LAST-MINUTE CLINIC MORATORIUM IS DISAPPOINTING

The Sanford Council has skirted an application to site a methadone
clinic in town by instead approving a moratorium on such facilities.

We think this was an unprofessional move by the council to prevent a
business from opening within its borders. Although it may be legal, it
seemed like an underhanded move to wait for an application to decide
the ordinance is not sufficient.

Many people may not like having a methadone clinic or marijuana
dispensary in their town, but the fact is, those facilities are
allowed under law and unless a town prohibits or regulates such
places, they should not put up barriers once an application is in hand.

Massachusetts-based Spectrum Health Systems Inc. submitted an
application this fall to build a methadone clinic at 61 Eagle Drive in
Sanford Industrial Estates. The town's industrial parks are approved
as locations for methadone clinics under an ordinance crafted in 2008.
The ordinance prohibits the clinics from locating in the downtown
area, Springvale Village or within a half-mile of any school.

The company was scheduled to go before the planning board for a public
hearing on its application Wednesday, but the hearing has been
canceled since the moratorium was instated on Tuesday.

Town officials should never have sent the ordinance forward if there
were not happy with its wording or regulations. To vote on a
last-minute ban is not the way to do business - it is disrespectful to
the company that spent time and money to put together the application
within the town's guidelines, and it also does not consider the people
who may need access to one of these clinics.

Drug addiction is a major problem, especially in Maine. This state has
the highest rate of prescription drug abuse in the nation, according
to a report from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration released in January. Since 1998, the report
shows, Maine has seen an increase in people seeking treatment for
addiction to non-heroin opiates - and at a higher rate than other
states and the country.

The use of "bath salts" is also on the rise, and in places like
Bangor, police are seeing a spike in use. Bills have been introduced
to make the substance illegal in the state and the nation.

These drug abuse problems will not fix themselves, and part of the
solution is treatment. People need access to that treatment, however,
to get better.

Spectrum Health Systems Inc. was trying to bring that treatment option
to York County. While there are clinics located in New Hampshire and
South Portland, there are no clinics in this county, which may put a
barrier between those who need treatment and a clinic within their
reach.

It is unfortunate that Sanford councilors took this route, but we urge
them to expedite their review process and pass an ordinance with which
they can be satisfied. Spectrum Health Systems Inc. should be allowed
to continue the process where it left off - should it choose to
continue its application - once regulations are in place and the
moratorium has expired.