Pubdate: Wed, 16 Jun 2004
Source: Roanoke Times (VA)
Copyright: 2004 Roanoke Times
Contact:  http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/368
Author: Laurence Hammack, The Roanoke Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

INSPECTORS FIND METHADONE CLINIC IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS

The Clinic That Is Planned At 3208 Hershberger Road In Roanoke Could Open 
In Another Six To 12 Weeks.

A proposed methadone clinic is one step closer to an opening that will draw 
drug addicts seeking treatment and, in all likelihood, protests from the 
surrounding Northwest Roanoke neighborhood.

State inspectors visited the site at 3208 Hershberger Road on Monday and 
were generally satisfied with what they saw, according to Ralph Sroufe, 
regional manager of the office of licensing in the state Department of 
Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

"As far as the office of licensing is concerned, they are in compliance 
with our regulations at this point," Sroufe said.

Inspectors plan a follow-up visit to address a few remaining issues. For 
one thing, Sroufe said, they need to review personnel records of a few 
employees yet to be hired.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, he said, the Roanoke Treatment Center 
should receive its state license within the next month. However, the clinic 
cannot begin operations until it obtains approval from the Virginia Board 
of Pharmacy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which had a 
representative present during Monday's inspection.

That means it could be another six to 12 weeks before the clinic opens, 
said Joe Pritchard of CRC Health Group. The California-based company plans 
to run an outpatient treatment program that will offer counseling and daily 
doses of methadone for addicts of opium-based drugs such as OxyContin and 
heroin.

Residents of the area have opposed the clinic, saying it will create drug 
dealing and crime in their neighborhood.

At a news conference last month, residents watched a videotape produced by 
the Santa Ana Police Department that showed loitering, open-air drug 
dealing and other problems associated with a methadone clinic in a 
residential area of that California city.

Working with police and the city attorney's office, residents filed a 
petition declaring the clinic a public nuisance. The litigation was settled 
under the condition that the clinic be moved to a more appropriate 
location, Santa Ana City Attorney Joseph Fletcher said.

Jeff Artis, a community activist who is leading opposition to the Roanoke 
clinic, said it is likely to cause the same problems as the one in Santa 
Ana because of similarities in the two neighborhoods.

The Hershberger Road site is in a mixed residential and commercial area 
with three schools nearby. More than 2,000 people have signed petitions 
opposing the clinic, and Artis said some opponents plan to protest outside 
the building and monitor patients.

"If they open up, it's going to be the '60s all over again," Artis said at 
the news conference. "We're going to picket; we're going to protest."

After meeting with CRC officials earlier in the year, residents were 
hopeful the company would find an alternative location. Pritchard said 
Tuesday that he is still open to that idea, but no suitable alternatives 
have been presented.

CRC expects to treat between 200 and 400 drug addicts at the clinic. Police 
in other Virginia jurisdictions with methadone clinics have said they have 
not experienced major crime or other problems associated with the treatment 
centers.

Problems at the Santa Ana clinic were as much a result of poor management 
by its previous owner as the location, Fletcher said. While the court case 
was pending, the clinic was purchased by CRC Health Group, which has 
overseen operations at a new location removed from homes and schools.

Fletcher said he is not aware of any problems at the new location.

Pritchard, vice president for operations for CRC's eastern region, said he 
believes state regulators decided to visit the Roanoke site twice because 
it has generated so much concern in the community. "Which is good," he added.
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