Funding aims to help implement or expand substance use disorder treatment and prevention services in some of Pennsylvania’s most isolated counties
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (Sept. 27, 2022) — Gaudenzia, Inc., the region’s largest provider of treatment for substance use disorder, will receive $750,000 in federal funds to implement Driving Recovery – a program that provides mobile Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services aimed at addressing the nation’s opioid and overdose crisis.
The Driving Recovery program will utilize a medically outfitted van to provide greater access to MAT services, including naloxone, in rural communities across central Pennsylvania’s northern counties. The program will start with serving outpatient clients at Gaudenzia’s programs, but ultimately expand to offer services to other community members, placing a special emphasis on recruiting racially and ethnically underrepresented adults.
Limited access to MAT and transportation presents significant barriers in isolated, rural counties. The Driving Recovery program aims to reduce the impact of behavioral health problems and disparities by providing low-threshold, low-barrier clinical care and harm reduction services to those at the highest risk of overdose death. It is expected to serve 80 adults annually for five years, along with at least 40 family members/significant others per year by offering peer support services with family education and needs-based referrals to community resources.
“Driving Recovery will allow Gaudenzia to provide the latest in innovative care and service to groups desperately in need of attention,” said Gaudenzia CEO Dr. Dale Klatzker. “We’d like to thank the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Pa. Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Single County Authorities, as well as our many community partners for their support. We appreciate our partnership with the Biden Administration and Pennsylvania officials as we work together to stem the opioid crisis that continues to worsen on our streets and in our neighborhoods.” The funding for Driving Recovery comes from $79.1 million in overdose prevention grants to Pennsylvania-based addiction treatment and overdose prevention programs from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This funding is part of President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy, the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy, and the Biden-Harris Unity Agenda — initiatives all aimed at addressing the nation’s opioid and overdose crisis.
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ABOUT GAUDENZIA, INC.
Gaudenzia, Inc. is one of the largest nonprofit substance use and co-occurring disorders treatment centers in the United States, with 51 facilities operating in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The agency serves about 15,000 individuals annually and operates 120 programs providing a full continuum of care. Since 1968, Gaudenzia has provided specialized services and programs for all demographics, including pregnant and parenting mothers, adolescents, people with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders, and more. Those seeking help can call Gaudenzia’s 24/7 Treatment and Referral HelpLine at 833-976-HELP (4357). For more information, visit GAUDENZIA.ORG.
