Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 Source: Bristol Herald Courier (VA) Copyright: 2004 Bristol Herald Courier Contact: http://www.bristolnews.com/contact.html Website: http://www.bristolnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1211 Author: Tommy A. Shortt OPPOSED TO CLINIC This is in response to your Dec. 21 Sunday Centerpiece, "A Bitter Pill." I am a Tazewell County resident and would like Washington County residents to be aware of what occurred in our area. When Life Center of Galax-Tazewell proposed to open a methadone treatment facility off Route 19 in Wardell, there were over 375 signatures of residents who opposed the clinic. Our elected county officials ignored this. Also in the "Bitter Pill" article, there were local citizens offering support for this facility. I feel Veronica and Buddy McGlothlin are biased because they own the property/building that LCG-Tazewell operates from. They know that many people in the area are still opposed to a methadone clinic in operation in our county. The clinic has had numerous clients in traffic accidents due to individuals' high dosage levels; the traffic congestion the clinic has caused creates much turmoil within its operating vicinity and crime is no lower in the area than it was before LCG-Tazewell began operating. I just want to make sure Washington County residents are aware of their officials' decisions and that a methadone clinic in our area has not accomplished anything, except make its owners' wealthier, due to individuals' poor decisions to abuse opiates. Tommy A. Shortt, Richlands, Va. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek