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WILLIAMSPORT -- A drug and alcohol abuse program in Williamsport is recipient of a state grant to assist in resources and creating "hubs" for people in recovery and promote recovery in communities in the Greater Williamsport region.
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) is providing $4 million in grant funding and West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, 213 W. Fourth St., is among the recipients in the shared amount between several agencies.
"We are incredibly excited for the opportunity to be a part of this endeavor," said Shea Madden, executive director of the West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission.
The funding, which could be up to $500,000 and is slated to be awarded beginning July 1 -- will allow each regional recovery hub to conduct an initial needs assessment for recovery support services in their specific region, including an estimate of individuals in need of these services and an analysis of their availability and accessibility.
In addition, the hubs will develop a strategic plan, partnering with local organizations, that focuses on the importance of supporting multiple pathways to and through recovery, and will seek to promote recovery services in areas including peer support, family support, and self-care
"We can't wait to build and expand upon existing recovery support services," said Katie Hugo, Certified Recovery Specialist supervisor at the commission.
"The Shapiro Administration is committed to ensuring that Pennsylvanians have access to the recovery support services they need," said acting Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. "The creation of these regional recovery hubs furthers our commitment to promoting recovery in every corner of the state."
The regional recovery hubs throughout Pennsylvania will be designed to embed, expand, and promote a Recovery-Oriented System of Care, which is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is person-centered, with the ultimate goal of improving the health, wellness, and quality of life for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder.
The state has consistently had one of the highest overdose death rates in the country for years.
In 2021, more than 5,300 people died from an overdose, as The Center Square previously reported -- the third-highest death count nationally.
As the synthetic opioid fentanyl has displaced heroin from the state's drug supply, overdoses have risen. Lawmakers have legalized fentanyl test strips in response, as well as making it easier for the public to purchase the overdose-reversal drug naloxone.
However, a new horse tranquilizer is hitting the streets, xylazine, which does not respond to narcan, according to Lycoming County Coroner Charles E. Kiessing Jr.
A lack of data on overdoses, however, has been an issue. An expert who testified at a March meeting hosted by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania argued that the state is "clapping with one hand" by not requiring agencies to report overdose data.
The list of grant recipients and the communities they serve includes:
-- The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia; Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Chester, Lancaster, Delaware and Schuylkill counties
-- Unity Recovery -- Allegheny County
-- County of Erie Office of Drug & Alcohol Abuse -- Erie County
-- Armstrong Indiana Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission Inc. -- Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Washington, Westmoreland, Greene, Fayette and Somerset counties; Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Venango, Warren, Forest, Clarion, McKean, Elk, Cameron, Jefferson and Clearfield counties.
-- West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission -- Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan, Centre, Union, Snyder, Montour, Columbia, and Northumberland counties.
-- Northbound & Co. -- Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Lehigh and Northampton counties.
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The Center Square contributed to this article.