Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC) Copyright: 2003 Sun Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987 Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs Author: David Klepper, The Sun News Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) Methadone CLINIC TO PROTEST ORDER TO STAY SHUT Horry County's first methadone clinic will fight a county order that it not open before the county's zoning board of appeals rehears the clinic's case in January. The clinic, which has not officially opened but has hired employees and begun arranging appointments, plans to protest the order before Circuit Judge John Breeden at 2:30 p.m. today in Georgetown. The county doesn't want the clinic to open before the board meets. Until then, the clinic's approval is in question. If Breeden reverses the county's order, the clinic could open before the Board of Adjustments and Zoning Appeals decides its fate. Opponents of the methadone clinic, ready to open near Fantasy Harbour, called the county's order another victory in their fight to keep the clinic out of Horry County. The clinic's advocates have insisted it will provide a vital service to the Grand Strand's recovering drug addicts, many of whom now drive daily to Charleston, Columbia or Wilmington, N.C. Residents and the parents of children who attend nearby Bridgewater Academy say they're concerned the clinic will bring drugs and crime to the area. Methadone is an addictive narcotic used to treat addiction to heroin, OxyContin, morphine and other opiates. S.C. Rep. Thad Viers, who persuaded the county's Board of Adjustments and Zoning Appeals last week to rehear the case, said the county made the right move by ordering the clinic to close until the board rehears the case. "They operate at their own peril," he said. "Technically, the clinic is not legal anymore." The clinic's attorney, Reynolds Williams, said he thought Breeden had already made it clear that the clinic must be allowed to open while the county reconsiders its approval. Last month, Breeden ruled that the board had the authority to reconsider its own decisions, even 17 months after it initially voted to approve the clinic. But Breeden indicated then that he didn't think the clinic should be shut down pending that reconsideration. County officials said they don't want the clinic to open before the rehearing. "The county wants to protect the status quo," said Janet Carter, the county's Planning Director and assistant attorney. Now, it will be up to Breeden to decide whether the county has the power to block the clinic from opening before the rehearing. The clinic has hired employees and spent about $500,000 since receiving its approval to open in July 2002. The clinic still is not open, though it is arranging appointments for clients. The zoning board will take up the issue Jan. 12. At that meeting, the board will listen to both sides before deciding whether to let its earlier approval stand. The zoning board approved the clinic in July 2002 with little fanfare. Since then, however, public outcry over the clinic prompted Viers to ask the board to reconsider. About 100 people came to last week's meeting to speak against the clinic. The clinic's attorney has argued that reversing the approval now would set a precedent that could threaten any property owner. Viers and others have speculated that the clinic might sue the county if the approval is reversed. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl