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CNN Live Sunday

Rehab Centers Open in Residential Areas in California

Aired August 12, 2001 - 18:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: In California, a law approved earlier this year permits treatment, but not prison time, for some non-violent drug offenders. In theory, plenty of people are for it, but in practice, it gets a lot trickier, especially the part about where drug rehabilitation facilities should be located. Here's CNN's Anne McDermott.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNE MCDERMOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Malibu, beauty and big bucks. But kind that buys big houses like this one that will soon become a drug rehab center. In Malibu?

CHRIS PRENTISS, PASSAGES DIRECTOR: First of all, Malibu has a very healing energy.

MCDERMOTT: But some people here are putting their energy into opposing the center, called Passages, which will be run by Chris Prentiss and his son.

She is sort of in between.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Generally, I'm for it and supportive of recovery and rehabilitation, but I wouldn't want it personally in my immediate neighborhood, having two small children.

MCDERMOTT: Under California law, cities lack the power to intervene if rehab facilities limit themselves to just six clients at a time. And it won't come cheap for those six clients at Passages. The difficult two-month stay costs $75,000.

Now this rehab facility, called New Directions, in Costa Mesa, California is lots cheaper, but it too has its opponents. And yet this 21-year-old patient believes the only way she was able to get better was because she was at a residential facility.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every morning I'd wake up and want to do it by myself and not drink that day and I haven't got drink or done drugs.

MCDERMOTT: Bekki Stewart works for New Direction.

(on camera): If you had 100 more beds, could you fill them?

BEKKI STEWART, NEW DIRECTIONS CENTER: Yes, we could.

MCDERMOTT: If you had 1,000 more beds, could you fill them?

STEWART: Yes, we could.

MCDERMOTT (voice-over): Part of the reason is California voters approved Proposition 36 earlier this year, which diverts nonviolent drug offenders into programs instead of prison.

But neighbors are not happy that New Directions plans to open a fourth residential center. .

AMY POWELL, NEIGHBOR: I think the people in New Directions, the board -- I see them driving up and down our street when they come and visit these places in their Mercedes and their expensive cars -- and I'd like them to have one of these homes right next to them.

MCDERMOTT: Back in Malibu, Chris Prentiss offers the unusual argument that centers like his, which may play host to celebrity clients, can actually improve a neighborhood.

PRENTISS: People may find that the value of their properties go up, because people like to be around celebrities.

MCDERMOTT: Neighbors will probably soon see. Passages is expected to open in September.

Anne McDermott, CNN, Malibu, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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