Second Chance Recovery clinic has run out of chances at its current location and is being forced to move due to zoning and land use bylaws.
But the owner of the private methadone clinic said he is worried that if they don’t find another location, city hospitals and prisons might get even busier.
“I have 500 clients on various medications. Most of these are working people with addictions to prescription medications,” Bill Leslie said.
“I’m worried if we don’t get another location, crime will go up because these people have addictions to feed.”
Leslie said his clients aren’t homeless people with addictions, but rather people who come from many walks of life.
“But most are construction and oil guys who get smashed up on the job, and then get overmedicated for too long and get these addictions,” he added.
Leslie said the clinic moved to the current location at 41st Ave. NE in October 2008 and has been unknowingly operating illegally until the Highland Park Community Association sent them a letter in January.
Since then, it has received one more letter asking it to leave the location.
“I don’t have hard feelings towards them or the city. The city has bent over backwards trying to help us find another location,” Leslie said.
Ald. Bob Hawkesworth said while it’s an unfortunate situation, the clinic has a chance to appeal the decision to at least provide more time to find a new location.
