INSPECTORS FIND METHADONE CLINIC IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS

The Clinic That Is Planned At 3208 Hershberger Road In Roanoke Could Open
In Another Six To 12 Weeks.

A proposed methadone clinic is one step closer to an opening that will draw
drug addicts seeking treatment and, in all likelihood, protests from the
surrounding Northwest Roanoke neighborhood.

State inspectors visited the site at 3208 Hershberger Road on Monday and
were generally satisfied with what they saw, according to Ralph Sroufe,
regional manager of the office of licensing in the state Department of
Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

"As far as the office of licensing is concerned, they are in compliance
with our regulations at this point," Sroufe said.

Inspectors plan a follow-up visit to address a few remaining issues. For
one thing, Sroufe said, they need to review personnel records of a few
employees yet to be hired.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, he said, the Roanoke Treatment Center
should receive its state license within the next month. However, the clinic
cannot begin operations until it obtains approval from the Virginia Board
of Pharmacy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which had a
representative present during Monday's inspection.

That means it could be another six to 12 weeks before the clinic opens,
said Joe Pritchard of CRC Health Group. The California-based company plans
to run an outpatient treatment program that will offer counseling and daily
doses of methadone for addicts of opium-based drugs such as OxyContin and
heroin.

Residents of the area have opposed the clinic, saying it will create drug
dealing and crime in their neighborhood.

At a news conference last month, residents watched a videotape produced by
the Santa Ana Police Department that showed loitering, open-air drug
dealing and other problems associated with a methadone clinic in a
residential area of that California city.

Working with police and the city attorney's office, residents filed a
petition declaring the clinic a public nuisance. The litigation was settled
under the condition that the clinic be moved to a more appropriate
location, Santa Ana City Attorney Joseph Fletcher said.

Jeff Artis, a community activist who is leading opposition to the Roanoke
clinic, said it is likely to cause the same problems as the one in Santa
Ana because of similarities in the two neighborhoods.

The Hershberger Road site is in a mixed residential and commercial area
with three schools nearby. More than 2,000 people have signed petitions
opposing the clinic, and Artis said some opponents plan to protest outside
the building and monitor patients.

"If they open up, it's going to be the '60s all over again," Artis said at
the news conference. "We're going to picket; we're going to protest."

After meeting with CRC officials earlier in the year, residents were
hopeful the company would find an alternative location. Pritchard said
Tuesday that he is still open to that idea, but no suitable alternatives
have been presented.

CRC expects to treat between 200 and 400 drug addicts at the clinic. Police
in other Virginia jurisdictions with methadone clinics have said they have
not experienced major crime or other problems associated with the treatment
centers.

Problems at the Santa Ana clinic were as much a result of poor management
by its previous owner as the location, Fletcher said. While the court case
was pending, the clinic was purchased by CRC Health Group, which has
overseen operations at a new location removed from homes and schools.

Fletcher said he is not aware of any problems at the new location.

Pritchard, vice president for operations for CRC's eastern region, said he
believes state regulators decided to visit the Roanoke site twice because
it has generated so much concern in the community. "Which is good," he added.