NEW CON FILED FOR PRINCETON METHADONE CLINIC

PRINCETON - Despite opposition earlier this year from concerned citizens, a
methadone clinic is once again being proposed for Mercer County. However,
at least one local legislator has proposed a bill that would allow only
nonprofit health centers to operate such clinics. Delegate Marshall Long,
D-Mercer, said that he is refining a bill that would enable the state's
financially-strapped mental health clinics to reap the profits from the
lucrative methadone clinics. "One of the biggest problems we have in the
state is funding for our mental health clinics," Long said between patient
visits Wednesday afternoon. "We're hoping to take care of people who are
addicted and at the same time, provide the kind of services typically
provided by mental health clinics. "If it's just a profit-making motive,
why shouldn't we direct where these profits go so we can provide the
greatest benefit for people in the state," Long said. "No one should be
against a program that benefits our mental health clinics." Long said he is
working with Dr. Michael McNeer and others to gather information on how
other state legislatures have addressed the methadone clinic situation. He
has not yet drafted the final version on the bill he plans to introduce
when the legislative session begins on Jan. 14, but suspects that it may
shadow existing legislation in Ohio. "We're looking at the best of the
best," Long said. A proposal earlier this year by National Specialty
Clinics to open a methadone clinic in Mercer County prompted opposition
from several area residents. The company later withdrew its plans to open
clinics in Mercer, Mineral and Greenbrier counties because it was being
bought by a bigger methadone seller, CRC Health Group, Inc., the Associated
Press reported Wednesday. NRC, which runs six methadone clinics in West
Virginia, had already received permission from the state Health Care
Authority to open the clinics, but the state wouldn't transfer that
permission to the new parent corporation. A day after the state approved
CRC Health Group Inc's buyout of the West Virginia methadone clinics, CRC
reapplied to open the Mercer, Mineral and Greenbrier clinics. The company
must go through the HCA permitting process again. Dan Dunmyer, CEO of
Princeton Community Hospital, expressed personal concerns earlier this year
about the methadone clinic proposal. Dunmyer said he was unaware of the
latest plan for Mercer County, but is still concerned about the concept of
a methadone clinic. "I still have significant reservations," Dunmyer said.
" One is the need. If we already have one in Beckley, there is still
significant articles that state they (methadone clinics) are associated
with either criminal behavior or increased drug sales around the clinic,
but not necessarly in the clinic, that concerns me. The safety of the
community is my concern." Dunmyer said the board of directors at PCH never
took a position on the original methadone clinic proposal. "It wasn't
necessarily the hospital, it was me," Dunmyer said. "I was speaking for
myself. If Princeton or Mercer County wants one, that is up to Princeton or
Mercer County. It's not Dan Dunmyer's opinion that matters. It's the public
opinion that matters." - Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com -
Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com