LEE COUNTY PLANNERS OK PROPOSED DRUG REHAB CENTER

JONESVILLE - The Lee County Planning Commission on Tuesday gave the green
light to a local coalition hoping to address substance abuse in the region.

The Lee County Coalition for Health is planning to use the former Carter
Hall nursing home building in Dryden to establish a long-term residential
drug and alcohol treatment center.

However, such a facility requires that a special-use permit be issued. The
commission voted 4-0 to recommend approval of the permit to the Lee County
Board of Supervisors, which has the final say in the matter, provided the
permit contains an exception banning the use of methadone treatment at the
facility.

During a required public hearing prior to the meeting, Larry Lavender, a
member of the coalition and future counselor at the facility, explained the
building was donated to the group by its owners when the facility was
recently closed.

In response to questions from commissioners, Lavender explained that the
coalition was formed about a year and a half ago to address substance abuse
issues - particularly the illicit use of OxyContin - in Lee County.

The coalition is now a nonprofit organization, and as such it will make the
rehab center available to anyone regardless of their ability to pay.
Lavender said the facility will operate from a combination of private
donations, foundation money, state and federal grants, and some private
insurance payments.

"We know we have a challenge, but it is a doable challenge, we believe.
This is something people have wanted since our first meeting a year and a
half ago, and we think we can do it. We already have qualified people
working to obtain funding," he said.

It will not be a methadone clinic, as some in the community have feared, he
added.

"This will be a drug-free program, and no drugs will be used here. We won't
offer a detoxification program, although we do hope to arrange to have that
done at the hospital," Lavender said.

Residents entering the program will have to agree to stay a minimum of 90
days and may stay up to 18 months or longer if necessary.

"Research has shown that the longer the stay in a rehabilitation program,
the longer a person can stay in ongoing recovery," Lavender told commissioners.

Lavender said potential residents will be thoroughly screened by
specialized professionals to see if they are suitable for the program, and
he expressed confidence that the center will make a positive impact on the
county.

"We have some real qualified people to make sure things happen the way
they're supposed to happen," he said.

Lavender said if things stay on track for getting other permits and
certificates, the center should open this coming fall. It will accept
residents from across the region - including Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky
and maybe even West Virginia. Initially it would have 10 residents, but the
center could house up to 40 - with 16 beds reserved for female residents,
he said.

Lavender said he expects the center to be at maximum capacity within two
months of opening.

Although an open house has already been held for the county in general, the
coalition plans another such event for residents of the Dryden area on Dec. 14.

Before the commission deliberated the permit, John Gilbert added that he
lives near the proposed center and said not only does he approve of it, his
neighbors also favor it. Gilbert said he has heard no negative comment on
the proposal.

"I think as a community, we owe it to ourselves to set this up. If it can
help us, we need it," Gilbert told the commission.

During their discussion prior to the vote, commissioners said they also
have heard no opposition to the center.