Lakeway addiction facility to become that City's Planet K?

Thursday, 16 February 2012 08:04 |

Public interest in an addiction treatment facility project on Lohmans Crossing has prompted city officials to schedule an informal town meeting on the issue at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Activity Center.

These details from the City:

Residents will get their first chance to hear a detailed presentation by Dr. Maryann Rosenthal of Recovery Ways. Residents will then have the opportunity to ask questions of Recovery Ways officials and share their concerns about the facility. Letter from the Vice President of Recovery Ways explaining the nature of the facility: Recovery Ways Letter

WHAT RECOVERY WAYS IS NOT:

·         It is not a State or County facility.
·         It is no way associated with the criminal justice system.
·         It is not a halfway house.
·         It will not provide outpatient services.
·         It will not provide detox treatment.

WHAT RECOVERY WAYS IS:

·         It is a 24-bed facility for people who voluntarily want additional post-detox care.
·         It is private pay, high end facility comparable to the Betty Ford Clinic.
·         It provides therapy and counseling to help individuals reconnect with their lives and families.

Recovery Ways website: www.recoveryaddictiontreatment.com

This info from concerned citizen groups:

"I just wanted to make sure everyone knew about the meeting Wednesday evening regarding the addiction treatment facility that is going to be located next to Lakeway Elementary School. I would like to say, that my extended family has been touched by addiction, along with some dear friends of mine. Addiction is a horrible disease. Texas is last in the country on funding for mental health, and I applaud that more help and care is coming to our area. That being said, it is my opinion that a facility built so close to an elementary school, is absolutely unacceptable.

The facility, called Recovery Ways, per it's website, treats people with addictions such as:

Heroin addiction
Cocaine addiction
Meth addiction

The facility also works with clients with serious personality disorders, such as the following: - (the following text is from the Recovery Ways website)

Antisocial Personality Disorder
People with this disorder seem to have no regard for either social norms or other people’s feelings. Typical traits include:

     •     Constantly breaking the law
     •     Acting deceitful, such as lying, using false names or trying to con other people
     •     Failing to plan ahead
     •     Acting irritable or aggressive, and getting into physical fights
     •     Behaving recklessly or putting other people in danger
     •     Failing to hold a job, pay bills or keep up with other responsibilities
     •     Lacking remorse for wrong-doing, including for hurting others

Borderline Personality Disorder
People with this disorder have trouble maintaining healthy relationships. Typical traits include:

     •     A pattern of unstable relationships
     •     A tendency to see people as either wonderful or awful
     •     Poor self-image
     •     Impulsivity
     •     Suicidal or self-harming behavior, such as cutting
     •     Intense moods which change fairly rapidly
     •     Inappropriate or uncontrollable anger
     •     Paranoia

Histrionic Personality Disorder

     •     Exaggerated and often inappropriate displays of emotional reactions to everyday situations.
     •     Sudden and rapid shifting of emotional expressions.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

     •     Believing that others are exploiting, harming, or trying to deceive them.
     •     Lack of trust and belief of others; unforgiving and grudge holding.

Per http://www.recoveryaddictiontreatment.com/chemical-dependency/
I have no problem with and encourage a rehabilitation treatment facility locating to our community. However, for me, it becomes a problem when it is located in a residential area directly adjacent to an elementary school. Many children walk along the sidewalk on Lohman's Crossing and Rolling Green to get to school each day.
I have friends who have been in rehab programs. My brother ran a drug/addiction rehab program for years. The clients spend quite a bit of time outside, playing basketball or smoking cigarettes. Drugs are often smuggled into rehab. It's just a part of it. It's a voluntary in-patient and out-patient program. That means that, for example, a heroin addict, after two days of treatment, can decide to leave the program and walk out of the facility at any time.
Each day, young children are going to be walking to school and will have to pass by this facility. WIll there be a barbed-wire fence to keep the children safe, even with constant staff supervision? Despite all assurances from facility management, it's a risk. It's a risk that we shouldn't take with our children. When people go into rehab, they are out of control, their families are out of control. I don't want our kids to have to be in such close proximity to this environment.
What about the property values of the multiple homes around the facility? As a Realtor, I can tell you that it will have a devastating affect on these homes. Again, I'm not against the facility, just the location right next to a school.
Lakeway city leaders need to know your opinion on this matter. The city is holding an informal meeting on the issue. Here are the details from Council Member Joe Bain:
"Given the amount of attention that this project has received, we have scheduled an informational meeting for this Wednesday, February 15th at the Activity Center at 6:30 p.m. Dr. Maryann Rosenthal of Recovery Ways will give a presentation on the facility and be available for questions".
I strongly encourage you to attend this meeting and and the City Council meeting next Tuesday. Please express your opinion about this issue. Also, I encourage you to email the Lakeway Mayor and City Council members. The contact information is as follows:

Dave DeOme - Mayor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bruce Harris - Mayor Pro Tem - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Joe Bain - Councilmember This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dee Ann Burns-Farrell - Councilmember - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dave Taylor - Councilmember - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Alan Tye - Councilmember - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dennis Wallace - Councilmember - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "

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Comments (2)

2012-02-16 15:40:50 | Anonymous - Nothing new under the sun

Politicians. The only things you can still buy in the US.
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2012-02-16 15:43:36 | Anonymous - Nothing new under the sun

Politicians. The only things you can still buy in the US.
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The Bee Cave Bee

Lakeway addiction facility to become that City's Planet K?