Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jun 2005
Source: Beaufort Gazette, The (SC)
Copyright: 2005 The Beaufort Gazette
Contact:  http://www.beaufortgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1806
Author: Jessica Flathman, The Island Packet
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

STATE OKS METHADONE CLINIC

JASPER COUNTY -- Recovering drug addicts throughout the Lowcountry should 
have better access to treatment this summer.

The state gave official permission for a methadone clinic to prepare to 
open off of S.C. 170 in Jasper County. But before the clinic can begin 
operating, it needs federal approval to distribute methadone and state 
confirmation that it's staffed and set up properly.

"We have given them a permit ... that says we're approving you to operate 
this type of facility," said Albert Whiteside, director of the state 
Department of Health and Environmental Control's Division of Planning and 
Certificate of Need. The approval, called a certificate of need, was issued 
April 26.

Dr. Bill Scott, a partner in the planned Jasper County facility called 
Recovery Concepts, said the clinic is being prepared. The facility is 
working with the state health licensing division and the federal Drug 
Enforcement Administration to get the necessary approvals to open.

"We're in the inspection process and hiring," Scott said.

Ruth Porter-Whipple, a drug enforcement spokeswoman, said the clinic had 
applied for federal approval, which is required for any doctor, pharmacist 
or other entity legally distributing drugs. The application can't be 
considered until all the state's approvals have been issued. The agency 
specifically looks at how the clinic will keep its records and how it will 
keep the

methadone secure.

Randy Clark, director of the state health facilities oversight program, 
said the clinic was in the process of being licensed by the state.

Scott said the facility is already getting calls from potential clients.

"We've been hearing some from patients, mostly, 'When are you open?'" Scott 
said. The nearest clinics are in Charleston and Savannah.

Methadone is a drug given to recovering addicts to break their dependency 
on substances such as heroin, morphine, OxyContin and other opioid drugs. 
Methadone keeps people physically dependent but without the extreme highs 
and lows in mood brought on by the other opioids.

The treatment eliminates the withdrawal symptoms for between 24 and 36 
hours when given daily, according to the federal Office of National Drug 
Control Policy.

The clinic in Jasper County originally was given state approval in August 
2004, but an appeal by a competing applicant held up the final issuance. 
Judge John Geathers, with the Administrative Law Court, said in an April 
ruling that the state could give permission for the Jasper County clinic to 
open while still considering the application from a Pennsylvania-based 
group to open a similar clinic in greater Bluffton.

Geathers said in his ruling the state erred by considering the two projects 
in competition with each other.

In August, the state denied the permit for the greater Bluffton clinic in 
favor of the clinic in Jasper County.

Whiteside said the state has received a letter from the Pennsylvania group 
asking to set up a meeting to discuss the application and see if any 
updates are needed. Officials with the group couldn't be reached for 
comment Tuesday.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom