Pubdate: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 Source: Birmingham News, The (AL) 30.xml Copyright: 2003 The Birmingham News Contact: http://al.com/birminghamnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45 Author: Nancy Wilstach Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) METHADONE CLINIC OPPOSED BY SHELBY PANEL The Shelby County commission voted unanimously Monday night to oppose a methadone clinic proposed for Calera. A letter expressing their opposition to a Certificate Of Need will be filed with the State Health Planning and Development Agency, which controls what health services can be offered and where. "I am unalterably opposed to the substitution of one substance abuse for another," said Commissioner Earl Cunningham, sworn in before Monday's meeting. Cunningham cited the Dec. 8 deadline for submitting formal opposition to the state agency as a reason for urgency. The commissioners also received a letter from Sheriff Chris Curry opposing the clinic. Susan Staats-Sidwell, executive director of the Northwest Alabama Treatment Center, wants to open the Calera clinic. She has said that addicts in Shelby County are traveling daily to her Bessemer clinic. The clinic, an opiate replacement center, would distribute methadone, a drug taken by mouth to reduce the physical desire for illegal drugs, such as painkillers and heroin. Methadone must be prescribed and administered by health professionals. Staats-Sidwell has said addicts will not be driving from Jefferson County to Shelby County. There are four methadone programs in Jefferson County and none in Shelby County. Curry said methadone can be misused by addicts who take it along with the same drugs it is intended to supplant. "My position is that this is deadly," Curry said. "In this county in the last week, we have had two overdoses. One subject's respiration was down to four times a minute. It was Oxycontin and methadone." Cunningham was sworn in by Probate Judge Patricia Fuhrmeister before Monday's meeting as his granddaughter, Cheniah Williams, 10, a fifth-grader at Chelsea Elementary School, held the Bible. Cunningham was appointed by Gov. Bob Riley to finish the unexpired term of the late George Dailey. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh