Pubdate: Thu, 31 Aug 2006
Source: Times-Journal, The (Fort Payne, AL)
Copyright: 2006 Times-Journal
Contact:  http://www.times-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1883
Author: Mark Harrison
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

CLINIC REMAINS OPPOSED LOCALLY

Although a proposed methadone clinic won't locate near Minvale Church 
in Fort Payne, that doesn't mean it won't be coming to the city at all.

Alva Lambert, executive director of the State Health Planning and 
Development Agency, attended a meeting at Ryan's in Fort Payne 
Wednesday to talk with community leaders about the proposed clinic.

In January, the SHPDA's Certificate of Need Board in Montgomery voted 
4-2 to approve the clinic. Since that time, two locations in Fort 
Payne have been proposed - the first being near the movie theater.

The CON later approved a change to the old A&J Hosiery building at 
110 20th Street, NW. - a building close to Minvale Baptist Church and 
its Life Center, and less than 50 feet from a church-sponsored 
children's playground.

The CON board rescinded approval to the change after community 
leaders, Minvale church members, and others voiced concerns about a 
clinic being so near the church and playground.

On Wednesday, Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, Fort Payne Mayor Bill 
Jordan, DeKalb District Attorney Mike O'Dell and members of DeKalb's 
drug treatment and law enforcement communities again voiced 
opposition to the clinic being anywhere in Fort Payne.

"There is no location in any part of DeKalb County that would be 
acceptable to us. We just don't believe we have a problem here," Barron said.

O'Dell said he has spoken to methadone clinic operators in cities 
within about a 100 mile radius of Fort Payne, and said those clinics 
show they are treating virtually no patients from DeKalb County at this time.

Holland and Heathery Inc., a Cullman based company, plans to open the 
methadone clinic - a treatment center for opiate addicts - in Fort Payne.

O'Dell said he believes existing drug addiction treatment programs, 
such as the county's drug referral and drug court programs, are 
already serving the needs of opiate addicts.

"We have one of the best drug courts and the best drug referral 
programs in the state, possibly the nation. We are already dealing 
with this problem from a different perspective. From August 2005 
until August 2006, we processed a total of only 25 opiate addicts 
though our court system. That's a very low number," O'Dell said.

He said he takes exception to some public comments about people in 
the local Christian community not working to help addicts.

"We have very, very strong faith-based initiatives in both DeKalb and 
Cherokee counties to help people recovering from addictions. It's the 
opinion of a lot of people that a methadone clinic would not be 
conducive to rehabilitative treatment," O'Dell said.

Jordan agreed. "There just really isn't any need for us to have a 
methadone clinic here," he said.

Lambert said the CON board already considered arguments against a 
local methadone clinic when considering whether or not to grant approval.

"The horse is already out of the barn," he said.

Lambert said the CON board would have to approve a change of 
location, and the Alabama Department of Mental Health would have to 
license the facility, but said the certificate of need already 
applies to the entire county. "Once that has been granted, that says 
there is a need," he said.

Both Barron and O'Dell said they believe the CON board granted 
approval for the wrong reason - to avoid a lawsuit.

O'Dell said community representatives went to Montgomery and opposed 
initial approval of the CON.

"The CON board has not heard the last of this," Barron said. "They 
seem more concerned about what the courts will say than what the 
citizens of this city have to say."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom