By MONA NAIR
6 News Reporter
ALCOA (WATE) - Some East Tennessee communities are turning to zoning rules to fight prescription drug abuse.
The issue got a lot of attention in December when federal authorities raided two pain clinics in Maryville.
That prompted the neighboring city of Alcoa to look at the sources of some of these drugs and keep them out.
With a prominent new bridge in town as well as greenways and other developments, Alcoa Director of Planning Chris Hamby says they also want to plan for the possible downside of growth ahead of time.
Officials now have zoning laws that would essentially make it very tough for methadone or substance abuse clinic to set up in the city.
Some of the many restrictions in a new ordinance approved by city commission Tuesday night are that clinics would not be able to open within a 1,000 feet of places like schools, churches, parks, residential neighborhoods, businesses that sell alcohol, or near any amusement catering to family entertainment.
"That's to protect the general population," Hamby said.
For now the restrictions are just on certain types of drug clinics. Figuring out how to tackle pain clinics would be the next step.
