Tudy Bowman said even though she knows there's a serious drug problem in Buffalo, she doesn't want a substance abuse center in her neighborhood.
BUFFALO, W.Va. -- Tudy Bowman said even though she knows there's a serious drug problem in Buffalo, she doesn't want a substance abuse center in her neighborhood.
"There's a bad drug problem in Buffalo, but this facility isn't geared toward that -- they would be serving three to four counties," said Bowman, the chairwoman of the town action committee.
People interested in building a substance abuse rehabilitation center named The Rock House, Bowman said, have approached Buffalo officials. They want to remodel the more than 100-year-old furniture factory close to 8th Avenue off 18 Mile Creek Road, she said.
"That area is populated by mostly elderly residents. My husband and I are over 65, and if somebody would leave the facility it's not like it's in the middle of Buffalo," she said. "It's in a pretty rural area and we're used to not locking everything down completely. I wouldn't feel secure anymore."
A meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Buffalo High School, where residents are invited to hear a presentation by Sheila Martin, who came up with the idea for the center.
Martin, of Eleanor, is the founder of Parents Against Addictions. She said she her son has been drug-free for one year and six months after spending time at Brian's Safehouse in Prosperity, after which The Rock House would be modeled.
"There is the idea that these people will be out roaming the town, and it's nothing like that," Martin said. "The facility is not going to be full of a bunch of criminals, which they have in Buffalo right now. There are drug dealers living all over Buffalo."
Martin said Buffalo's location is ideal because it's secluded and not on a bus route which could discourage participants from leaving the program.
"We're trying to take the temptation away from people jumping on a bus and leaving," she said. "These people will already be [drug-free] and be there because they want help."
West Virginia's drug epidemic is something residents in Buffalo should be trying to fix, Martin said.
BUFFALO, W.Va. -- Tudy Bowman said even though she knows there's a serious drug problem in Buffalo, she doesn't want a substance abuse center in her neighborhood.
"There's a bad drug problem in Buffalo, but this facility isn't geared toward that -- they would be serving three to four counties," said Bowman, the chairwoman of the town action committee.
People interested in building a substance abuse rehabilitation center named The Rock House, Bowman said, have approached Buffalo officials. They want to remodel the more than 100-year-old furniture factory close to 8th Avenue off 18 Mile Creek Road, she said.
"That area is populated by mostly elderly residents. My husband and I are over 65, and if somebody would leave the facility it's not like it's in the middle of Buffalo," she said. "It's in a pretty rural area and we're used to not locking everything down completely. I wouldn't feel secure anymore."
A meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Buffalo High School, where residents are invited to hear a presentation by Sheila Martin, who came up with the idea for the center.
Martin, of Eleanor, is the founder of Parents Against Addictions. She said she her son has been drug-free for one year and six months after spending time at Brian's Safehouse in Prosperity, after which The Rock House would be modeled.
"There is the idea that these people will be out roaming the town, and it's nothing like that," Martin said. "The facility is not going to be full of a bunch of criminals, which they have in Buffalo right now. There are drug dealers living all over Buffalo."
Martin said Buffalo's location is ideal because it's secluded and not on a bus route which could discourage participants from leaving the program.
"We're trying to take the temptation away from people jumping on a bus and leaving," she said. "These people will already be [drug-free] and be there because they want help."
West Virginia's drug epidemic is something residents in Buffalo should be trying to fix, Martin said.
"Not all of these people are bad people. They're good people in a bad situation with a bad problem. People need to step up and be just as much a part of the solution rather than part of the problem, and people not wanting it there is being part of the problem," Martin said. "Without a place like this my son would be dead."
A forum has been created about The Rock House on the website Topix.com, a community discussion site where people can post their opinions anonymously.
One person writes they think the facility would be a great idea, and help a lot of people. They say they're currently taking Suboxone, used to treat opiate addiction, and have been clean for more than 100 days.
Another writes they believe the facility could create jobs in the community.
Several comments raise concern about the new program decreasing property values.
Martin said centers like The Rock House and Brian's Safehouse actually help cities and towns.
"These places bring value, if nothing else," she said. "One part of the program is community service."
Buffalo Mayor Gary Tucker said he would listen more to Martin's plans for the center and what residents have to say on Saturday.
"I don't know much about these things but I'm afraid it will cause extra problems for the town and its property values. We're a small town and we already have drug problems anyway," Tucker said. "Will this help or hurt? I don't know."
Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
