METHADONE CLINIC SOLD TO AVOID CLOSING

The Charlottesville Facility Had 160 Violations Since It Was Opened In June
2002

The lax distribution of a heroin substitute at Charlottesville's methadone
clinic has repeatedly put the drug in the wrong hands, possibly
contributing to a woman's death, state investigators have found.

The facility is being sold to avoid being shut down. Ralph Sroufe, regional
manager of the state's department of licensing, said the Pantops Clinic was
given the choice of losing its license, filing an appeal or selling because
of the 160 violations that have been uncovered since it opened in June 2002.

"The number and types of problems cited are very uncommon for methadone
clinics," Sroufe said.

"This is the first time we have moved for revocation of licensing for a
methadone clinic."

Dr. Dorothy Tompkins, who owned Pantops Clinic, said she had worked to
comply with state regulations and regrets that the facility did not
succeed. She expressed relief that people who are addicted to heroin,
OxyContin and other opiates will continue to receive treatment under the
new operator, Addiction Recovery Systems.

The facility, located on State Farm Boulevard, dispenses methadone and
provides drug screening and counseling to roughly 75 patients. Methadone, a
synthetic opiate, eliminates severe withdrawal symptoms.

Dr. Chris Holstege, director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center, said
methadone is sought by some addicts for recreational use.

"Methadone is abused. There is some high from it," Holstege said. "You
don't get the high that you would from heroin. But people are buying it to
get high. Why else would people be out on the street trying to find it?"

In the fatal overdose, a woman apparently stole the drug from a clinic
patient. A prescription bottle for 125 mg of liquid methadone was found in
her purse, according to a Feb. 13 state inspection report.

Sroufe called the fatal overdose "tragic" but said the state's main concern
is that methadone was "indirectly diverted" from the clinic. He said
methadone from the clinic has been obtained by people who are not patients
on more than one occasion.

"Three overdoses involve the same individual who told police he purchased
methadone from a client of the clinic," Sroufe said.

Tompkins said that take-home medication is only given to patients who are
thoroughly assessed and deemed responsible by staff.

"So long as there are take-homes there is no way to completely stop
diversion, much less stealing," she said.

In addition, state inspections conducted in January found that the facility
failed to ensure that patients were not getting double doses of methadone
by enrolling in a second clinic. And a nurse dispensed the drug to a
patient without a prescription.

Tompkins said she sold the operation to social worker Jeff Kegley for
$20,000. The agreement of sale occurred April 26, and the license transfer
is expected to be complete within 45 days.

Sroufe said the state is monitoring the clinic once a week. And he expects
Kegley to fix the problems.

"Jeff Kegley is very experienced in methadone treatment," Sroufe said. "We
have a lot of hope in his ability to operate this service."

Kegley has been an addiction treatment specialist since 1968.

"Certainly, I am aware that the state was not happy with the way the
facility was run. I plan to follow all the state's regulations," Kegley said.

"I am terribly sorry there was a problem here, but at the same time I'm
very excited to offer these services."

Claudia Pinto is a staff writer at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville.