It's a little white pill most doctors refuse to prescribe, but at least 800 area residents feel forced to take this drug three times a week, despite all their best efforts.
"They like to play, they'll spit it out, they'll cheek it, we've had people put gum on the roof of their mouth, we sometimes have people take liquid to make sure, they put cotton on the top of their mouth to help absorb the liquid, done it all," says Phil Schortgen, the clinical director of the Alcohol Abuse Deterrent Program.
Antabuse, the brand name for Disulfiram, is a prescription drug that when combined with alcohol can have effects on the body far more extreme than just a hard night of drinking. It's the drug of choice at the Alcohol Abuse Deterrent Program in Allen County.
"85 percent of people have the reaction we're looking for, they may not get deathly sick, they'll get sick enough, their face starts to turn red, their heart starts to race, they say it feels like I'm having a heart attack and that will cause them not to try it again," says Schortgen.
AADP is a non-profit agency founded in the late 80's as a means to protect public safety. Two OWIs within five years and a habitual drunk driver is given a choice prior to release.
"Either jail time or the drug and you think 'well Antabuse must be ok cause I'm not going to jail,' says Richard Lyons, a former AADP client.
Lyons says he regrets the decision he made.
"Right now all ten toes are numb, the bottom of feet, have to take bath instead of shower cause can't stand, I test the water in my bathtub with my hand cause my feet can't feel it," says Lyons.
Lyons believes Antabuse caused him nerve damage and his complaint doesn't come as a surprise, the drug has fallen out of favor with many doctors, questions surrounding the drug's effect on the liver. But those overseeing AADP, argue often client's complaints are exaggerated. A medical board hears and reviews the concerns each month.
"You hear virtually anything and everything, sometimes the people that don't want to be there will go to their family doctor first and get a note from a doctor saying we don't think this person should be on Antabuse for this that or another reason, everything from rashes, headaches, nausea, vomiting, creativity is endless in terms of symptoms they come up with," says Dr. Ronald Pancner, who is one of six doctors on AADP's medical board.
A very small percentage is not affected at all by the drug, will continue to drink, and can end up with severe health issues. For the most sensitive, even the slightest bit of alcohol like that found in aftershave or mouthwash can cause irritation. But, those in charge say, for most, side effects disappear within a month.
"Usually go away and if don't or symptoms severe like boils or skin eruptions, we'll take people off, I mean we're not completely inhumane," says Schortgen.
Before taking the Antabuse, clients are informed of potential side effects and must undergo a physical administered by the program to make sure they have no pre-existing conditions that would interfere. Bu,t lyons says his symptoms didn't show up for a while.
"Around six months later, toes became numb and I told them that my feet hurt real bad, toes numb, they just shrugged it off said nothing can do," says Richard Lyons.
For others, the drug is in fact a miracle. One client writes in a letter of gratitude to the program, "Two days before I was arrested for my 2nd OWI, I remember crying, praying to god to help me, my life was out of control, this program I believe has saved my life."
Love it or hate it, the program is fully funded by clients. Schortgen estimates an average of seven grand for three years.
Total cost is dependent on the client's behavior, failed urine tests mean more urine tests, but this sliding scale may soon change.
"Perception is that we're gouging people and so now a flat fee becomes a way in which to say 'ok this is the flat fee this is what we're going to charge, they'll know what's being charged, know whats going on," says Schortgen.
IRS records indicate the former executive director of the program made more than 73 thousand in 2006. He was asked to step down in November. A recent audit revealed AADP's bookkeeping was not criminal, but also wasn't standard.
"For example, didn't have a good way of purchasing things, certain person in charge purchased what they needed came back, the audit said you should be using purchase orders, you should be going through a central spot here," says Schortgen.
AADP's board is reevaluating the inner workings of the program.
"The buzz word we're using now is that we want to be transparent, we want to be so if anyone looks in there is no question of what we're doing how we're doing it," says Schortgen.
AADP officials say despite all arguments against Antabuse, they believe it has kept thousands of potential drunk drivers off the road we all share.
