CRITICS DON'T WANT FACILITY NEAR SCHOOL

Some parents of Carver Elementary School students are expressing opposition
to having a methadone treatment center in the vicinity of the school.

On Friday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
Control approved a Certificate of Need for Starting Point of Florence.
However, the proposed location of the clinic at 797 N. Cashua Drive is
causing some concern.

"There's very young children at that school, and in my opinion, this
methadone clinic is too close," said Beth Powers-Lamm, who has two children
at Carver. "I think these people are addicted to drugs and shouldn't be
around young children."

Methadone is a synthetic drug that is closely regulated and prescribed for
people attempting to overcome addiction to opiates. The need for such
clinics has increased since the introduction of drugs like OxyContin, a
powerful pain medication. DHEC's aim is to eventually have one clinic
established in each South Carolina county.

According to state regulations, methadone clinics cannot operate within 500
feet of a school, residential section or church. Starting Point's proposed
location is more than 1,000 feet from Carver Elementary. It is an unzoned
property, according to Florence County Planning and Building Inspection,
and there are no specific restrictions in Florence County regarding the
location of methadone treatment centers other than those set forth by the
state.

Dr. Stephen Merlin, medical director of Starting Point, said the objections
are nothing more than fear of the unknown.

"There is absolutely no danger posed to elementary school children by
adults seeking opiate drug rehabilitation at this clinic," he said from
Columbia, where he operates a clinic. "DHEC requires us to prevent any
loitering, and we strictly comply with all DHEC policies. While I
understand the concept of fear, this is simply a case of people being
afraid of what they don't know and understand."

Merlin also reasoned that the clinic only operates a few hours a day
beginning at 5 a.m.

"If it eases the worry any, I'd like people to understand that we are
closed and gone by the time kids even go out for recess," he said. "Also,
we will be a quarter mile down the road, and I can't imagine that my
patients will come to the clinic for their treatment, then stop over at the
school to sell methadone to little kids for their lunch and milk money."

Though some local reports have indicated that Florence School District 1 is
planning legal opposition, representatives said they are only looking into
the matter at this point.

"I know of no organized activity regarding this issue," said district
spokeswoman Pam Little-McDaniel.

Powers-Lamm said she and other parents are planning to address the issue at
tonight's Florence 1 school board meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.

"We are just concerned about having drug addicts near our children," she said.

It is Merlin's contention, however, that people fighting drug habits are
everywhere, including some surprising places.

"It is my informed belief that members of the Carver Parent-Teacher
Organization drive to Columbia for methadone treatment," Merlin said. "I
would never reveal any further information for confidentiality reasons, but
this demonstrates my point that drug addicts in treatment are everywhere,
and they aren't necessarily scary people.

"However, the biggest drug problem in elementary schools isn't methadone,"
Merlin added. "It's the over-prescription of drugs used to treat kids for
attention deficit disorder."

There is a 10-day period from the date of approval for the public to appeal
DHEC's decision, said Thom Berry, DHEC public relations officer.