Company addresses concerns about opioid clinic
Virtual meeting eases some fears of staff, parents at Sonora Elementary
A virtual town hall meeting held Tuesday night between Sonora Elementary School officials and Aegis Treatment Centers representatives over` an opioid treatment clinic slated to open next March on Pauline Court, less than 50 feet from the learning institution, seemed to calm some fears and answer quite a few questions.
“We are really happy that they are so willing to work with us,” Tami Beall, superintendent of Sonora Elementary School District, said in an interview after the meeting. “I think they (Aegis representatives) were really open and transparent.”
Aegis had 10 representatives on hand for the town hall, including Regional Director Rebecca Mitchell, who led the meeting held virtually via Zoom.
The meeting was put together by Aegis and the district in response to concerns raised by school staff and parents of students about the close proximity of the future clinic to the campus, as well as a lack of outreach about the plans.
In addition to answering questions and addressing concerns, Mitchell said it was important for Aegis’ overall mission to be understood.
“We also wanted to share who we are and what we do,” she said. “We were not sure who was
familiar with our organization and the services we provide and there is a lot of misinformation out there.”
Dr. Brian Talleur, chief medical officer for Aegis, said the treatment centers address opioid use disorder via medication, as well as counseling, and are highly regulated by both state and federal authorities.
The treatment centers do total lab workups for each patient so that they may tailor a personalized treatment plan and begin medication-assisted treatment using methadone and Suboxone, two commonly used FDAapproved medications used to treat opioid addiction, Talleur said.
According to Mitchell, the Sonora treatment center will be a satellite location for patients who live in the area and is an offshoot of the Modesto facility.
As a satellite location, Mitchell said the Sonora clinic will simply offer medication to patients. Therapy and other treatment will be offered via telehealth or at the Modesto location.
“They (Aegis representatives) answered a lot of questions about what the clinic will provide to the community,” Beall said regarding the medicationonly aspect of the Sonora clinic.
Safety was a main concern for many community members and parents of Sonora Elementary School, which Aegis Regional Director Sarah Khawaja-laljiani addressed the issue when she spoke.
All patients are required to sign and follow the “good neighbor policy,” which states that patients are not to loiter and are not allowed to smoke at any clinic location.
Patients are required to enter the building immediately upon arrival and promptly leave the premises once they are done at the facility, Khawaja-laljiani explained.
“Safety is a priority,” she said. “Sonora clinic use is a privilege, not a right for our patients. If the policy is not followed, disciplinary action will take place.”
Khawaja-laljiani said the concierge Aegis agreed to assign to the Pauline Court clinic will make sure the grounds stay neat and clean, in addition they will be responsible for making sure that patients are following the good neighbor policy.
Frank Silva, a former patient turned drug treatment counselor for Aegis in Ceres, said he understands the cause for concern due to the Pauline Court location.
Silva went through treatment at the Modesto location that will be the main hub for the Sonora satellite clinic. He said he took methadone and was able to work and function as part of his treatment plan, addressing a concern raised via questions asked by a Sonora parent or community member.
“It is very rewarding to give someone back their life,” he said. “If it wasn’t for Aegis, I might be dead.”
Mitchell said she understands the superintendent’s concern wholeheartedly being a parent herself, but noted that they have several other centers located near schools that have not had any incidents.
According to Mitchell, there were similar concerns voiced over the Ceres treatment center that opened in June 2020 that led to a similar town hall meeting.
Mitchell said the Ceres police chief, who was leery of the clinic when it opened because he thought it would be a problem, has since changed his mind. She also said she’s confident that the Sonora treatment center will fare the same way.
“We encourage everyone to educate themselves on what medication-assisted treatment is and is not,” she said. “There are a lot of myths out there and a lot of stigmas. We are part of the solution, not the problem.”
Beall said the meeting made her feel better about the clinic. However, she is still unhappy about the location and feels more town halls will be necessary to address issues as they arise in the future.
“This subject is not on the back burner. We are staying on top of this,” Beall said. “As concerns arise, we will reach out to Aegis.”
The willingness on the part of Aegis is key for Beall who said the meeting made her feel better about the clinic. That being said she is still unhappy at the clinic’s location and knows more town halls will be necessary to address issues as they arise in the future.
“This subject is not on the back burner. We are staying on top of this,” she said. “As concerns arise, we will reach out to Aegis.”