Oxycontin News Blog

Huntington Mayor David Felinton is moving ahead with plans to shut down a clinic that dispenses methadone to drug addicts.

We just hope that the discussion takes place with all the relevant information in hand.

Last week, Felinton scheduled a public hearing to discuss the impact of the Huntington Treatment Center at 135 4th Ave. on the surrounding community. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in City Council chambers at City Hall.

Felinton has said for weeks that he favors shutting down the Huntington Treatment Center and moving it to another location because of complaints from nearby businesses and residents that patients solicit them for money, use parking spaces without permission and litter excessively, among other things.

Felinton said he will take a tour of the clinic this week, but he said he remains convinced that the clinic should move to a location isolated from businesses and homes.

The public hearing is one of the requirements needed for Felinton to declare the business a public nuisance. The city's legal department also is gathering data from the Cabell County 911 Center and local law enforcement agencies to see if there has been an increase in the number of emergency response calls to the area since the clinic opened in 2003.

"It's really not what goes on inside the clinic that is my concern," Felinton said. "It's what goes on outside. Nevertheless, the public hearing will provide an opportunity for people to speak for and against shutting it down."

Felinton also said this: "It's fine with me if the clinic stays in the city limits. ... But in a city of our size, it's difficult to see how that would be possible."

Felinton admits the practical effect of shutting down the clinic on 4th Avenue would be to force it to relocate outside city limits. From his comments, he has made no offer to help the clinic find new space within the city, leading to the suspicion he wants it out of town entirely.

The clinic has many detractors, and it has many supporters. There are two questions here: the effectiveness of methadone treatment for addiction to heroin, OxyContin and other opioids; and whether the clinic's clients engage in unacceptable behavior in the neighborhood.

The first question is one for federal and state drug regulators to deal with. City government does not have the expertise or the authority to answer it.

The second question is a legitimate concern of city government. The hearing will be the place for Felinton to disclose all the information he has, and it will be the place for the public to give its opinion.

There are many questions to be answered, and this should be good forum to air them.

Huntington Mayor David Felinton is moving ahead with plans to shut down a clinic that dispenses methadone to drug addicts.

We just hope that the discussion takes place with all the relevant information in hand.

Last week, Felinton scheduled a public hearing to discuss the impact of the Huntington Treatment Center at 135 4th Ave. on the surrounding community. The hearing will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, in City Council chambers at City Hall.

Felinton has said for weeks that he favors shutting down the Huntington Treatment Center and moving it to another location because of complaints from nearby businesses and residents that patients solicit them for money, use parking spaces without permission and litter excessively, among other things.

Felinton said he will take a tour of the clinic this week, but he said he remains convinced that the clinic should move to a location isolated from businesses and homes.

The public hearing is one of the requirements needed for Felinton to declare the business a public nuisance. The city's legal department also is gathering data from the Cabell County 911 Center and local law enforcement agencies to see if there has been an increase in the number of emergency response calls to the area since the clinic opened in 2003.

"It's really not what goes on inside the clinic that is my concern," Felinton said. "It's what goes on outside. Nevertheless, the public hearing will provide an opportunity for people to speak for and against shutting it down."

Felinton also said this: "It's fine with me if the clinic stays in the city limits. ... But in a city of our size, it's difficult to see how that would be possible."

Felinton admits the practical effect of shutting down the clinic on 4th Avenue would be to force it to relocate outside city limits. From his comments, he has made no offer to help the clinic find new space within the city, leading to the suspicion he wants it out of town entirely.

The clinic has many detractors, and it has many supporters. There are two questions here: the effectiveness of methadone treatment for addiction to heroin, OxyContin and other opioids; and whether the clinic's clients engage in unacceptable behavior in the neighborhood.

The first question is one for federal and state drug regulators to deal with. City government does not have the expertise or the authority to answer it.

The second question is a legitimate concern of city government. The hearing will be the place for Felinton to disclose all the information he has, and it will be the place for the public to give its opinion.

There are many questions to be answered, and this should be good forum to air them.

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