Second Suboxone clinic set for Charleroi
A second Suboxone clinic may be moving into Charleroi.
Dr. Michael Toshok received a zoning certificate on March 4 for property at 510 Fallowfield Ave., code enforcement officer Michele Harris confirmed.
On the certificate, Toshok states he plans to use the office for counseling and that he will write prescriptions for Suboxone. No drugs will be stored on the property, he states in the application.
Approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat opiate dependence, Suboxone is most commonly administered to heroin addicts.
Harris said the property is already properly zoned to open a clinic. She noted that because there was not going to be any construction as part of opening the clinic, filing the application was voluntary.
A receptionist at Toshok’s office said there was “no good time” to talk to the doctor and that he was “not interested” in talking about his plans for the Charleroi clinic.
A Suboxone clinic already operates in the Charleroi Chamber Plaza, but the trustees of Charleroi Community Park are battling New Leaf Recovery Services in Washington County Common Pleas Court over whether the company subleased the land without approval from the trustees.
The trustees’ contention is that New Leaf is there without a proper land lease. New Leaf bought the building, but the trustees own the land. The trustees’ position is that they were not properly notified in advance of the sale of the building. Mark Alterici, president of the trustees, said the case is still pending in court.
Borough Councilman Jerry Jericho said there have been no problems at the New Leaf site, which is under surveillance by cameras.
As a Washington County deputy sheriff, Jericho said he deals with addiction regularly and supports addicts getting treatment.
“They’re trying to get them help. Drugs change over the years, but this heroin is the worst one, it’s killing people,” he said.
Councilman Frank Paterra said he opposes all drug clinics.
“Charleroi has become a parasite haven for illegal drugs,” Paterra said. “As long as I am a public official, I will use all of the authority I have to destroy the illegal drug dealers in our beloved Charleroi. We as public officials must join together on this great crusade. Our elderly and children’s future is in our hands.”