METHADONE CLINIC TO STAY

Center Of Hope Has Right To Operate, Board Says

Horry County's zoning board upheld its approval of the county's first
methadone clinic, over the outcry of residents who called on the board to
shut it down.

The decision ensures that the Center of Hope clinic will continue to
operate near Fantasy Harbour. The vote also ends a months-long dispute over
the value of methadone treatment and county zoning rules that allow a
clinic to open about half a mile from a school.

The clinic has been open about a month and is already treating 51 clients
with methadone. Methadone is an addictive opiate used to treat addiction to
OxyContin, heroin and other narcotics.

After five hours of listening to both sides of the dispute, the county's
Board of Adjustments and Zoning Appeals voted 4 to 1 to stand by its July
2002 approval of the clinic.

"The people of Horry County should be proud of what the zoning board did,"
said Reynolds Williams, the clinic's attorney. "That was not an easy
decision to make. What they did took guts."

As they left Thursday's hearing, several parents of children who attend the
nearby Bridgewater Academy charter school criticized the ruling. They had
argued that the clinic could attract drugs and criminals to the area.

"I'd like [the board] to come to school and explain to the children why
they let this happen," said Dana Crook, whose 6-year-old son attends the
school.

S.C. Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, who led the protest against the
clinic, said the board ignored the concerns of its constituents.

"I would not be surprised if they were replaced very quickly," Viers said
of the four board members who voted to allow the clinic to operate. Board
member Carl Franklin voted against the clinic.

Board members said their decision was based on the law. They said they
understand the concerns of residents opposed to the clinic but that the
clinic had a right to operate.

Board members said they didn't hear any evidence that the clinic would lead
to more crime in the area. They said questions of methadone's value as a
treatment to addiction are best left to state health officials, who
regulate methadone treatment.

"This board doesn't have the capabilities of determining whether or not
methadone is a viable treatment," said board member Bill Prince.

Thursday's long meeting was largely peaceful, perhaps because sheriff's
deputies stood ready to remove anyone who disrupted the meeting.

At a hearing last month when the board voted to reconsider its approval of
the clinic, several people opposed to the clinic yelled at clinic supporters.