BERKELEY OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER DRUG CLINIC

MARTINSBURG - Law enforcement officials are worried that a new methadone
clinic in Berkeley County will lead to an increase in crime.

"Most of the people going to clinics are involved with petty crime as a
means to support their habit," said Berkeley County Sheriff Randy Smith.
"The possibility of them committing another crime while in Berkeley County
is pretty high."

The Martinsburg Institute outpatient clinic would treat people with heroin
and other opiate addictions through the use of methadone, according to
Ellen Valli, program director and part owner of the clinic.

According to Valli, methadone remains in a patient's system for 24 to 30
hours, reducing withdrawal and craving symptoms.

"A patient can take the medicine in the morning and go to school or work
and reclaim their lives," she said.

The private company running the clinic, Martinsburg Institute Inc., is in
the process of transferring local clients from a methadone clinic in
Frederick, Md., clinic officials said.

Martinsburg was chosen because of its central location, and because many of
the clients at the Frederick Institute are from Berkeley County, Valli said.

Martinsburg Police Chief Ted Anderson said he'd prefer it if the center
wasn't an outpatient facility. "I would feel better about an inpatient
clinic where people stay for 28 days," he said.

Berkeley County Health Department Administrator Jay Jack said there are
pros and cons regarding the treatment.

"There are clinicians who say it does help a patient break addictions and
then there are people in the Justice Department who associate crime with
this. It traps the health department in the middle, but our primary mission
is to help the public," he said.

"We have to do what we have to do," he said.

Caren Forestandi, coordinator of substance abuse and crisis services for
EastRidge Health Systems in Martinsburg, said the crime could decrease if
people use the methadone program as it is intended.

Then, "there are people who will manipulate the system. I have seen both
outcomes," she said. Write a letter to the editor.