forced blood draw violated his rights under the the city was left underwater. The Justice Department and Jewell said. “I want to see suc- from selling their methadone. Fourth Amendment. A trial judge agreed, and the Army Corps declined to Then on Monday, the same cessful treatment.” “We don’t want them to the state high court affirmed the ruling. panel did a legal backflip and comment Tuesday. A News Tribune investiga- have the opportunity to sus- tion found that, statewide, tain themselves on a half-dose she said that she filed the order To get the new ballots out quickly, nearly 400 people have died and then they’re selling the !Ballot Tuesday but delayed an explanation elections officials may use what the from methadone since 2000; other half of the dose.” Continued from Page A1 of the ruling. state calls “unofficial ballots” with about 5 percent of methadone Other than the Superior treatment patients complete Treatment Center, owned by The ruling grants a request filed Simonson’s name until Dicklich’s treatment; the drug has been Chad Braafladt, no other en- He said he thinks the electorate is by Simonson and the DFL Party office can provide official documents well aware of the unusual circum- when Gauthier announced he would diverted from clinics and sold tity has applied for a license to that meet all state standards, on the streets; and the cost to open a methadone clinic in stances of the race after news broke end his re-election campaign after a Kavanagh said. about Gauthier and his eventual de- rest-stop sex encounter with a taxpayers for treatment has Duluth in the past year, ac- About 30,000 ballots with been about $43 million from cording to the DHS. parture from the race. Now, with Si- 17-year-old male earlier this summer Gauthier’s name have been printed, monson on the ballot, he will run was revealed. 2005 to 2011. DHS Deputy Commis- with 28 mailed to overseas voters, alone as a write-in. House District 7B Democrats Busche said the local con- sioner Anne Barry said in a Dicklich said. “I want to take the high road,” revoked their earlier endorsement of sortium will seek health-care statement that the agency sup- Fosle said. “I just wish we both had Gauthier, replacing it with a “We waited as long as we could,” providers who will try to wean ports the county’s efforts to to play the game fair.” Simonson endorsement. The state he said. “I’m disappointed it took patients off methadone unless find a preferred provider. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party deadline for withdrawing from a race (the court) so long to come up with leaders and Simonson said they passed long ago, but Gildea ordered this ruling.” brought the legal action to ensure St. Louis County Auditor Don Dicklich said printing new ballots several lacerations in his that voters understood who actually Dicklich to accept Gauthier’s and reprogramming voting !Bear flesh. is running. withdrawal and print new ballots machines with Simonson’s name on Continued from Page A1 “I was all scratched up,” “Our first priority throughout with Simonson’s name. it will cost taxpayers $20,000 to Novak said. “That bear had this process has been ensuring a fair Dicklich’s office began to mail out $22,000. Novak estimated that the laid me open.” election for the people of District 7B absentee ballots Friday, as state law Simonson said it would have bear weighed about 90 to 100 Novak and a neighbor field- in Duluth,” House Minority Leader requires, with Gauthier’s name. made no sense to issue ballots pounds. dressed the bear, and Fondie Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, John Kavanagh of Secretary of bearing Gauthier’s name as the DFL- “But he looked pretty big issued a permit allowing said. State Mark Ritchie’s office Tuesday endorsed candidate after he officially when you looked at him Novak to possess the bear. He Thissen and DFL Chairman Ken night said details of the Supreme dropped out of the race. eyeball-to-eyeball,” he said. gave it to his neighbor. Martin said they are confident Court order remain to be worked out, He said the amended ballots will After Novak swatted the Novak washed his wounds Simonson will win. including what happens to any better serve the public good because bear with his rifle, the bear thoroughly and administered headed for some tall grass a topical antibiotic. Novak vis- “We are glad to learn that the absentee votes already cast in the “it shows people they Minnesota Supreme Court agrees race. In 2002, the courts allowed some down in an old beaver pond, ited the clinic in Orr the next actually have.” that Duluth voters should have a voters to cast new ballots after U.S. Novak said. Bucky was still all day, and medical personnel Now that his name will appear on chance to choose between the Sen. Paul Wellstone died in a plane over the bear, so Novak prescribed a course of antibi- endorsed candidates of the major crash days before the election. the ballot, Simonson said: “We’re couldn’t risk a shot. Finally, otics. parties — a choice that Minnesotans Dicklich said he will try to get going to shift our strategy. We can the bear separated itself from Otherwise, things have in every other district in the state new ballots to those already sent move away from education. It will Bucky enough that Novak been pretty quiet in Novak’s will have on Election Day, ” Martin previous ones, but said he is not sure give us more of an opportunity to could take a second shot, world. He’s been out grouse said. what to do about voters who have focus on the issues.” which dropped the bear in its hunting a few times. The high court order written by gone to Duluth City Hall to vote tracks. “I’ve shot three so far, ” he Chief Justice Lori S. Gildea said that absentee. News Tribune staff writers Brandon It was only then that Novak said. “I just walk until I shoot Simonson’s name should replace “We need to talk to the city about Stahl and Peter Passi contributed to noticed some pain in his arm. one, then come back and have Gauthier’s. In the interest of time, that,” he said. this report. He pulled up his sleeve to see it for lunch.”

!Involta If you go Continued from Page A1 The grand opening celebra- and fire suppression —even tion of the new Involta data though the center is fire-re- center in Duluth will be at sistant, from its concrete 3 p.m. today at the center at floors to its concrete roof. 3401 Technology Drive off Authorized personnel will Rice Lake Road. have to pass through several The celebration, open to the security checks for access, including an iris eye scan local business community, more accurate than retina will include speakers, a scans and fingerprints. ribbon-cutting ceremony and The center’s opening puts tours of the new facility. Duluth on the data storage While the center will be map. under intense security once It’s the first critical data If electrical power is ever lost open, tours are possible now storage center in the North- at the Involta data center, because clients’ computer land, built by a fast-growing deep-cycle batteries — 20 to servers are not yet in. company in an emerging in- a cabinet, 80 in a bank —will In the event of rain, the cele- dustry to provide secure provide uninterrupted service bration will be moved inside. data storage for health-care during the 22 seconds be- organizations, businesses, The center is near Arrow- The office area of Involta’s new data center at 3401 Technology Drive in Duluth is the only sec- tween the loss of power and head and Rice Lake roads, government and educational when the emergency genera- institutions. tion that has windows. Photos by Steve Kuchera / [email protected] behind United HealthCare. As their IT functions tors would begin. grow, more companies are “Having a data center in with several other compa- velopment proponents Opportunity Building Zone, “Today would be a free outsourcing their data stor- your community means it nies, Mistelske said. worked together to convince exempting Involta from state cooling day, ” he said last age, said Involta CEO Bruce can handle and manage Anchor tenant Essentia Involta to build a data center income taxes and local prop- Lehrman. large amounts of data lo- Health needed two facilities. in town. Construction of the week when it was 55 de- erty taxes for several years. “A t a point in their cally. If a company tried to So Involta built a $2.3 mil- LEED silver-certified facil- grees. “We figure being in “We probably would not growth, companies look at build that infrastructure it- lion satellite center in the ity took a year. Duluth, about 85 percent of be in Duluth if it weren’t for what they can build or lease self, it would be extremely former Daugherty Hardware Hanson said it’s a great the time is free cooling. That the help of APEX, Min- and for how much,” he ex- expensive and would plain store building in Duluth’s example of the local busi- makes Duluth an attraction nesota Power, Allete, state plained. “Most come to the not be as good.” Central Hillside. It’s been op- ness community bringing and local government to for corporations looking to conclusion it’s better to out- Involta’s Duluth center erating since December. ideas to APEX for a business bring all those together,” be energy-efficient.” source their data center op- has six employees but could When 80 percent capacity needed in the community. Lehrman said. “It probably And that translates into erations.” grow to 18, Mistelske said. is reached in the main cen- Said Lehrman: “We wouldn’t have happened.” big savings. But while data centers don’t ter’s two 5,000-square-foot found, from our very first COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE But Duluth had some- Lehrman estimated 30 have large staffs, their high- data halls, planning will meeting in Duluth, that the Brian Hanson, CEO and start on a Phase II, Involta thing else going for it — the percent energy savings by president of Area Partner- technology infrastructure community understood our city’s average temperature becomes a draw for business officials say. That expansion industry and understood being in Duluth. ship for Economic Expan- will be a connecting build- of 38 degrees. Founded in 2004, Involta sion, likened having such a and can lead to spinoff jobs, what we needed to move for- Anytime the tempera- ing that will be a mirror also has data centers in Mar- center in Duluth to what a Hanson said. ward with the project. And ture is 55 degrees or lower So far, the Duluth center’s image of the existing build- they delivered everything ion and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, railroad meant to a commu- ing. means less use of compres- nity 100 years ago. client list includes SISU we needed to move forward.” sors to cool the heat- and Akron, Ohio. The com- “It’s a huge step forward Medical Solutions, UNITED EFFORT An incentives package in- generating computer pany plans to build centers and a competitive advantage CenturyLink and Enventis, The city of Duluth, local cluded tax-increment financ- servers adata center houses in Boise, Idaho,and Tucson, for Duluth,” Hanson said. with negotiations going on business and economic de- ing assistance and a Job for clients, Mistelske said. Ariz. Motorcycle madness in Scrapbook $92 IN COUPONS INSIDE DuluDuluthth NeNewsws TrTribuibunene Sunday, October 14, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com More than 140,000 readers every Sunday$2.50 Men’s deaths inspire action on methadone

BRANDON STAHL [email protected] Methadone David and Kathy Lin- gren fight back tears when they speak about what their son, Mitch, meant to them. “It is devastating, in Acostly fix terms of the impact on Read previous reports at us,” David said. duluthnewstribune.com. “The most important thing to know is that he loved his family, and he was loved by his family, ” The Native Mob name appears in graffiti on the wall of a building on West Carlton Avenue in Cloquet last week. People said Kathy. with connections to the Fond du Lac Reservation are speaking out against recent gang activities after a Floodwood To Jim and Wendy woman was killed and police identified a Native Mob gang member as a suspect. Clint Austin / [email protected] Gamache, the loss of their son, Zachary, is still too painful to talk about. Mitch Lingren, 29, of LINGREN GAMACHE Duluth and Zachary carrying Lingren and Gamache, 25, of Esko were Gamache and causing working for the Carlton them to hit a trailer. Grass-roots effort seeks County Highway Depart- Following the two men’s ment when they were deaths, State Rep. Tom killed the morning of Huntley, DFL-Duluth, said Oct. 1 in what law enforce- he wants to hold hearings ment said was a in St. Paul this fall to methadone-related crash. to stem Native Mob determine if more restric- Vanessa Rae Brigan, 26, tions are needed on how faces two counts of crimi- JANA PETERSON methadone treatment for nal vehicular homicide [email protected] addiction to opioid drugs after authorities accused is administered in her of driving while im- After learning that au- Minnesota. thorities had found the paired by methadone when body of a missing Flood- she ran into the truck See Methadone, Page A8 wood woman on the Fond du Lac Reservation and — on top of that —suspected she was killed by a local member of the Native Meningitis patient Mob gang, Bettina Johnsen decided enough was enough. She decided it was time treated in Duluth, to fight back, in ways both modern and old- fashioned. She started a Facebook page,“Take Back Our Rez,” the same A group of about 50 Fond du Lac Reservation residents marched Monday to the tribal family member says day —Oct. 4 —and organ- center to protest the rise in gang activity on the reservation. “We want the kids to be ized a march against safe. They’re our future, and they’re a gold mine here on Fond du Lac,” said Jarvis Paro, JOHN LUNDY Mary Olson of Cloquet. violence four days later on a Fond du Lac parent. Photo by Northland’s NewsCenter [email protected] Susan Edwards was the reservation. One of the four Min- listed in fair condition on An image and words of cause of the gang violence community-based solutions hands, according to the nesota women with fungal Saturday, Essentia Health Sitting Bull sit front and and drug use,” Johnsen and deterrents to these be- criminal complaints meningitis linked to spokeswoman Kim Kaiser center on the Facebook said. The problem isn’t haviors,” Diver said. against them. tainted steroid injections said. She couldn’t confirm page: “Let Us Put Our just on the reservation, On Thursday, Michael Authorities have iden- is being treated at Essentia that Edwards was being Minds Together And See but also in Cloquet and William Siewert, 22, and tified Siewert as a mem- Health St. Mary’s Medical treated for fungal meningi- What Life We Can Make the surrounding area, she Joseph Allen Yellow Jr., ber of the Native Mob. He Center in Duluth, the tis. Douglas Schultz, a For Our Children — added. “We want to come 17, both of Duluth, were was charged Oct. 5 with woman’s mother said on spokesman for the Min- Sitting Bull.” together and make it pub- charged with intentional an unrelated crime — of Saturday. nesota Department of Johnsen said she’s a lic that we’re not going to second-degree murder in allegedly shooting a man Susan Edwards, 46, of Health, said that four cases mom first, and she’s mad put up with it anymore.” the death of Cristyna in the foot on the Fond du Hibbing was taken by am- have been confirmed in about what is happening Fond du Lac Chair- Leah Watson, 25, of Flood- Lac Reservation in August bulance from Hibbing to Minnesota and that two of to the place where she woman Karen Diver ex- wood, whose body was as punishment for “cer- St. Mary’s on Oct. 5 after the victims are hospital- grew up and where her pressed her support for found on property off tain gang-related activity,” the Centers for Disease ized. He could not say children go to school. the grassroots movement. Reservation Road. Siewert according to the com- Control and Prevention where the victims were “I’m a mom of three lit- “I am proud of the com- struck her in the head plaint. confirmed from a urine being treated. tle ones,and I’m terrified munity,that they are ex- with a hammer, and Yel- sample that she had the to bring them up (here) be- pressing the need to find low strangled her with his See Crime, Page A6 disease,said her mother, See Sick, Page A7 Elected in Tea Party furor, freshmen lawmakers follow own paths JAMES ROSEN During 21 months in office, showed differences on a range of 2011 under an election-fueled rated as the most conservative by McClatchy Newspapers Tea Party freshman lawmakers issues from fiscal austerity and head of steam with an apparent the Heritage Foundation, a con- WASHINGTON — The Tea have endured detractors’ por- defense spending to free trade, mandate “to change business as servative think tank in Washing- Party congressional candidates trayals of them as ideological abortion funding and govern- usual” on Capitol Hill. They ton, are Tea Party freshmen. whose victories made 2010 a zombies who eschew compro- ment aid for public radio. pushed their party elders to the But a McClatchy Newspapers wave election for Republicans mise and engage in group-think. “The desire to be independent right, their hard-line conser- analysis yields a more complex came to Washington united in But the reality isn’t so simple: In is real amongst our folks,” Rep. vatism contributing to the grid- picture. their desire to slash spending, dozens of key votes, the 68 new Mick Mulvaney of South Car- lock that has helped make the Ten of the Tea Party newcom- cut the size of government and representatives who’d earned olina said. 112th Congress one of the least ers voted against House Speaker place conservative principle Tea Party campaign endorse- The Tea Party lawmakers ar- productive ever. over party loyalty. ments — all Republican — rived in Washington in January Half of the 18 House members See Tea Party, Page A6 HOW TO REACH US CONTENTS Milestones ...... F7 Scrapbook ...... F TodayTomorrow News tips: (218) 723-5300 Faces & Names ....A2 Obituaries ...... D4-6 Sports...... C Home delivery: (218) 723-5252 Games...... F2 Opinion ...... B1-3 TV listings...... F8 Partly cloudy Partly sunny (800) 456-8080 Lotteries ...... A2 Outdoors...... C6-8 Weather...... B6 High: 52 Low: 33 High: 50 Low: 42 Page A8 Duluth News Tribune | Sunday, October 14, 2012 duluthnewstribune.com

drugs after the accident. nesota Department of Pub- been an increase in dose !Methadone “Both were fully aware lic Safety. From 2006 to levels at methadone clin- Continued from Page A1 from medical advice that 2011, there were 11 traffic ics. they were not to be driving fatalities in which the “This would correlate “Two people are dead, a motor vehicle while con- driver had been using with an increase in the pu- and we need to find out if suming the methadone,” drugs, compared to 215 in rity of heroin and use of there’s something we can the complaint said. which the driver was stronger opioid medica- do,” said Huntley, the rank- But it’s only illegal to drinking. (The DPS’s sta- tions by addicts,” said ing member of the House drive in Minnesota with tistics on drug fatalities do Dave Hartford, the assis- Health and Human Service methadone in your system not break numbers down tant DHS commissioner Finance committee who if it impairs your driving into the type of drug). for chemical and mental also sits on the House ability, said Department of Jackson, who supports health services. Health and Human Service Public Safety spokesman methadone treatment, said Reuter said anecdotal Reform committee. “This Nathan Bowie. he worries that too much evidence suggests the aver- obviously needs to be It’s possible the dose will be made of the fatal age dose at a clinic is about looked into,and we need to found with Brigan could crash, stigmatizing the 80 to 120 milligrams a day. know if the law requires have impaired her driving, treatment. ‘SO WRONG’ changing.” said Ted Jackson, a jour- “How is (the Oct. 1 fatal- The Lingrens declined Brigan was a patient of nalist who has reported on ity) any different than a to talk about methadone a Brainerd methadone methadone for the publica- drunk driving accident?” being a part of the crash clinic, had methadone in tion he founded, asked Jackson, Treatment that killed their son, say- her system and had a large Magazine. “Methadone saves lives.” ing they wanted to wait for dose of methadone in her The dose found in But Jackson also said more information to be re- car, according to the crimi- Brigan’s vehicle, 300 mil- the crash showed there leased. nal complaint filed against ligrams, was “uncom- may be a need to prevent What they want to focus her by Carlton County au- monly high,” Jackson said. people from abusing on, they said, is the life thorities. A needle and sy- “A very high dosage like methadone while in treat- their son, Mitch, led, and ringe were found in her that can be tolerated if it’s ment. One way he said that the impact he had on oth- car as well as near the being given over a very could be achieved is by ers. scene of the crash, and long period of time,” he monitoring the amount of “The Duluth and Carl- needle marks were found said. “But if someone is methadone provided at ton communities have all on her arm when she was quickly put on that, it will clinics to ensure that pa- been touched by this, and booked into jail, the com- Mitch Lingren poses with his daughter, Lily; wife, Angie; get them high.” tients aren’t receiving too we do feel and appreciate plaint said. and son, Jordan, near Lake Superior. Mitch was killed on Reuter called 300 mil- high a dose. their support,” said Her passenger was also Oct. 1 when a car he was in was hit by a driver suspected ligrams a “relatively high Neither the Federal Mitch’s mother, Kathy. a patient of the clinic and dose.” Substance Abuse and Men- to have been under the influence of prescription They also want to focus was wanted on outstand- “It’s something that tal Health Services Admin- methadone. Photo courtesy of the Lingren family on what he left behind: a ing warrants, according to would get your attention,” istration nor the wife, an 8-year-old son and the complaint. Brigan was he said. A single take- Minnesota Department of a 3-year-old daughter. driving without a valid li- driving after having her li- methadone. home dose from a Human Services, both of “It’s so wrong what hap- cense, according to Carlton cense revoked, records “The regulation is not methadone clinic is meant which license and inspect pened to two wonderful County Attorney Thom show. Despite this, she told quite that direct,” Reuter to be taken orally at one methadone clinics, moni- men who had so much po- Pertler. investigators that she and said. “Does it clearly say if time. If taken correctly, tor dosing levels at clinics. tential and so much to give In Minnesota, the News her passenger, Jesse David a patient comes in with and not abused, experts A rule that limited dos- and needed so much,” Tribune has found, McMillen, 25, routinely track marks, including re- say methadone should not ing to 100 milligrams a day Kathy Lingren said. methadone clinics aren’t drove from the Cloquet cent track marks, should get a patient high but allow was changed in 2001 to “It’s going to be so diffi- required to: area to the Brainerd they be denied take- them to live a normal life. allow more discretion for cult for his wife and two methadone clinic and got homes? It does not say Methadone-related physicians to decide what children to go on without ᔢ Determine whether take-home doses of the that. It does not go that motor vehicle deaths ap- was appropriate for pa- him,” she said. “Our life patients driving to and drug. far. ” pear to be rare, according tients. Since then, accord- has changed because of from clinics have a valid Methadone clinics are Reuter said it’s up to a to statistics from the Min- ing to the DHS, there has this.” driver’s license. not required to check clinic’s medical director to ᔢ Determine whether whether a patient has a determine if take-home patients are impaired by valid license before giving doses are warranted for a methadone after they leave them an unsupervised client. a clinic. dose of the drug, also “It’s a physician’s clini- ᔢ Physically check known as take-home doses, cal judgment,” he said. patients to determine said Nick Reuter, a public “We’ve put in writing whether they’re injecting health analyst for the Sub- things they’re required to the drug. stance Abuse and Mental consider as part of that ᔢ Determine whether Health Services Adminis- judgment. … We think that Fantastic Sams their patients have out- tration. placing that responsibility 5115 Burning Tree Plaza standing warrants against Under federal law, if pa- as part of the physician’s 218-723-4027 them. tients prove their trust- medical judgment is ade- M-F 9-8 Sat 9-5 ᔢ Stop providing unsu- worthiness at methadone quate at this time.” pervised doses of clinics, they can get up to a Pinnacle Recovery Fantastic Sams methadone to patients if month’s worth of take- Services began treating pa- 5300 Bristol Street they’re found to be abusing home doses of the drug. tients in April, according 218-624-8022 drugs or have a recent It’s intended to be a reward to the Department of M-F 9-8 Sat 9-5 criminal history. for patients, who start Human Services. No one their treatment by having from the clinic returned State Sen. Roger Rein- to go to a clinic each day, the News Tribune’s re- ert, DFL-Duluth, said he six to seven days a week, to quest for comment for this Any Cut Waxing Foil Highlights/Lowlights agrees that legislative take their dose. Getting article. - doses is stan- hearings should be held to take home A ‘RELATIVELY HIGH DOSE’ dard practice at discuss methadone treat- methadone Clinics also are not re- $9.99 $5.99 $40.00 clinics around the country Haircut, Shampoo&Blow-dry Brow, Lip or Chin Wax 20 foils (add'l foils &long or thick ment. quired to check whether hair extra) and is fully legal. “The recent crash only their clients are OK to Reuter said that most highlights some of the drive after taking clinics ask for an ID to ver- Good at participating salons only. Not valid with any Good at participating salons only. Not valid with any Good at participating salons only. Not valid with any troubling trends (the News methadone. other offer. Expires 10/28/12. other offer. Expires 10/28/12. other offer. Expires 10/28/12. ify the patient’s identity, Tribune) has found in According to the crimi- but they aren’t required to terms of lack of over- nal complaint, a witness to do that. sight,” Reinert said. the crash and a state “Take-homes have been A News Tribune series trooper said Brigan ap- part of our regulatory that ran in September peared to be impaired by found widespread prob- scheme since 1976, and lems stemming from there’s never even been a methadone treatment in discussion about requiring Minnesota, including ID for any purpose in the abuse of prescribed rules,” he said. methadone with resulting The News Tribune has deaths, dealers selling it on found widespread abuse of the streets, unmonitored take-home methadone in spending by the state and a the Duluth area, and since WINTER IS HERE! 5 percent completion rate 2001 at least 38 overdose from treatment over the deaths have occurredin past five years. the Northland from the Snowtires on sale now! “The lack of oversight drug. is very troubling,” Reinert Under federal law, be- •Mastercraft •Cooper •Michelin • said. “In a time of very fore clinics give patients a scarce resources,taxpay- take-home dose of ers need to know that the methadone they must •Dunlop •General •Goodyear • kind of money that’s being “consider” whether a pa- spent is having an im- tient has refrained from re- in stock today! pact.” cent drug abuse. This is typically done through FREE LIFETIME TIRE REPAIR &TIRE ROTATIONS WITH TIRE PURCHASE ‘DOES NOT GO THAT FAR’ tests that search for other EXP.10-31-12 The car Brigan drove drugs in a patient’s sys- was weaving from the fog tem; if someone is abusing line on the side of the road methadone, it doesn’t show to the center line of High- up in a test. way 210 as she returned to But clinics don’t have to Cloquet from Pinnacle Re- physically inspect a pa- covery Services, a tient to meet that require- FREE methadone clinic in Brain- ment. FREE erd, according to the crimi- “They’re not required BATTERYTEST TROUBLE LIGHT nal complaint. At about to check for track marks,” the Tamarack River, be- Reuter said. “Injecting NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED tween Wright and EXP.11-30-12 SCAN methadone is unusual.” EXP.11-30-12 Cromwell, she again Clinics are also re- crossed the center line, hit- quired to consider pa- ting Lingren’s and tients’ known criminal CURRENT DAILYSPECIAL Gamache’sCarlton County activity before giving them Highway Department take-home doses. LUBE, OIL &FILTER CHANGE We Honor ALL pickup in its left rear tire, Troopers said McMillen Includes: Lube chassis, change oil the complaint said. told them he fled the scene The impact from of the crash because he &filter.27Point Inspection. Brigan’s car caused the was wanted on active ar- Competitors Offers axle on the pickup truck to rest warrants, according to break, forcing the vehicle the criminal complaint to veer into oncoming traf- against Brigan. One of $ 95Most cars &light trucks. fic, sideswipe a 2006 Ford those warrants included Diesels higher and Coupons! EXP.10-31-12 350 pickup and then hit the failing to appear at a Sep- gooseneck trailer it was tember hearing for a con- 15 pulling. Gamache and Lin- viction that same month of "WE ARE ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE" gren weren’t wearing seat possessing drug parapher- belts and were ejected onto nalia, court records show. the road, probably dying Reuter said even if a pa- instantly. tient is found to be abusing Brigan already had other drugs or methadone, &DISCOUNT TIRE CENTER more than 30 traffic- SALES SERVICE PARTS 720-9558 or has recent criminal ac- APPROVED related convictions on her tivity, that person can still Rob Jen WE HONOR ALL record, and as recently as be given take-home Service Service FreewayAutoTireCenter.com March was convicted of Consultant Consultant COMPETITORS COUPONS R001809263-1014 cl