I read with interest your article “Community raises alarm about MAT clinic” (PDN, July 31).
Like many of the participants of this meeting, I too felt that the clinic would be a bad idea for Sequim.
It would surely bring more addicts into the community and we’d probably see the crime rates go up.
Besides, we don’t have a drug problem in Sequim.
Then, this morning, I had an opportunity to hear a presentation by Brent Simcosky, health director for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and Dr. Scott Kennedy from Olympic Medical Center regarding the medication-assisted treatment clinic.
Their presentation laid out the facts of the project and addressed the rumors that have been spread by many.
Last year, over 70,000 people died nationwide from drug overdose.
Over 48,000 died from opiate overdose.
But what about locally?
Clallam County has the second-highest drug overdose death rate in the state and overdoses were the leading cause of accidental deaths.
I urge everyone to become informed about the facts of the proposed program.
You can begin by attending the Healing Campus meeting at the Guy Cole Center, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Learn the facts and then make an informed decision regarding this worthy project.
Eric Mahnerd,
Sequim