WAMPLER LEGISLATION WOULD PUT NEW METHADONE CLINICS ON HOLD

WEBER CITY - All proposed methadone clinics in Virginia could be placed on
a waiting list if sponsored legislation achieves passage in the 2005
session of the Virginia General Assembly.

Sen. William Wampler Jr., R-Bristol, has pre-filed a bill that will be
introduced when the session officially opens on Jan. 20. The bill would
place a moratorium on licenses to new opiate addiction treatment centers in
Virginia.

It marks the second methadone-related bill to be placed on file in Richmond
in the past week.

Delegate Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, has a bill in place that would
prohibit methadone clinics from being established in localities that do not
have zoning ordinances.

Wampler's proposal aims to establish parameters and standards essential to
future clinic establishments, which are regulated by the Virginia
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

"It would take into consideration the number of people in a particular area
that need the treatment, the siting of the clinic, treatment options, and
includes a request to the health commissioner to include intensive
counseling for the patient under treatment," Wampler said.

The bill would also address the clinic's proposed security and
accountability issues.

The legislation stems from local opposition to a proposed methadone clinic
Appalachian Treatment Services is trying to establish in Scott County.

"It's seems with the series of applications that have been introduced,
maybe this is the time to pause and see what exactly the commonwealth's
policy is going to be," said Wampler.