METH CLINIC GETS 60-DAY REPRIEVE

Like the Timex watch, the Opelousas Narcotic Treatment Clinic
takes a licking but keeps on ticking.

The clinic lost its license through litigation filed by a competitor
in the 19th Judicial Court and in the Third Court of Appeal. Its writ
was denied by the Louisiana Supreme Court. It was then ordered to
close on Aug. 31 by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

Yet, on Thursday, the clinic was given another 60 days to re-organize
as a medication facility under its parent methadone clinic in Lake
Charles, thus providing limited services to St. Landry citizens for at
least two more months.

John (last name excluded for privacy), an Opelousas painter with a
long time pill addiction, said he was pleased and relieved that the
clinic was still open.

"This is all about money," he said. "There is no compassion at all for
the people who need this clinic. This clinic has changed my life. I go
to work, I go home, I go to bed, I go back to work. I used to spend
all week working just to spend my money on drugs. It's under control
now. I've been clean for two years. I want my clinic."

Joel, an Opelousas salesman, said the clinic "saved my life. I was
really bad off. I was crushing Oxycodine up and using it
intravenously. I've taken over 40 drug tests, and I failed only my
first two. Now I have a job and I'm rebuilding my life. The judge saw
that the clinic is filling a need and he did what he could to help us
in spite of Mr. Delahoussaye's selfish actions."

In his ruling from the bench, 27th Judicial District Court Judge James
T. Genovese said, "I am going to keep this clinic open for a certain
period of time so that the people of this parish will not suffer.
However, I do not have the legal authority to keep this clinic open
without a license."

Nor does he have the authority to overturn or amend the ruling of
another district court or the court of appeal, Genovese said.

Genovese stressed the clinic is in effect operating without a license
since it was rescinded in the wake of a lawsuit filed by Richard
Delahoussaye of the Opioid Replacement Therapy Center in Breaux Bridge.

The lawsuit centered on a technical question of a needs assessment
survey. It also centered on the ORTC's geographic radius for its
client base. The appelate court affirmed the lower court's ruling that
the Opelousas clinic has not properly filed the necessary paper work
to obtain a license and thus their license was null and void. While
the legal battle was raging, the Louisiana house and senate passed a
moratorium on the licensing of methadone clinics in the state.

Saying he did all he could do to help resolve the issue of serving the
public, Genovese issued a temporary restraining order delaying an the
DHH decision declare the license null and void and thus shut down the
clinic.

His order allows the clinic to continue serving its 60 clients for 60
more days.

Dr. Alex John and his wife, Diana Mahannah-John, have been operating
the clinic at 230 South Court St. for more than two years. John said
he and his wife immediately will begin converting the clinic into a
medication unit, which offers scaled down services. He also said that
he will do whatever he can to keep the clinic open.

"There is no doubt in my mind that there is a need and I will not let
the citizens down," John said.

St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor said he believed
keeping the clinic open is a good fight and he applauded Genovese's
decision.

"I think it is worth fighting for and saving. I hope we are able to
save it for our area. I have seen and heard of good results," Taylor
said.