Charleston - Huntington, West Virginia -- WOWK -- 13NewsPutnam residents worry about proposed drug treatment facility

Putnam residents worry about proposed drug treatment facility

The group is called The Rock West Virginia, and it has its eyes on a piece of property in Buffalo.  Members want to build a substance abuse facility, but neighbors are hoping they will look elsewhere.

"It's misguided in this small community.  I know they say they want them away form populous areas, then find a piece of property out in the country," said Tudy Bowman of Buffalo.

According to information on The Rock West Virginia, the group is made up of community members joining forces to fight addictions.  The facility will treat addicts between six months to a year while getting them ready to return to society.

"They have been clean for 30 days, and they decide after that 30 days they don't want to be clean anymore.  Where are they going to get their money?" asks Bowman, referring to money to buy drugs.  She lives within 100 feet of the proposed facility and is concerned one of the addicts might decide to rob her to get drug money.

"I'm worried about my personal safety.  I'm not 25-years-old anymore," said Bowman.

Others say 25 kids live within a hundred yards of the site.

"It's not that I'm against it.  Really I'm not.  There's a big need for it here in Buffalo, but not here.  This isn't the right place," said Danette Tucker of Buffalo.

A spokesperson for the group says the facility would be funded through donations and grants, hoping it will shine a light on a problem that plagues so many communities. 

A town meeting is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10 at Buffalo Elementary School to learn more about the facility.