The Kingsport Times-News reported Jan. 14 that the state Senate's Health and Education committee unanimously approved a bill from Sen. William Wampler Jr. that would prevent any new methadone clinics from opening until new regulations are created to govern such programs.

"We have to place a moratorium on these clinics because there is no clear guideline for the director (of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services ) to follow with regards to licensing these facilities," said Wampler. "So instead of the legislature setting out in the code what those guidelines could be, we have to have the director promulgate regulations."

Wampler said new methadone programs should be opened with an eye on the number of people they will serve, access to current programs, appropriate settings, and the extent of counseling that is available to opiate addicts to go along with their medication. "It's one thing to dispense methadone, but it's another thing to have a successful treatment plan where you have both intensive inpatient and outpatient treatment," he said.

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