Even though the heat is on for methadone clinics in the state, they are still pushing their methods both in Charleston and locally, according to anti-drug activists.

Charlie Brown, chief probation officer and chairman of the board of directors of PIECES, a local anti-drug group, told The Logan Banner he was surprised recently when a state delegate, who Brown did not name, called his office from Charleston and asked why there was nobody from the methadone clinics on the PIECES board.

"I told them that they were welcome to come and talk to us, but that we did not believe that their form of drug therapy was working," Brown said, noting that people who have been on methadone for four years or longer are not cured of any addiction problem. He said they're hooked.

Originally, methadone treatment is used to wean addicts off drugs. The theory was that by weaning them down instead of trying to make addicts go cold turkey they would not have to face withdrawal symptoms.

Local law enforcement officers say there have been numerous deaths attributed to the drug, from the many overdoses to a recent car collision when a young man drove home from one clinic under the influence.

It was not the first time methadone lobbyists have attempted to sway local anti-drug activists, who see methadone as a menace, Brown said. Recently, PIECES was contacted about possibly meeting with a representative from a methadone clinic in Mingo County.

Brown said that when a representative from a methadone treatment center in Mingo County had called him wanting to talk with PIECES he spoke frankly with him.

"I told him up front that no matter what he said, he would not change my mind on the topic," Brown said. "I think that this might make a good topic for a forum or a debate. I don't have a problem with him coming here and talking."

Brown said that he felt the man was speaking from the viewpoint of a representative of a business, as someone representing substance abuse cures.

Local anti-drug activist Jane Dalrymple has been working with PIECES over the past few months. She and other activists say that they are opposed to the way the for-profit clinics appear to operate.

Dan Boone said he felt the main problem was that patients in the clinics in West Virginia are not being weaned off the drugs.

"I don't have a problem with opening lines of communication," Brown said. "But my mind is solid when it comes to this topic. I feel it is a big problem, not a solution due to the fact that they turn addicts loose with dosages of methadone on weekends."

PIECES members have discussed working with Mike Tierney about implementing drug prevention programs into the school system. Brown said that the group may look at after-schools programs to target at-risk children as well ass programs for all children.

"That way, we can give people who are at risk extra efforts," Brown said, noting that Chapmanville is unique in having after-school programs and he wants them for Logan and Man, too.