Worcester Councilor Wants Drug Treatment Center In Main South Slowed

WORCESTER, MA — District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera Tuesday moved to intervene in an apparent plan to offer drug treatment in a former American Legion hall in the Main South neighborhood.

Spectrum Health Systems purchased the 1023 Main St. hall over the summer for $910,000. Rivera said the nonprofit, which operates several Worcester-area opiate treatment centers, plans to house two programs in the building, including methadone treatment.

"The planned methadone clinic will operate within close proximity of a highly residential neighborhood, three elderly housing towers, several schools and school bus stops within our neighborhood," Rivera said in a news release Tuesday. "While we value community development and support initiatives that enhance our neighborhood's quality of life, we believe it is essential to ensure that such programs align with our neighborhood's unique character and prioritize the safety and welfare of its residents."

Rivera said she was informed Spectrum planned to close drug treatment facilities along Pleasant and Merrick streets and fold those operations into the Main Street building.

A spokesperson for Spectrum said Tuesday the company's new mobile treatment van has parked at the Main South building. The van, which began operating in February, offers methadone, suboxone and vivitrol treatments for drug users, and stops at the Queen Street Shelter and St. John’s Catholic Church in the Canal District.

"[The Main South] location was added to our mobile unit's service route as of Friday, Sept. 8 while plans for the facility are still being finalized. We can however confirm there will be no changes in services to Worcester residents," spokesperson Alli Schoff said.

In addition to the Merrick and Pleasant street locations, Spectrum offers outpatient drug treatment along Lincoln Street. The Lincoln Street site has drawn criticism from nearby residents, partly because it is near the former Quality Inn hotel that will be transformed into housing for ultra low-income residents.

Rivera said bringing an opiate treatment center into Main South would perpetuate negative stereotypes about the neighborhood. She also said the neighborhood is already oversaturated with drug treatment programs.

Rivera said the nearby residents and business owners and other elected officials want a meeting with Spectrum about the plans to allay concerns over items like the safety of schoolchildren and property values.

"Our neighborhood prides itself on being a close-knit community that values the safety, wellbeing, and quality of life of all its residents," Rivera said in a news release. "While we recognize the importance of organizations' efforts to make a positive impact, we urge Spectrum Health Care to work collaboratively with the community to address these concerns and ensure that any program implemented in our neighborhood benefits all stakeholders. We ask that you do not contribute to the over saturation and affect the quality of life of our residents."

Massachusetts set a new opioid overdose death record in 2022 with over 2,400 deaths. Worcester counted 168 deaths alone — a nearly 37 percent increase compared to 2021, and the highest number dating back to 2015, according to state records.

According to Spectrum, close to 300 locals receive drug treatment through the nonprofit's new mobile recovery van. More than 78 percent of those receiving treatment through the van have stayed in treatment, the nonprofit said.