Allegheny Township supervisors and township residents in Blair County are circulating petitions in an effort to delay the opening of two possible methadone clinics.

Wednesday night, hundreds of township residents attended a public meeting to voice their concerns about plans by Pyramid Health and Discover House to open two methadone facilities in the township.

The supervisors are hoping to petition for a moratorium against the clinics opening.

Among the many people in attendance at the meeting was 20th District State Sen. John Eichelberger, who said he believes government needs to address the issue of sites for methadone clinics.

Eichelberger said the state should intervene to establish reasonable guidelines to cover the most basis concerns like some other states already have.

"Two things need to be done that appear to be the methodology for dealing with this issue. One is to restrict the amount of patients that are seen each day so they can (have) closer monitoring. And secondly .... the law needs to require designated drivers," Eichelberger said.

He said the state of Pennsylvania passed methadone clinic regulations in the past but they were struck down by federal courts.

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