METHADONE CLINIC WINS PANEL'S OK

NASHVILLE - The location of a methadone clinic just off Johnson City's
downtown was approved, officials said Wednesday, prompting disappointment
and surprise in many who had stood against the facility.

"This is a kick in our face," said Ed Gibbons, treasurer of Friends of Olde
Downtown, a group working to revitalize the city's downtown area.

The Johnson City Addiction and Treatment Center LLC, which will offer drug
and alcohol addiction treatment services, received a certificate of need
Wednesday to establish a non-residential treatment facility at 200 W.
Fairview Ave.

The clinic will primarily utilize methadone, which is synthetically
manufactured and used as a substitute for the treatment of people dependent
on heroin and other opiates.

The CON was approved during a hearing here of the Health Facilities
Commission by a 8-0 vote, with one commissioner not voting.

While several representatives of Johnson City organizations came to speak
against the facility, others came out in favor of the methadone clinic,
including a physician from the Vanderbilt Medical Center School of
Medicine. The doctor said his school has a program working with a similar
clinic.

Rusty Titsworth, director of operations for the company that plans to
operate the clinic, said he was pleased with the decision and hopes to
overcome the negative connotations many people have about methadone clinics.

"We're looking forward to serving the community," Titsworth said from his
Nashville office.

The Johnson City clinic should be open in about six months, he said, and
will have a staff of about six counselors, numerous nurses and an
administrative staff.

Titsworth defended his clinic's technique and said the need in areas like
Johnson City is high.

"In the rural areas, there is a large population of intravenous drug
users," he said.

But Gibbons, who owns a business adjacent to the clinic site, said the
clinic will be located along the city's arts district and will cause a
serious disruption to revitalization efforts.

"I have nothing against the treatment," Gibbons said. "I just think it
could be in another place. The location is terrible for downtown."

Many of those opposing the clinic say they believe the area will see an
influx of drug addicts along with a growth of crime.

State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, said he was shocked by the
commission's decision after he and local Northeast Tennessee legislators
expressed their wishes for the CON to be denied.

"I thought there was significant negative response from us," Crowe said.
"It's just not the right location. We have plans for that district. That's
part of the arts district."

After appearing at the hearing Wednesday, Dr. Ron Franks, dean of East
Tennessee State University's James H. Quillen College of Medicine, said he
does not foresee a program at ETSU similar to Vanderbilt's in the near future.

"We would not trade any affiliation with them until we are convinced they
are presenting a high quality, comprehensive treatment program," Franks said.

Located just down the street from the clinic's proposed location, the Rev.
Frank M. Cooper IV, rector St. John's Episcopal Church, 500 N. Roan St.,
said he was troubled by the possible impact to his community.

"I think we're going to have a lot of people on methadone," Cooper said. He
said he believes this type of treatment historically has a poor record.

"I'm afraid we'll have the same lack of success," he said.