PROTEST DRAWS 300

MIDDLESBORO - An estimated 300 people attended a rally Thursday
evening to protest a downtown clinic that plans to treat drug addicts
with methadone.

The rally, organized by M.A.D. (Middlesboro Against Drugs), was held
at the city parking lot just a few blocks from the site of
Rehabilitation Drug Services.

"We are here to let everyone know that we do not want a methadone
clinic in our town," said Dr. Ronald Dubin, an orthopedic surgeon who
established M.A.D. to oppose the clinic.

Placards reading 'Say No To Methadone' and 'M.A.D.' were passed out to
members of the crowd who applauded as several speakers voiced their
concerns about the clinic.

Though the owers say they only plan to treat up to 120 people per day
at the clinic, there are fears that number could quicy grow to as many
as 600 if the clinic is successful.

"The idea of 600 drug addicted people coming down Cumberland Avenue
every day scares me and it should scare you," local attorney Bill
Hayes told the audience. "Having a methadone clinic so close to our
schools is not safe and it's completely unnecessary." The clinic would
be only one block - or 190 steps - from St. Julian Catholic School,
three blocks from East End Intermediate School and within three miles
of all the schools in the city.

Opponents of the clinic say that it will attract more drug users to
the city along with dealers eager to offer illegal drugs to the
recovering addicts.

John Brown, a Middlesboro attorney and former investigator for the
Daytona Beach, Fla., Police Department, said crimes of all kinds will
increase in the area because of the element brought by the clinic.

"It will change the face of the earth as we know it here," he said.
"The police here do a wonderful job, but they will not be able to
handle it unless they double the force."

The city approved a business license for Rehabilitation Drug Services
in March and they been approved for opening by all required regulatory
agencies at the state and federal level except for the State Narcotic
Authority. SNA Administrator Mac Bell said panel will rule on their
application by June 24.

Dubin said that over the past two weeks over 8,000 letters have been
sent to Frankfort asking that the SNA not approve a license for the
clinic.

The city council unanimously voted not to support to the clinic's
efforts to gain a license at their meeting on June 7. About 125 people
attended that meeting, and another last Thursday with Bell in
attendance, most to voice their opposition to the clinic.

Bell said that state law does not require a community to be in support
of a methadone program for it to be licensed. The law does require a
memorandum of agreement between the clinic and a local hospital as
well as local law enforcement and the jailer.

Middlesboro Appalachian Regional Hostipal administrator Gene Faile
said he had not been contacted by Rehabilitation Drug Services and all
the doctors on staff were opposed to the clinic. Clinic co-owners Pam
Wenger and Barbara Smith say they have an agreement in place with
Baptist Hosptial in Corbin.

Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett originally signed a letter of
support for the clinic, but has since withdrawn his support. Speaking
at Thursday's rally, he said offered his support before he knew that
the clinic would be using methadone.

"There's been alot of talk about what I stood for and what I didn't,"
he said. "We need drug rehabilitation center, but I never did support
a methadone clinic and I never will."

Dubin said that M.A.D. also wants to get involved in finding
acceptable solutions to the drug problem that exists in Middlesboro
and the surrounding area.

"We don't want to just be a group that's against something - we want
to support programs that educate and treat those thinking about drugs,
those on drugs and those addicted to drugs," he said.

The final speaker at the rally was Dr. Edwin Robertson, representing
the Celebrate Recovery program at Pump Springs Baptist Church in
Harrogate, Tenn.

"The chuch as a whole has become less and less of a refuge for people
needing help," he said. "Celebrate Recovery is a ministry of hope - a
Christ-centered recovery program for individuals and their families
dealing with emotional distress andaddictive issues."

At Pump Springs, the group meets on Tuesday nights for an upbeat
celebration service followed by small support group sessions,
Robertson said. On Thursday nights, participants attend classes
designed as follow up support to the initial detox, rehab or
counselling that a person has already received.

He said anyone interested in learning more about the program at Pump
Springs or in starting such a program at their own church could
contact him.