New site for substance abuse clinic proposed

The Addiction and Substance Abuse Program, which includes methadone and Suboxone treatment, must vacate its current location near the airport by August. Plans to build a new clinic on land the university is buying at Central and San Mateo SE were derailed after residents in that area protested.

At a regents finance committee meeting Friday, hospital CEO Steve McKernan sought approval to buy the triangular-shaped parcel from the state Department of Transportation for $1.5 million.

McKernan’s plan is to install a temporary building there until a permanent one is established.

But that plan differs from the one regents were supposed to consider Friday, and regents said they didn’t have enough information to approve the new plan. The previous idea was to move the clinic to a building at Yale and Gibson, also near the airport.

McKernan said that location is not on a good bus line, is not as accessible as the one on Lomas and would cost $900,000 to lease and renovate.

“My job, I believe, and my role as administrator of the hospital is finding the most convenient spot for our patients,” McKernan said.

Regent Gene Gallegos said the committee should hold off on approving anything until it’s more thoroughly examined. He said the university should first get comment from nearby neighborhoods, which includes Martineztown located across Interstate 25.

“We’re still lacking on the details of the finances,” Gallegos said. The committee, which also includes regents Jamie Koch and Conrad James, voted to hold off taking action until next month.

McKernan said he had plans to meet with neighborhood associations, but added that “nobody’s going to like where we want to put the clinic. Period.”
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal