Legislation to regulate and limit where narcotic treatment centers may locate in Georgia passed the state House on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 88 would create the state's first rules for the clinics that largely serve patients with opioid addictions. Championed by Senate Rules Chairman Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, it has been sought by North Georgia lawmakers concerned with the proliferation of methadone clinics.
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The bill passed the House 152-20 and must now go back to the Senate, which will consider House revisions.
State Rep. Dewayne Hill, R-Ringgold, said Florida, with a population of nearly 20 million has 65 of these clinics while Georgia, with a population of 10 million, has 67.
“These clinics just seem to start popping up after Florida had closed down several of them and put more restrictions on them,” Hill said.
“So we really need this. It’s a start, it’s not the complete answer. It is a beginning so we can monitor these so they don’t just become pill mills like they often do.”
House Health and Human Services Committee Chairwoman Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, said many of the existing clinics "are just giving out the methadone and not using the treatment program that is needed to help free people of their dependency."
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