Anger as girl, 7, finds methadone on path

Angela Murphy • Published 29 Jul 2009 14:33 2 Comments

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A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl had a lucky escape after finding a bottle of methadone on a public footpath.

The little Johnstone resident discovered the green liquid while walking down a lane between Ryefield Avenue and Huntersfield Road.

She came across the deadly liquid while out playing and fortunately had the sense to pour out the contents of the 50ml bottle onto the street.

A local dad-of-three blasted: "Junkies should be forced to take the methadone within the pharmacy, not be allowed to take it home.

"We can't have our children picking up this stuff in the street - it's disgusting and kids have died from drinking it in the past.

"I'm worried now that my youngest boy or his friends pick something up while they're out playing after school.

"I think we'll all be keeping a close eye around here from now on."

The girl's shocked mum contacted Johnstone police who seized the bottle for destruction after the incident on July 12.

The prescription was made out to a male addict and cops have contacted Spateston Pharmacy to trace who it was intended for.

Parents are now being urged to be extra vigilant and to warn their children about the dangers of drug taking.

A Strathclyde Police spokesperson said: "Any prescription medication that is found should be dealt with in a careful and responsible manner, whether by means of disposing of it, returning it to a local pharmacy or reporting it to the police.

"Methadone is no exception, and under no circumstances should it be consumed without prescription and/or medical advice.

"In this instance a young girl who found a substance sensibly poured the contents of bottle away and any threat of harm was prevented."

Spateston Pharmacy was approached but declined to comment.

This article appeared in The Gazette 29 Jul 09

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Unregistered User
Jul 30, 12:50
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I agree with the bloke in the story, they should take the methadone in the Pharmacy.

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JENNIFER
Unregistered User
Jul 30, 23:12
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On the bottle should of been the guys name and he should be punished, In Pennsylvania we have to keep methadone in lock box from the time we get it till we take bottle back, If you don't bring bottle back you lose your right to leave clinic with it.

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