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While efforts to regulate sober living homes and similar centers have stalled at the state level, Stanton leaders are banning any methadone centers from setting up in town as other cities get ready to have similar talks.
All those discussions come after a county grand jury report last year found sober living homes and similar group homes were a growing problem in Orange County, noting a “lack of regulatory oversight for the health and safety of residents of unlicensed group homes.”
To read a copy of the report, click here.
Under current Stanton municipal code, “Methadone clinics shall dispense drugs under the regulation of a State-licensed drug rehabilitation, detoxification, or treatment program.”
Last week, Stanton City Council members issued a moratorium on any new clinics in town so city officials can study how to best regulate them.
“These are facilities or clinics that operate outpatient treatment and counseling centers that, in addition to counseling, treat individuals with substance abuse disorder by employing medicines that eliminate drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms typically experienced when individuals with various substance dependence stop using their substance of abuse,” reads the staff report.
While different from sober living homes, the methadone clinic in Stanton is causing similar issues, with city staff noting the clinic’s impact on nearby resident.s
“The operation of this center has resulted in negative impacts to the vulnerable population that it serves, such as narcotic use activities, disturbances, assaults and battery, and interference with peaceful use and enjoyment of property,” reads the staff report.
OC Cities Struggles with Group Homes
It comes as city officials throughout Orange County grapple with similar facilities and sober living homes – with the OC Grand Jury issuing a report on the homes last year.
“When group homes are operated for the well-being of their residents and with respect for their neighbors, they can be an asset to their host community,” grand jurors wrote. “However, they can occasionally become disruptive.”
Irvine is set to discuss the issue on Aug. 13, according to Councilwoman Tammy Kim, who’s raised concerns over how sober living homes operate and raised concerns that it’s negatively impacting the city’s goal of getting people housed.
Under current state laws, sober living homes don’t have to be licensed, don’t provide medical treatment and have no limit on the total number of people living there, but they also can’t receive limitations because it would discriminate against people struggling with addiction, according to the grand jury.
The report also noted that many cities who’ve passed laws over sober living homes have been too timid to enforce them because the state Housing and Community Development Department can withhold approval of programs for cities that limit group homes or impose oversight.
“There is only so much a city can do to respond to the complaints of its residents when dealing with an overconcentration of group homes in a neighborhood,” grand jurors wrote. “Current laws do not adequately address the need to manage the integration of group homes.”
State Senator Tom Umberg introduced a bill in March to implement new restrictions for sober living homes, but the measure is dead for the year according to his staff.
[Read: CA State Bill Looks to Give Cities Regulation Over Sober Living Homes]
Stanton Studies Methadone Clinic Concerns
During a meeting on July 23, Stanton City Council voted unanimously to place an ordinance which temporarily stops any new sober living homes from being opened or expanded.
According to a staff report, the zoning code covers the medical services as methadone clinics and alcohol treatment centers.
The moratorium extends to just over 10 months for current and new establishments which stops them from expanding or making changes. Their goal during the study is to change zoning which staff says contains minimal regulation.
“Right now we have no control or enforcement or way for us to regulate. This is all done outside our city,” Stanton Mayor David Shawver said during the meeting.”The problem is some of the things that happen in these places to try and help people end up being more of a negative impact not only on the people that are trying to get help but also our community.”
City staff are expected to examine the issue in an effort to effectively regulate the drug treatment centers.
“That’s why we’re doing this study,” Shawver said. “To find out how to make them more effective, make sure everything is legal and to make sure they’re truly getting help.”
Other cities have also indicated they want to regulate addiction treatment centers.
Huntington Beach leaders have already adopted rules requiring sober living homes to be at least 1,000 feet away from each other and get city permits, along with limiting how many people they take in.
Newport Beach and Costa Mesa have also struggled with group homes for well over a decade, with both taking action to require permitting and other regulations to function according to a chart on the city’s website.
Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @NBiesiada.
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