2018/08/08 Council Agenda Packet

transportation, thereby jeopardizing their ability to stay employed. Approximately 95% of Ideal Option's patients are working and are not homeless. Of that group, 70% are among the working poor. When access to treatment is difficult these individuals are at risk for losing their jobs, giving up, becoming homeless and overdosing. Overwhelmingly, these individuals have other family members as well who are greatly impacted by such barriers to treatment. When a patient must regularly spend time traveling to medical clinics, counseling services, pharmacies and courts while trying to hold down a job, they are unlikely to seek or continue treatment. Ideal Option practitioners know that its patients have a unique set of symptoms,causes, diagnoses and treatments when compared to the general population. They work closely with each individual to strengthen the efficacy of their treatment. In addition to OBOT programs, Ideal Option's designated case workers maintain close contact with each person to ensure they are receiving the care they need. Ideal Option works to remove barriers patients face, including treatment that allows them to continue working and increasing functionality in all areas of their lives. To do so, the importance of location cannot be overstated. SUPPORT FOR EVERETT LEADERSHIP: The City of Everett has been a national leader in its commitment to solve the opioid crises. From its landmark lawsuit against Purdue Pharma to the City's Safe Streets Plan,Everett has sought to address "the effects of rampant drug use on our streets, and our neighborhoods and business owners feel the impact as well."2 City Officials have acknowledged that systems have been overwhelmed by this crisis and capacity is lacking to respond to and treat the individuals who are suffering from addiction in Everett. Ideal Option has the capacity, the tools and the track record to significantly address Everett's lack of treatment capacity if we are allowed to occupy our leased space at 2808 Hoyt. LEGAL ISSUES: Apart from our grandfathering, vesting and exemption arguments, we have received legal opinions indicating that the current moratorium and contemplated prohibition are constitutionally suspect under the law. Numerous courts, including federal courts in the Third,Sixth,and in the Ninth Circuit,where Washington is located,have found that state and local ordinances which single out methadone or medication assisted treatment ("MAT")clinics and either prohibit them or restrict their locations violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (the "ADA") and the Rehabilitation Act. See, e.g., New Directions Treatment Servs. v. City of Reading, 490 F.3d 293 (3d Cir. 2007); MX Group v. City of Covington,293 F.3d 326(6th Cir.2002); Bay Area Addiction Research &Treatment, Inc.v. City of Antioch, 179 F.3d 725 (9th Cir. 1999). 2 From City of Everett News Release(Jan. 19,2017)