I recently drove down Cole Street and was pleased to see a sign in the window that Valley Cities Mental Health will be joining our community in the old Suburban Soul building. The sign states that Valley Cities will be providing mental health and substance abuse counseling along with services for women, infants and children, but it has been confirmed that we will not be getting a methadone clinic in Enumclaw.

I had the opportunity to speak with the administrative director of the Valley Cities Enumclaw clinic and I was told emphatically that there will not, under any circumstances, be a methadone clinic in Enumclaw.

The function of the Valley Cities Enumclaw clinic is to provide outpatient treatment for mental health and substance abuse patients with the long term goal of providing individuals the support and skills necessary to successfully reintegrate into society.

We have a rare and privileged opportunity to be a model for the rest of the country of what a community can do to lift its residents who are struggling with healthcare issues to a more productive and better quality of life. When all individuals, no matter their station in life, are supported to better their lot in life, all of us improve our lot in life.

Let’s lean forward together!

Mary L. Ballard, M.D.

Enumclaw