Individuals soon will be able to seek help for drug and alcohol abuse at The Guidance Center in Bradford.
“In order to meet the needs of the local communities, the organization sought out licensing through the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to provide care for those struggling with substance usage,” said Guidance Center executive director Ed Mialky.
Dr. Alexander Welge will guide the treatment for individuals with opioid addiction and will offer medication-assisted treatment services using suboxone at the office at 110 Campus Drive.
Individuals will be able to have a level of care evaluation completed by a counselor, so the person can be paired with the right programs, he said.
“Taking the time to determine an individual’s functioning in multiple areas such as withdrawal potential, biomedical conditions and complications, emotional, behavioral or cognitive concerns, housing needs, motivation to change, and assessing relapse challenges allows one to have a better chance at recovery,” Mialky said. “Unfortunately, too often, individuals are recommended to services because it is all that is available, not necessarily because they are the most appropriate.”
A review of data indicates that The Guidance Center is serving 160 clients through outpatient mental health services who have a current substance use disorder and are not part of drug and alcohol treatment.
“Within The Guidance Center’s existing client base, there has been a significant need identified in treating co-occurring disorders,” Guidance Center officials said. “Because of the confidentiality regulations regarding substance abuse treatment, there are often barriers to treating both disorders. By having substance abuse treatment in-house, more clients will be able to receive the care they require.”
The Guidance Center is a part of the federal demonstration pilot concentrating on the development of certified community behavioral health clinics in eight states.
Pennsylvania only has seven demonstration sites, and as a CCBHC site, The Guidance Center must provide substance abuse services, organization officials said.
“With several physicians on-staff who have an interest and experience in treating addiction problems, The Guidance Center believed that expanding programs to include drug and alcohol services allows the client to receive the best care,” organization officials said. “There are many individuals who seek mental health services that also have the co-occurring substance issues which need treatment. Under the CCBHC umbrella that individual can be treated holistically.”
Within the facility’s drug and alcohol program, a nurse, drug and alcohol-targeted case manager, recovery specialist and an additional therapist will be added to the core team of individuals providing the service. Two outpatient mental health therapists, who have background in treating substance abuse disorders, will also be moved into the drug and alcohol department.
For more than 30 years, The Guidance Center has provided prevention, treatment and support services in Northwestern Pennsylvania. McKean County Department of Human Services and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Inc., which provides outpatient counseling and a residential treatment facility, supported the development of The Guidance Center’s drug and alcohol services program.
“The challenge to the local community is having available services that can address these various needs in one location especially since individuals with substance abuse problems have difficulty adhering to treatment,” organization officials said. “If services are fragmented, the chance of successful treatment drops significantly. As in any type of service environment, ensuring that there are adequate funds to develop and provide necessary treatment is also one of the greatest obstacles.”
For more information on the drug and alcohol services or other Guidance Center programs or to make a referral, call 814-362- 6535.
