By Rebekah Martin
Associate Editor
The Opelika City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to formally oppose the construction of a methadone clinic in Opelika.
At a June meeting, the council approved a resolution joining forces with EAMC to hire Montgomery-based law firm of Melton, Espy and Williams to represent them in the litigation process against the proposed clinic and its proprietor, Metro Treatment of Alabama.
According to the resolution the council approved, there is no need for a methadone clinic in Opelika, as there are two currently operating in Columbus and Montgomery. The resolution also asserts that there is not enough opioid abuse in Lee County to warrant a clinic. Council president Eddie Smith said he thinks there are better options for those who are struggling with addiction. “I think that folks that have those addictions need to healed, not supplemented with other drugs … and I think that if you start that slippery slope it’s going to get worse,” he said. “I think it’s a much better idea for them to go into some sort of rehab to get healed rather than to be supplied with a replacement drug.”
In other business the council:
-recognized the Keep Opelika Beautiful Yard of the Year winners.
-recognized the Dixie Youth Minor League all-star team. The team finished third in a recent state-wide competition.
-recognized OFD firefighters for their involvement in this year’s Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Fill the Boot campaign.
-approved a proposal from iHeart Media for radio advertisements for Opelika Power Services.