Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jun 2005
Source: Middlesboro Daily News, The (KY)
Copyright: 2005 None found
Contact:  http://www.middlesborodailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1854
Author: Daniel Bruce
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)

STATE TO RULE ON CLINIC AFTER FRIDAY MEETING

The last legal hurdle to dispensing Methadone at Rehabilitation Drug 
Services, located in downtown Middlesboro, could be cleared on Friday 
when the business' application to dispense the drug is reviewed by a 
state panel.

The business successfully submitted their application by the Monday 
deadline. The review is slated for Friday in Frankfort.

According to Dr. Ronald Dubin, founder of M.A.D (Middlesboro Against 
Drugs), his organization has been told they will not be allowed to 
take part in the meeting.

"People of Middlesboro demand to be heard and represented during this 
meeting," said Dubin.

State Narcotic Authority administrator Mac Bell could not be reached 
for comment on Tuesday, but Dubin said Bell assured him that if the 
meeting needed to be open it would be.

"If it's within their legal right to have this [meeting] closed, then 
we'll do nothing. But if it should be an open meeting, we'll have to 
discuss it further," said Dubin. Dubin said he suspected legal action 
may be taken by the city of Middlesboro if the clinic is allowed to 
dispense Methadone.

A. Thomas Monceret, a Knoxville attorney representing the clinics 
owners Barbara Smith and Pam Wenger said said that if the state does 
not license the clinic, he would advise his clients to file a suit 
under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Since the June 7 Middlesboro City Council meeting in which clinic 
officials addressed the council in an effort to inform the community 
of their intentions, a steady outpouring of public opposition has 
crystallized around MAD.

Two days later, MAD members and other concerned citizens packed the 
Middlesboro City Council chambers to voice their concerns to Bell.

On June 16, MAD hosted a protest rally downtown that drew more than 300 people.
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