Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have violated law

CommunicatorIC · Aug 25, 2014

Tampa Bay Times: Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have violated law
http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-related-rehab-may-have-violated-law/2194630

Excerpt:

When the Scientology-affiliated Narconon drug treatment center in Spring Hill was told by Hernando County it could not expand its residential facility, the center didn't try to make do with existing space.

Its officers rented three properties elsewhere in Spring Hill and expanded there. That allowed the center to admit more patients. Narconon charges up to $30,000 for a three-month stay.

One site was in a commercial center. Narconon shuttled patients there for what director Tammy Strickling described as "daily therapeutic classes.'' The other two sites were houses. One slept eight, the other six. Narconon staffers, trainees and overflow patients bunked there.

"I don't like turning anyone away,'' Strickling said in court last year.

But all three rented locations may have violated state law.

Substance abuse treatment centers in Florida are required to deliver services only at licensed facilities. Since Narconon opened in 2008, it had been licensed by the state Department of Children and Families to provide services at one place, 8213 Cessna Drive.

"My mouth is hanging open,'' said Department of Children and Families licensure specialist Troy McDermott, when told of the rented sites. In his 21 years at DCF, he never has encountered a center providing services at unlicensed facilities, he said.

Penalties can range from a moratorium on patient admissions to loss of license.

Strickling declined to be interviewed for this story. In an email Friday night, she said her facility, also known as Suncoast Rehabilitation Center, was licensed at the rented commercial space, which is on Hearth Road.

It was, but just by a matter of hours.

Earlier Friday, DCF had issued Narconon a temporary license to provide "intensive outpatient'' services at the site. Its application had arrived mid-week, as the Tampa Bay Times was asking Narconon's leadership team for comment.

Random guy · Aug 26, 2014

Wow!

fishypants · Aug 26, 2014

RightOn · Aug 26, 2014

"Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have HAS violated law"
FIFY Tampa Bay

The Wrong Guy · Aug 26, 2014

More trouble for Scientology’s drug rehab network, Narconon — this time in Florida

http://tonyortega.org/2014/08/26/mo...-rehab-network-narconon-this-time-in-florida/

CommunicatorIC · Aug 26, 2014

[NOTE - Related thread re: settlement of separate and distinct litigation: Spring Hill drug rehab center aka Narconon Florida Denied Permit to Expand. Although the Narconon entity, Spring Hill, is the same, the legal issues are separate, distinct, and should not be confused.]

The Hernando County Board is now aware of the alleged violations.

Tampa Bay Times: Hernando commissioners approve mediated settlement over Narconon expansion plans
http://www.tampabay.com/news/localg...ed-settlement-over-narconon-expansion/2194752

Relevant excerpt:

But also on Tuesday, commissioners learned from a story in the Tampa Bay Times that, after being turned down by the county, Narconon expanded anyway, renting three properties elsewhere in Spring Hill.

At one leased site, Narconon provided daily therapeutic classes. Two houses became living quarters for staff, trainees and overflow patients. None were licensed, as state law requires, until the Times sought comment from operators late last week.

"I'm shocked about that,'' commission Chairman Wayne Dukes said after Tuesday's meeting. He said he planned to talk to the county attorney "and see where we stand.''

"I don't think that they should have been doing that,'' Commissioner Nick Nicholson said. "I think they should be getting county approval for whatever they've been doing.''

Commissioner Diane Rowden also said she had some "serious legal questions'' that would need further investigation. "If you want an adult congregate living facility in a home, that's a residential district. ... Our code enforcement should be all over this.

"What, do they think they have a ticket to do anything they want in any location?"

The Florida Department of Children and Families, which has licensed the center at 8231 Cessna Drive since it opened in 2008, had not decided Tuesday whether to conduct a formal investigation into Narconon's leasing of off-site properties.

Officials from Narconon, disclosed the rentals during court proceedings last year. Last week, as the Times asked whether the rentals had required licenses, center director Tammy Strickling applied for a license for one of the sites. DCF issued it Friday, on a probationary basis.

BigBeard · Aug 26, 2014

"What, do they think they have a ticket to do anything they want in any location?"

Ummm, yes, they do. I can't believe anyone in Florida hasn't figured this out by now.

BigBeard

CommunicatorIC · Aug 26, 2014

BigBeard said: ↑

Ummm, yes, they do. I can't believe anyone in Florida hasn't figured this out by now.

The sad truth is the fact the County lost the related litigation, and a discrimination case at that, is going to make them even more gun shy re: holding the line against the COS.

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Scientology-related Narconon rehab center may have violated law

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