County leaders: Mississippi drug addiction center letting residents leave without supervision, posing risk to neighborhood

Published 7:09 am Tuesday, December 20, 2022

The leaders of one Mississippi county have filed a temporary restraining order against a drug addiction and recovery center claiming it has not done enough to control its residents and that is poses a risk to local residents.

The Lafayette County Board of Supervisors filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against Stonewater Addiction Recovery Center, LLC on Dec. 1 on the grounds that the center’s operations constitute a public nuisance.

The motion says that Stonewater’s “hands-off” policy allows residents to leave the facility without the supervision of a staff member, and argues that these incidents of “elopement” make the facility incompatible with the surrounding neighborhoods.

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The motion seeks immediate temporary injunctive relief against Stonewater, who the county claims has not done enough to address the problem. They also claim the issue rises to the level of “neglect and abandonment” of residents.

The motion also alleges that Stonewater has not received the proper license from the Mississippi Department of Human Services to operate its facility.

The preliminary injunction relief would enjoin Stonewater from any and all further operations until such time as they amend their existing policies.

The motion was filed by board attorney David O’Donnell on behalf of Lafayette County.