Drug Center Lays Off Workers

St. Petersburg Times, September 22, 1987
By Mark Journey

ST. PETERSBURG - ST. PETERSBURG - Straight Inc. has laid off five of the 40 employees at its Pinellas County drug treatment center during the past two weeks, a Straight official said Monday. Tim Kelleher, assistant director for operations, said three of the five employees were hired during the past year because the company expected about 130 patients at the center this summer. Instead, only 100 people registered for treatment, he said. Figures for the same period in 1986 were not available. The center treated 112 patients in April. Kelleher said the five people may be rehired within the next three or four months if enrollment increases. He said treatment will not be affected by the layoffs.

One of the five employees was a program counselor. In addition, two clerks, an administrator and an admissions employee were dismissed, Kelleher said. He would not identify the employees or say how much money the company would save with the layoffs. "We were overstaffed," Kelleher said. "We added those positions anticipating greater growth."

Straight Inc., at 3001 Gandy Blvd., operates eight drug facilities nationwide. It describes itself as a family-oriented drug rehabilitation program for drug users between the ages of 12 and 21.