The Alabama Legislature recently passed a bill banning a wide range of synthetic drugs. If the bill is signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley, as expected, the bill will ban dozens of substances used to make items such as "synthetic marijuana," "spice" and other illicit drugs. Synthetic marijuana has been on the rise in Shelby County, as it has been across the state, and can cause seizures, stomach and kidney issues. However, banning such synthetic drugs has been problematic up until now, because if an ingredient in a synthetic drug was banned, drug suppliers would simply change the ingredient to make the synthetic drug legal again. [continues 172 words]
Dear Editor, In the next session of the Alabama legislature, the legal use of medical marijuana will once again come before the house and senate for their consideration. The Michael Phillips Compassionate Care Act (MPCCA) would make it legal, with a doctor's recommendation, to possess and consume marijuana for medicinal purposes. The time has passed for us to deny patients the medicine that they need simply because marijuana has been demonized through U.S. government propaganda. Study after study has shown that marijuana is not the evil substance that we have been led to believe, and study after study has shown that marijuana has more medical uses than nearly any other substance on earth. [continues 300 words]
After years of having no heroin arrests or deaths in Shelby County, 2010 has shown a rising number of both, according to the Shelby County Sheriff's office. Lt. Chris George, commander of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force, said in the last nine months, the task force has had several heroin arrests. "In the past we haven't had any sort of contact with heroin," George said. "It's just strange to go years with no contact at all and over the last few months see an increase." [continues 257 words]
I understand that (CON denial of heart services at hospital) is disappointing to the citizens of Shelby County as I'm a resident. It is very ironic that the issues for Shelby County Treatment Center are similar. There are many citizens that being denied the right to treatment. They are being denied this treatment based on four Shelby County court hearings that didn't produce any evidence, and not one person testified in any of the four cases. These citizens are forced to drive great distances to other counties each and everyday. If there is a need to open heart surgery, than we should and if there is a need for Methadone treatment (then) we should offer that (too). Shelby County officials are wanting to be fair, are they not? Something to think about. Owner, Shelby County Treatment Center [end]
Dear Editor, It's great to hear of the success to date for your drug court system. However, problems with adequate funding are assured, given the experience we've had here in Florida, where the drug court system was first introduced. The system's fatal flaw is the failure to make any distinction between the use and the abuse of any drug, most notably marijuana. Thus, the well-intentioned drug court model is now jammed with thousands of marijuana 'clients' whose need for drug treatment is no more so than an alcohol user who drinks a six pack on the weekend or enjoys wine with his meals. [continues 132 words]
A Shelby County Sheriff's deputy was arrested last week for the distribution of performance enhancing drugs. Brandon Lee O'Dazier, 26, was charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked and then released on bond set at a total of $26,000. "I am disappointed," Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry said, "as is every employee of the Shelby County Sheriff's office that a member of the law enforcement community would violate the trust given to us by the public." [continues 57 words]
In the whirlwind of drug busts, arrests and convictions that surround methamphetamines in Shelby County, consideration for one group of people has been brushed under the rug: children. According to law enforcement officials from Alabama and Shelby County, children often fall victims to abuse and neglect because of a relative's involvement with the creation and trafficking of methamphetamine. "Children are being held hostage in the midst of toxic chemicals and dangerous criminals," Alabama Attorney General Troy King said. "Alabama is suffering the tragic results of the rampant illegal mixing of hazardous substances to create methamphetamine." [continues 302 words]
Waiting to go in to Shelby County District Courtroom No. 5 on Friday morning sits a grandmother, a husband, a businessman and a young housewife. They barely know each other, and yet they have an understanding. They see each other every week, and yet they hope they'll never have to see one another at court again. There are more than 300 others just like them, and each has a similar story to tell. They find their common ground in the fact that they are recovering drug offenders. [continues 472 words]
Beginning July 1, Alabama pharmacies will be required to follow strict guidelines when selling products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine such as decongestants and cold medicines. House Bill 152, championed by Alabama Attorney General Troy King and passed in the Alabama State Legislature last May, is aimed at combating the ever-growing problem of illegal production of methamphetamine in the state. The ingredients in ephedrine products can be used to create illegal methamphetamines. The law requires Alabama pharmacies to either keep these products behind the counter or keep the area of the store where they are on display under video surveillance. [continues 397 words]
Despite opposition and an injunction against one contender, efforts to open a methadone clinic in Shelby County continue. In light of an application by Robert White, president of Cahaba Valley Treatment Center, to open a methadone clinic in Shelby County, Susan Staats-Sidwell, executive director/co-owner of Shelby County Treatment Center, has filed a letter of intent to open the clinic she has been stopped from opening by a Shelby County judge. Sidwell was originally granted a certificate of need last year by the State Health Planning and Development Agency. [continues 819 words]
The director of a methadone clinic in Bessemer has notified a state board that he intends to open a new methadone clinic in Alabaster. Robert White filed a letter of intent with the State Health Planning and Development Agency on Dec. 14. According to state law, he must file the letter of intent before applying for a Certificate of Need from the board. The notice comes on the heels of a year-long battle surrounding the proposed Shelby County Treatment Center in Saginaw, just a few miles from Alabaster. [continues 310 words]
A one-year battle over the opening of Shelby County's first methadone clinic may prompt changes in the approval process for medical facilities in the state. Local legislators have encouraged the State Health Planning and Development Agency to consider changes in the approval process for methadone clinics. Rep. Mike Hill (R-Columbiana) said he and others support changes that would allow affected community members to voice their opposition to any proposed methadone clinic. Under state law, hospitals and methadone clinics are approved in the same way. [continues 323 words]
Appeal Set; Other Applications Looming A Shelby County Circuit judge upheld an order prohibiting a methadone clinic from conducting business in Saginaw. Dan Reeves upheld an injunction against the Shelby County Treatment Center, which was set to open on U.S. Highway 31 in Saginaw. Reeves' decision came last week after a series of court hearings in which the clinic's owners argued that they had the right to open in unincorporated Saginaw. Plaintiffs, including District Attorney Robby Owens and Pelham prosecutor Mickey Johnson, claimed that the clinic owners violated due process by changing the clinic's proposed location to Saginaw. Saginaw residents were never given the opportunity to oppose the clinic, according to the plaintiffs. [continues 563 words]
A Shelby County circuit judge said Friday he will deliver a decision on whether to issue a permanent injunction against the county's first methadone clinic next month. Judge Dan Reeves said plaintiff and defense attorneys will have seven days each to present their final legal arguments to the court, and he will make a decision in three weeks. During Friday's testimony, defense attorney David Belser called a series of witnesses to prove that the clinic's owners intended to open the business in Calera. [continues 162 words]
The warehouse on U.S. Highway 31 in Saginaw that was planned to house Shelby County's first methadone clinic will remain closed pending a third hearing on the controversial drug treatment center's fate. On Monday, Circuit Judge Dan Reeves scheduled a third hearing for Aug. 9, when attorneys representing the clinic's owners can call witnesses. Plaintiffs against the clinic will also call witnesses. Clinic owners Susan Staats-Sidwell and Dr. Glenn Archibald asked Reeves to reverse his earlier ruling that the clinic remain closed until its operators reapply for their operating license. [continues 187 words]
A judge has been asked to permanently block Shelby County's first methadone clinic from opening its doors for business in Saginaw. Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves will hear the case next Monday at 9 a.m. in the Shelby County Courthouse. Last month, Reeves issued a preliminary injunction blocking the clinic owners from opening the medical facility. In January, Susan Staats-Sidwell and Dr. Glenn Archibald were issued a certificate of need from the state Health and Planning Development Agency to open Shelby Treatment Center. The certificate permitted the applicants to administer methadone, a prescription drug used to combat addiction to pain killers and heroin. [continues 197 words]
On Monday morning, residents of Saginaw and opponents of Shelby County's first methadone clinic must crowd the county courthouse to show their true feelings. Do not allow an outside group to determine what businesses are located in your community. In January, a state agency based in Montgomery granted a Certificate of Need to applicants for the county's first methadone clinic. The applicants received approval for their proposal because the public, including our elected officials, were unaware of the looming clinic. [continues 101 words]
A Shelby County judge has halted the opening of the county's first methadone clinic, but attorneys for the clinic want their case heard in Montgomery. Last week, Circuit Judge Dan Reeves ruled that applicants for the Shelby Treatment Center must obtain a new Certificate of Need from the Alabama State Health and Planning Development Agency. The certificate must specify the clinic's proposed location of Saginaw. The original Certificate of Need applied to the entire county. In January, Susan Staats-Sidwell and Dr. Glenn Archibald were issued a Certificate of Need from the State Health and Planning Development Agency to open Shelby Treatment Center. The certificate permitted the applicants to administer methadone, a prescription drug used to combat addiction to pain killers and heroin. [continues 326 words]
Dear Editor: In response to the editorial in last week's SCR, I guess I am one of the pot-clanging witches better known as concerned citizens of the Saginaw community. I fail to find how the sermon the mount and a synthetic heroin developed by Adolf Hitler's Nazi chemist in the 1940s have anything in common. Jesus, as I was taught, was far from an addict. As far as wanting another bite from the regulatory apple, we, as Saginaw citizens and county leaders, weren't given the first bite from the apple. [continues 98 words]
Second Hearing Expected In Montgomery, DA Says Attorney Robby Owens said Monday he expects the case for the county's first methadone clinic to go to a state board in Montgomery before methadone treatment begins in Saginaw. On Friday, Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves issued a preliminary injunction against Shelby Treatment Center. Reeves upheld a temporary restraining order he had issued last month against the drug treatment center. Much of Friday's hearing centered on whether the public notice given for the proposed methadone clinic was sufficient. [continues 470 words]
