2 Centers To Expand Addiction Services

SUSAN BALDRIGE

SBALDRIGE@LNPNEWS.COM

Two addiction-treatment facilities are expanding to help carry the load of the growing opioid crisis in Lancaster County.

T.W. Ponessa & Associates, at 410 N. Prince St., will become one of 20 new state-designated Centers of Excellence located across the state this fall to treat Medicaid patients for opioid addiction.

And Lititz-based GateHouse Behavioral Health Services is opening a new location in Lancaster.

The Centers of Excellence are being launched by the Department of Human Services under Gov. Tom Wolf, who worked to secure $20 million in funding in this year's budget for the facilities across the state.

"This is a huge, important step in addressing treatment," Jeff Sheridan, a spokesman for Wolf, said in a prepared statement. "But it's only a step. There's more to do."

Last year, 80 people died of drug overdoses in Lancaster County; most of those deaths had an opioid painkiller or heroin involved.

The Centers of Excellence will primarily care for low-income residents who struggle with addiction, particularly to opioids. Ponessa will operate the only one in Lancaster County. The next closest Center of Excellence is planned for York.

Ponessa will add staff to provide the new level of services. The facility will be able to provide medication-assisted treatment to as many as 300 new clients. Fewer than 50 people now get medication-assisted treatment.

Drug counseling is required for anyone enrolled in the program.

Ponessa was chosen from more than 100 applicants to receive a state grant, Wolf's office said. Treatment includes addressing underlying causes of addiction, as well as care for an addict's physical symptoms.

"We are very honored to be chosen," said Ponessa CEO Cathy DeGuire. "It's a huge task and a huge responsibility, but we're up for that."

A dedication ceremony for the new GateHouse facility is to be held at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Scheduled to attend the event are Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray, who is part of the Lancaster County Anti-Heroin Task force; Drug Court Judge David Ashworth; and county Commissioner Craig Lehman.

At GateHouse, Program Director Rebecca Hahn said the nonprofit organization is consolidating outpatient services at 817 N. Cherry St. in Lancaster. That facility opens today.

The facility will handle up to 140 outpatient clients. GateHouse has also applied for a license to provide intensive outpatient therapy - up to 10 hours of group and individual counseling per week - at its new location.

If the license is approved, the intensive services will begin in the fall.