Rehab facilities need city review

The article in Tuesday’s Daily Pilot on May 13th regarding continuing problems with drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers in Newport Beach is an issue, I believe, that needs to be addressed for the safety of residents, as well as for the correct rehabilitation of the clients of these centers.

These rehabilitation centers provide valuable recovery services when they are administered correctly with proper oversight. However, the problem with some of these centers is that they are just a paid home that the courts provide for well off convicted offenders, instead of jail time. Of course, this is my opinion.

My opinion is based on events that occurred last December when driving down PCH midday. My wife and I were driving to the tennis club when our car was struck my a young lady. We proceeded to get off the highway before calling the police and file a report. While waiting for the police, the young lady drove off, with a blown tire nonetheless! After the police arrived, and after 30 minutes, the young lady was s potted by witnesses driving north on PCH at high speed still with the blown tire. Eventually the police caught her and she was arrested for being under the influence.

Although the arrested young lady held an out of state driver’s license, she did have a local address. Low and behold, I was told she was living at a sober living rehabilitation home in West Newport. I guess she is going to have to go back to day one on that program.I just hope in the future the program can improve their oversight of their residents.