SCOTT PROSECUTOR SAYS METHADONE CLINIC WOULD INVITE ADDICTS
INTO THE COUNTY

GATE CITY - A proposed Scott County methadone clinic would put out the
welcome mat to one classification of society - the drug-addicted - say
high-ranking law enforcement officials.

Commonwealth's Attorney Marcus McClung and Sheriff Jerry Broadwater
conveyed those opinions in their respective letters to the Virginia
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Appalachian Treatment Services has requested a license to open a
methadone clinic along U.S. Route 23 near Weber City. The proposed
clinic would treat a clientele from a multistate region, according to
ATS Director Richard Skelskey.

Calling it a "detriment" to Scott County, McClung points to the
attitude of possible visitors to the clinics.

"The purpose of this type of clinic is to treat severely addicted drug
users. When an individual is addicted to drugs, nothing else
matters," McClung's letter states.

"Not their kids, not their home, not even themselves, nothing except
finding their drugs and staying high. ... By allowing this clinic to
be located in Weber City we are essentially inviting these addicts
into our homes."

McClung added that serving the addicts who live in the Tri-Cities and
neighboring localities - more notably the cities of Bristol and
Kingsport and the states of Kentucky and North Carolina - will be done
at the expense of the county and its residents.

"Let me ask you, if you were a drug dealer and you knew where a large
number of addicts were going to be on a regular basis - where would
you set up shop?" McClung asked.

Broadwater described the drug addicts who frequent these clinics as
homeless, traveling extensively, often sleeping in abandoned
buildings, under bridges and on the streets near the clinics.

"This is also inviting intravenous drug use and the diseases
associated with misuse such as hepatitis and AIDS. It is well-known
that addicts often reuse and share syringes and materials that are not
sterile."

Besides local law enforcement, a group that is made up of several
Southwest Virginia counties that actively pursues drug pushers in the
region has also submitted a letter of opposition to state licensing
officials.

The coordinator of the Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force,
Richard Stallard, recalled recent comments from Virginia State Police
Capt. G.J. Miles that problems have accompanied these types of clinics.

"The clinic would only bring in more drug problems. The consensus is a
methadone clinic would bring individuals to the area that are prone to
a stronger type of drug addiction," said Stallard.

Director of Licensing Leslie Anderson said in an interview last week
that no specific timetable has been laid out as to when the license
for ATS will be considered or when and if it will be awarded.