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.