News

June 25, 2007

Methadone clinic plan withdrawn

Group that had proposed facility for Yatesville may seek another county site.

By Jennifer Learn-Andes jandes@timesleader.com
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A proposal to locate a methadone clinic in Yatesville has been withdrawn, though the company – Discovery House – may look for another site in Luzerne County, county officials said Thursday.

The Rhode Island-based company had proposed leasing a 3,500-square-foot building off Oak Street in the Quackenbush Industrial Park. The county Zoning Hearing Board had planned to seek public input on the company’s request for a zoning variance at a Monday hearing.

Adrian Merolli, head of the county planning and zoning office, said Discovery House e-mailed its withdrawal on Thursday morning.

Discovery House representatives met with local agencies and county drug-and-alcohol department head Mike Donahue and determined that it might be better to seek a site that’s not so close to Choices Recovery Program in Plains Township, the county’s only methadone clinic, Merolli said.

The company also decided a larger building would be more suitable, he said.

Donahue said he liked Discovery House’s emphasis on treatment and hopes the company will follow through on his suggestion to look for a site in the southern part of the county or closer to Scranton in Lackawanna County.

While there is a demand for another methadone clinic, having them both around the same area would not improve access for people traveling from other parts of the county, Donahue said. For example, people in the Hazleton area must trek to Plains Township or Allentown.

But Donahue stressed that he would not have worked against Discovery House.

“If they would’ve followed through with the Yatesville site, I would not have been opposed because there is a need for additional medication assistance. It is working for a lot of people in the area,” Donahue said.

Merolli said his office will send letters to property owners in the vicinity of the Yatesville site to let them know about the change in plans.

Yatesville Mayor Joseph Chiumento said residents are elated.

“We are thrilled. All the residents I spoke to are happy it’s not coming near them,” he said.

Chiumento said he is not opposed to methadone clinics but thinks they should be located in more urban areas.

Discovery House representatives could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The company selected the Yatesville industrial park for its outpatient treatment clinic because it was not near residential areas, schools and child care facilities, according to its zoning paperwork.

Founded in 1989, Discovery House owns and operates 16 nationally accredited outpatient treatment programs specializing in opiate dependency, including six in Pennsylvania, the paperwork states.

The proposed Yatesville clinic would have served up to 150 patients initially.

Choices Recovery Program has treated approximately 400 people since it began dispensing doses, the center said. The clinic treats up to 155 but is seeking state approval to treat an additional 35 clients due to the demand.

Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.

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