Dade County bans methadone clinic

Friday, April 15, 2011

TRENTON, Ga.-Dade County commissioners have voted unanimously to ban methadone clinics in the county.

There was no opposition to the ban during the April meeting of the County Commission, and it passed on third reading.

Melissa and Scott Hancock had hoped to open a Trenton clinic for the treatment of heroin addiction with the synthetic drug.

After the second reading of the ban last month, Melissa Hancock promised to address the issue legally in connection with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Neither she nor her husband attended the April meeting.

A number of Dade residents and Sheriff Patrick Cannon have said they opposed such a clinic on the grounds that it would lead to an increase in crime and deaths from narcotics in the area.

County Commissioner Peter Cervelli said the issue should not be one of accessibility for those needing methadone treatment.

"A Google search shows a methadone clinic 27 minutes away from Trenton in Rossville," he said.

Mike Chambers is based in Rising Fawn. Contact him at chambers@tvn.net.