Pubdate: Tue, 02 Mar 2004
Source: Virginian-Pilot (VA)
Copyright: 2004, The Virginian-Pilot
Contact:  http://www.pilotonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/483
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

HOUSE PASSES CONTROVERSIAL METHADONE BILL, REJECTS ANOTHER

RICHMOND (AP)- Lawmakers on a House panel approved controversial 
legislation Tuesday that would prohibit methadone clinics from operating 
within a half-mile of a school or day-care center.

The same committee also rejected a similar, but less restrictive, measure 
by one vote in what the bill's Democratic patron said amounted to 
"political games."

The bills, sponsored by Sens. William Wampler and John Edwards, both would 
have required the state to notify localities when it receives an 
application to open a clinic in their area. Wampler's proposal added the 
school-proximity restriction, which opponents say would effectively ban 
methadone clinics in many urban areas.

Wampler's bill passed the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee 
by a 14-7 vote, while Edwards' failed 10-9.

Wampler, R-Bristol, said southwest Virginia residents have been enraged by 
recent proposals to open clinics in their neighborhoods, bringing what they 
fear will be an increase in drug trafficking and crime.

But opponents of his measure, who testified before lawmakers for the first 
time Tuesday, said there are too many misconceptions surrounding the 
clinics, which help hundreds of Virginians recover from addictions to 
heroin, morphine and other painkillers, including OxyContin.

"We're already having problems opening up these programs," said Laurel 
Heiser, assistant program director for a private company that operates 
clinics in Virginia. "Folks don't even want to give us a chance."

Heiser testified that many addicts in Virginia already have to travel hours 
to receive methadone treatment. If Wampler's bill passed, there would be 
few spots in the city of Roanoke, for instance, where clinics could legally 
be placed, she said.

"Crime is already going to occur in many of these neighborhoods, especially 
if there are not treatment options," she said.

Wampler said, however, that many clinics become open-air drug markets in 
the hours before they open in the morning, as dealers try to tempt the 
people who come for treatment.

"Methadone treatment, we believe, should be in the proper hospital 
setting," he said. His bill would carve out exceptions for treatment 
programs in hospitals located near schools.

Edwards, D-Roanoke, argued that the half-mile restriction was arbitrary and 
may doom Wampler's bill in the full House. He viewed his proposal as a 
less-intrusive alternative as it only would require the state to inform 
localities of pending license applications to give them time to hold public 
hearings.

Edwards said the House committee may have voted his bill down in response 
to the full Senate re-refering a similar House proposal to committee on 
Monday. Del. Onzlee Ware's bill would only require prior notification of 
planned clinics, like Edwards'.

"I wanted to keep mine separate in case (Wampler's) didn't go through the 
full House," he said. "It seems like political games are being played after 
what the Senate did yesterday on the floor."

The same committee voted down a House bill similar to Wampler's last month, 
but reversed its position on Tuesday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom