LIFE CENTER ABANDONS PLANS FOR DRYDEN METHADONE CLINIC - FOR NOW

JONESVILLE - For the second time this year, a company hoping to locate a
methadone clinic in Lee County has, at least temporarily, suspended its
efforts.

In January, Life Center of Galax obtained a business license to locate a
proposed clinic in the former rural health clinic in Pennington Gap. Those
efforts were stymied the following day when the Lee County Industrial
Development Authority obtained an option on the building with hopes of
locating another business there.

In March, the company made a presentation to the Board of Supervisors
outlining its plans for locating a clinic in Dryden. Later the company
applied with the county's Planning Commission for a zoning text amendment
that would allow methadone clinics to locate in a village/commercial zone
with a special-use permit. The company also sought the permit.

The commission held a public hearing on the two issues last week and voted
to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that the zoning change be denied.
This made moot a hearing and vote on the permit. During the hearing, about
a dozen speakers voiced their opposition to the clinic, and several
presented petitions signed by numerous others who opposed the clinic. Three
speakers - two of whom said they are patients of Life Center's Cedar Bluff
facility - encouraged commissioners to approve the clinic.

Regardless of what the Planning Commission recommends, the Board of
Supervisors has the final say, and supervisors were planning to conduct a
public hearing on the issues at their next meeting on May 17.

But the day after the Planning Commission hearing, Life Center CEO Tina
Bullins sent a letter to the county advising that the company is
withdrawing its request for the zoning text amendment and the special-use
permit.

"Following the hearing with the Lee County Planning Commission last night,
we believe it is important that we continue to work with citizens of Lee
County to provide additional education and information prior to proceeding
in this process," Bullins wrote.

County Administrator Dane Poe said Tuesday that the hearing supervisors
were planning has not been advertised, and since the company has withdrawn
its request, there will be no need for a hearing. Therefore one will not be
held as discussed.

Also on Tuesday, Debby Schmidt, director of business development for Life
Center's parent company, said while there is a serious need for treatment
services in the county, the company is aware of concerns of the community,
and it aims to be respectful of those concerns.

"We are going to take some time and provide enough communication and
education so people become more comfortable with us providing medically
assisted treatment," said Schmidt.

To do this, she said, Life Center will develop a community advisory board
composed of area clergy members, health care providers, business leaders,
political leaders, law enforcement, school officials and others from the
general public. The board will help conduct health fairs and other meetings
to introduce the public to what methadone clinics are all about, address
areas of community concern, help identify a suitable location for the
proposed clinic, and generally help bring the entire community into the
process, she said.

"We want to provide service without controversy," said Schmidt. "There will
be more visits, meetings and dialogue, and hopefully we can find a solution."

Schmidt said she expects it will take about eight weeks to get the advisory
board together and about another month or so to get the board together for
its first planning meeting. She encourages anyone interested in
participating on the board to contact her office at (619)388-8001 and leave
a message.

"We welcome all calls," she said.

She further invited Lee Countians to visit the company's other facilities
to learn more about the services they provide.

Life Center of Galax is owned by California-based CRC Health Corp.
Currently in Southwest Virginia, the company operates clinics in Cedar
Bluff, Galax and Roanoke.