BayMark Health Services is readying a detox and treatment center in Wellesley to help those addicted to opioid prescription painkillers, heroin, alcohol and other drugs. The outfit over the summer posted job listings for an executive director and medical director to lead the Wellesley Coleman Institute, which will be located at 30 Washington St., in lower falls, and could open by the end of November.
BayMark has more than a dozen Coleman Institutes across the country, including in major cities such as Dallas, Denver, Phoenix and Richmond, Va., its flagship location. Coleman Institutes have been around for the past 20 years, and use a combination of Naltrexone therapy and long-term case management to lead patients to recovery.
At least according to Massachusetts Department of Health numbers on resident deaths by opioid-related overdoses, Wellesley has not been hit as hard by the crisis as other communities across the state. Four Wellesley residents died between 2015 and 2017 from opioids-related overdoses, according to the state.
Wellesley first responders have administered Narcan to those who have overdosed on opioids, and opioids have been a topic of discussion among town officials, including at the schools. Wellesley has been on former professional basketball player Chris Herren’s speaking circuit, on which he talks about his own heroin addiction. Newton-Wellesley Hospital has also been active in sharing information about addictive drugs.
“The stigma associated with substance use disorders, or addictions, have misled many to believe that the disease only impacts one type of person, family or community,” according to a Coleman spokeswoman. “As the opioid epidemic worsens, we have seen that the disease does not distinguish by race, age, gender, education or socioeconomic level or by the area in which you live. Opioid use disorder, along with alcoholism and other issues, impacts Americans in every community across the country.”
The Coleman Institute allows patients to receive outpatient treatment in an environment similar to a primary care office. And in this case, the office will be within about a mile of Newton-Wellesley Hospital as well. The Coleman Institute offers customized withdrawal management services backed by ongoing recovery support.
“Our aim is for this to be a regional office offering withdrawal management options to those in need throughout New England,” the Coleman spokeswoman says.
This is a horrible idea! I would definitely be changing schools for my Son/Daughter if they were enrolled in the school across the Street. Wellesley continues to go downhill. It has never looked so bad and now to add another medical clinic, for drug users? Really? They should go to Framingham instead. We have a medical building of some sort now on every block, enough is enough! I am getting ashamed of living here. There are so many prettier Towns now than Wellesley that offer there Residents more benefits. This Town should be catering to the Residents who have lived here the longest, not to all the newbies that are coming by the dozens and the medical clinics. Will these people get free medical care? Probably so! There is also a huge Senior Citizen complex built there too,,yeah it will come in real handy for them! Where will these drug addicts come from?? A bad idea all around..Senior Citizens on one side, young children going to school on the other! Awful!!!
I am certain that my remarks will be taken out of context to be misinterpreted as to their intent. The planned detox center is to be located at 30 Washington Street in Wellesley, across the street from St. John’s Church and St. John’s Elementary School with its recreational area and parking area for dropping and picking up the children. My question is why this type of clinic needs to be located less than 100 yards from an elementary school? I don’t think this location is an appropriate site for this clinic. I urge the Wellesley government powers that be to reconsider the approval of this clinic on this site.