“Methadone clinic a go after suit settled with Fayette County [Pennsylvania]”

The above is the headline of an article in the Tribune-Review of Oct. 1.

The company proposing to establish the clinic had “claimed in its lawsuit that the section of the [zoning] ordinance that prohibits placing a methadone clinic within 1,000 feet of residences, schools, public playgrounds, parks, hospitals or places of worship is unconstitutional and discriminatory.” The court obviously agreed. The County Commissioner “ …said the settlement included a monetary payment [but] … did not disclose the amount and could not be reached yesterday.” Nor, according to the article, could the attorney who represented the County.

While an important victory, the sad reality would seem to be that like the occasional victories of the past, this one will in no way dissuade other counties, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the US, from enacting similar ordinances to prevent methadone maintenance from being provided to those who need it. and perhaps understandably, few who propose to establish clinics will spend the time and money to fight.

url: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/news/s_702185.html