Pubdate: Wed, 17 Dec 2003
Source: Sun News (Myrtle Beach, SC)
Copyright: 2003 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Note: apparent 150 word limit on LTEs
Author: David Klepper, The Sun News
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

Methadone

CLINIC TO PROTEST ORDER TO STAY SHUT

Horry County's first methadone clinic will fight a county order that it not 
open before the county's zoning board of appeals rehears the clinic's case 
in January.

The clinic, which has not officially opened but has hired employees and 
begun arranging appointments, plans to protest the order before Circuit 
Judge John Breeden at 2:30 p.m. today in Georgetown.

The county doesn't want the clinic to open before the board meets. Until 
then, the clinic's approval is in question.

If Breeden reverses the county's order, the clinic could open before the 
Board of Adjustments and Zoning Appeals decides its fate.

Opponents of the methadone clinic, ready to open near Fantasy Harbour, 
called the county's order another victory in their fight to keep the clinic 
out of Horry County.

The clinic's advocates have insisted it will provide a vital service to the 
Grand Strand's recovering drug addicts, many of whom now drive daily to 
Charleston, Columbia or Wilmington, N.C.

Residents and the parents of children who attend nearby Bridgewater Academy 
say they're concerned the clinic will bring drugs and crime to the area.

Methadone is an addictive narcotic used to treat addiction to heroin, 
OxyContin, morphine and other opiates.

S.C. Rep. Thad Viers, who persuaded the county's Board of Adjustments and 
Zoning Appeals last week to rehear the case, said the county made the right 
move by ordering the clinic to close until the board rehears the case.

"They operate at their own peril," he said. "Technically, the clinic is not 
legal anymore."

The clinic's attorney, Reynolds Williams, said he thought Breeden had 
already made it clear that the clinic must be allowed to open while the 
county reconsiders its approval.

Last month, Breeden ruled that the board had the authority to reconsider 
its own decisions, even 17 months after it initially voted to approve the 
clinic. But Breeden indicated then that he didn't think the clinic should 
be shut down pending that reconsideration.

County officials said they don't want the clinic to open before the rehearing.

"The county wants to protect the status quo," said Janet Carter, the 
county's Planning Director and assistant attorney.

Now, it will be up to Breeden to decide whether the county has the power to 
block the clinic from opening before the rehearing.

The clinic has hired employees and spent about $500,000 since receiving its 
approval to open in July 2002. The clinic still is not open, though it is 
arranging appointments for clients.

The zoning board will take up the issue Jan. 12. At that meeting, the board 
will listen to both sides before deciding whether to let its earlier 
approval stand.

The zoning board approved the clinic in July 2002 with little fanfare. 
Since then, however, public outcry over the clinic prompted Viers to ask 
the board to reconsider. About 100 people came to last week's meeting to 
speak against the clinic.

The clinic's attorney has argued that reversing the approval now would set 
a precedent that could threaten any property owner.

Viers and others have speculated that the clinic might sue the county if 
the approval is reversed.
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MAP posted-by: Jackl