Pubdate: Fri, 29 Apr 2005
Source: Kingsport Times-News (TN)
Copyright: 2005 Kingsport Publishing Corporation
Contact: 
http://gotricities.net/domains/timesnews.net/lettertoEditor.dna?action=new
Website: http://www.timesnews.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1437
Author: Walter Littrell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

LEE PLANNERS VOTE AGAINST METHADONE CLINIC PROPOSAL

JONESVILLE - Members of the Lee County Planning Commission wrapped up a 
lengthy and divided public hearing Thursday with a short but divided vote 
on a proposal to allow a methadone clinic to locate in Dryden.

The commission voted 3-0-1 to recommend that the Lee County Board of 
Supervisors deny a request by Life Center of Galax for a zoning text 
amendment that would allow the operation of a methadone clinic in a village 
commercial zone by special use permit. The vote made moot an application by 
the company for the special use permit.

The motion to recommend against the amendment was offered by Commissioner 
C.R. Wynn and was seconded by Commissioner Joyce Williams.

Chairman Doug McConnell cast his vote with Wynn and Williams, but 
Commissioner Barbara Sue Hensley chose to abstain. Commissioner Gerald 
Williams was not present for the vote but had sat through much of the hearing.

Following the meeting, Williams explained that the hearing went much longer 
than he anticipated, and he'd stepped out to make a business call not 
anticipating a vote before he returned. Williams added that he would have 
voted to deny the change had he been present.

Hensley said she abstained because she is aware of a drug problem in the 
county, and she was "not going to vote to get rid of everything, because we 
need something."

Prior to the commission taking public comment, County Administrator Dane 
Poe told commissioners that legislation adopted earlier this year by the 
General Assembly requires that in addition to existing regulations, the 
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse 
Services establish standards to evaluate the need and appropriateness for 
the issuance of new licenses to methadone providers.

After explaining some of the criteria, Poe said the bill also places a 
moratorium on the issuance of new licenses for such providers until the 
date on which the new regulations become effective.

Poe said that he has asked the department's licensing office about Life 
Center's request and was told that it would not be seen as a new license 
but only a service modification, based on an informal opinion from the 
attorney general.

"Since it appears to be unclear as to how this request should be treated 
under the new legislation, I have sent a letter to (the department) 
requesting clarification as soon as possible in order that Lee County 
officials have accurate information in their decision-making process," said 
Poe, who added that he was not speaking for or against the proposal, but 
merely providing information he thought the commission might find helpful.

Although McConnell requested that all speakers keep their comments under 
five minutes each, he allowed Life Center officials to give a lengthy 
presentation on how their clinic would operate.

Debbie Schmidt, director of business development, told the commission the 
clinic would provide medication-assisted treatment for individuals 
suffering from opioid dependence for more than one year and who are over 
the age of 18. Priority would be given to Lee County residents, provided 
that does not conflict with obligations under federal or state laws.

Schmidt said her company currently provides treatment to 150 individuals 
from the Dryden area, and those would be the first patients accepted at the 
Dryden facility should it be permitted. She estimated that the clinic would 
serve 250 to 300 patients by the end of its first year of operation.

She said while many people have concerns about methadone clinics, most are 
based on myth. She said methadone clinics actually reduce crime in areas 
where they operate, are patrolled for safety, and the buildings are secure 
to prevent robberies.

Ed Olinger, director of outpatient services, added that while his company 
does make a profit from its patients, its goal is to give people a normal 
life and get them off drugs - not to trade one addiction for another, as 
many believe.

Of the dozen or so speakers who voiced opposition to the clinic, most were 
concerned about that exact point. One speaker even noted that her daughter 
died from an overdose of methadone. Other speakers said they believed the 
clinic would drive down property values, draw undesirables to the 
community, send the wrong message to youth, or would bring more drugs to 
the county. Some said they believed the location was too close to other 
businesses, schools and a nursing home.

Two women who described themselves as recovering addicts and patients of 
the Life Center's facility in Cedar Bluff encouraged the commission to 
recommend approval. They said having a clinic nearer home would help others 
who can't afford to travel to get into treatment.

"It doesn't bring a bad element to the county - it's already here," said 
Summer Pendergraft. "People oppose it without knowing what it even is. It's 
a great thing because it saved my life."

Dryden resident Carol Barnett encouraged approval, saying a methadone 
clinic had saved the lives of several of her family members.

This comment prompted a later speaker to urge the commission to weigh the 
number of lives saved by such clinics against the number of lives methadone 
had claimed.

Before closing the hearing, McConnell said the Board of Supervisors will 
have the final say in the matter at its May 17 meeting, which begins at 5 
p.m. in the general district courtroom.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom