The rally, organized by M.A.D. (Middlesboro Against Drugs), was held at the city parking lot just a few blocks from the site of Rehabilitation Drug Services.
"We are here to let everyone know that we do not want a methadone clinic in our town," said Dr. Ronald Dubin, an orthopedic surgeon who established M.A.D. to oppose the clinic.
Placards reading 'Say No To Methadone' and 'M.A.D.' were passed out to members of the crowd who applauded as several speakers voiced their concerns about the clinic.
Though the owers say they only plan to treat up to 120 people per day at the clinic, there are fears that number could quicy grow to as many as 600 if the clinic is successful.
"The idea of 600 drug addicted people coming down Cumberland Avenue every day scares me and it should scare you," local attorney Bill Hayes told the audience. "Having a methadone clinic so close to our schools is not safe and it's completely unnecessary."
The clinic would be only one block - or 190 steps - from St. Julian Catholic School, three blocks from East End Intermediate School and within three miles of all the schools in the city.
Opponents of the clinic say that it will attract more drug users to the city along with dealers eager to offer illegal drugs to the recovering addicts.
John Brown, a Middlesboro attorney and former investigator for the Daytona Beach, Fla., Police Department, said crimes of all kinds will increase in the area because of the element brought by the clinic.
"It will change the face of the earth as we know it here," he said. "The police here do a wonderful job, but they will not be able to handle it unless they double the force."
The city approved a business license for Rehabilitation Drug Services in March and they been approved for opening by all required regulatory agencies at the state and federal level except for the State Narcotic Authority. SNA Administrator Mac Bell said panel will rule on their application by June 24.
Dubin said that over the past two weeks over 8,000 letters have been sent to Frankfort asking that the SNA not approve a license for the clinic.
The city council unanimously voted not to support to the clinic's efforts to gain a license at their meeting on June 7. About 125 people attended that meeting, and another last Thursday with Bell in attendance, most to voice their opposition to the clinic.
Bell said that state law does not require a community to be in support of a methadone program for it to be licensed. The law does require a memorandum of agreement between the clinic and a local hospital as well as local law enforcement and the jailer.
Middlesboro Appalachian Regional Hostipal administrator Gene Faile said he had not been contacted by Rehabilitation Drug Services and all the doctors on staff were opposed to the clinic. Clinic co-owners Pam Wenger and Barbara Smith say they have an agreement in place with Baptist Hosptial in Corbin.
Bell County Sheriff Bruce Bennett originally signed a letter of support for the clinic, but has since withdrawn his support. Speaking at Thursday's rally, he said offered his support before he knew that the clinic would be using methadone.
"There's been alot of talk about what I stood for and what I didn't," he said. "We need drug rehabilitation center, but I never did support a methadone clinic and I never will."
Dubin said that M.A.D. also wants to get involved in finding acceptable solutions to the drug problem that exists in Middlesboro and the surrounding area.
"We don't want to just be a group that's against something - we want to support programs that educate and treat those thinking about drugs, those on drugs and those addicted to drugs," he said.
The final speaker at the rally was Dr. Edwin Robertson, representing the Celebrate Recovery program at Pump Springs Baptist Church in Harrogate, Tenn.
"The chuch as a whole has become less and less of a refuge for people needing help," he said. "Celebrate Recovery is a ministry of hope - a Christ-centered recovery program for individuals and their families dealing with emotional distress andaddictive issues."
At Pump Springs, the group meets on Tuesday nights for an upbeat celebration service followed by small support group sessions, Robertson said. On Thursday nights, participants attend classes designed as follow up support to the initial detox, rehab or counselling that a person has already received.
He said anyone interested in learning more about the program at Pump Springs or in starting such a program at their own church could contact him.
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