After much debate, the city council of Bristol, Tennessee has approved an ordinance which will ultimately limit where opiate detox clinics and drug treatment centers can be located. The new ordinance will also ban the centers from being located within 1,000 feet of a day care center or a school.
The mayor and four city council members voted unanimously this week in favor of the ordinance. The new ordinance will mean that opiate detox clinics and drug treatment centers only be located in non-residential areas of Bristol.
"It’s a wise move that we pass this," said Mayor Margaret Feierabend.
Bristol’s mayor and city officials are happy with the ordinance’s passage. The ordinance was a compromise since it is not possible to keep licensed drug treatment centers completely out of the city. The city officials recently tried to push new parameters concerning sites for drug treatment centers. The city’s Planning Commission asked for stricter restrictions for drug treatment centers and opiate detox clinics. The new ordinance allows patients to receive their treatment only as outpatients and special permits from the city must be secured before the centers or clinics can operate.
In 2009, Bristol, Tennessee experienced a robust debate over a proposal by the Haven of Rest. The Christian mission wanted to build Grace Home of Bristol, a residential facility for women recovery from drug addictiond. The home was eventually approved by the city officials, mainly because residents were assured that Grace Home will give its residents spiritual, not medical treatment. For this reason, opponents were told the new home would be allowed under the new ordinance.
