Published: June 11, 2009 12:12 am      

Grayson denies pain clinic

Community group applauds city officials' vote, cooperative spirit

Grayson — A community action group applauded a vote by the Grayson City Council on Tuesday evening to deny a new pain clinic a license to do business in the city.

Jim Varney, acting president for the Carter County anti-drug organization ENOUGH, said little was known about the Grayson Pain Management Clinic, which opened without notice in an office space near First National Bank and was promptly shut down by Grayson’s elected officials.

“We don’t know exactly when it opened,” Varney said, explaining city officials were given testimony the clinic operated on a cash-only basis, accepted MRI and other medical records by fax or other remote sources, and was staffed by a contract physician who issued prescriptions based on medical records rather than standard diagnostic procedures. Varney said no local doctors or health-care organizations were associated with the clinic.

About 200 members of the ENOUGH group attended Tuesday’s meeting, Varney said.

“We just went down, had prayer and spoke to the council,” Varney said.

Beyond their concerns about a new potential source for prescription drugs, Varney said ENOUGH members believe Grayson has plenty of health-care facilities, citing the presence of clinics operated by King’s Daughters Medical Center, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, private physicians and outreach clinics.

Spokesmen for the ENOUGH organization also presented Grayson officials with a petition bearing about 1,000 signatures of those opposed to the clinic.

Varney said drug abuse is a problem for every resident of Grayson and Carter County.

“We have a very serious situation. We have a lot of families affected by the use of legal medicines and illegal drugs,” Varney said, citing an urgent need for improved education about prescription drugs with particular emphasis on narcotics and “painkillers,” as well as other substances including alcohol and tobacco

The ENOUGH spokesman said group members were pleased with the reception they received from city officials.

“They cooperated tremendously. We are encouraged by the way they cooperated with the community,” Varney said.

A spokesman for the city of Grayson confirmed the city council voted to deny a business license for the clinic at Tuesday’s meeting.

TIM PRESTON can be reachedl at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.