New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez visited Watertown on Fridayto congratulate PIVOT officials on being awarded the funds to create a Recovery Community and Outreach Center in Watertown. The site was one of six selected through a competitive NYS OASAS request for proposal evaluation and will receive annual funding for five years.
The new centers will provide supports for individuals and families who are recovering from a substance abuse disorder, or are seeking recovery services. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo first announced the funding awards in June. Other new centers will be located on Long Island, Staten Island, Newburgh, Saratoga Springs and Buffalo. These centers will complement recovery programs in Rochester, Brooklyn and Oneonta.
“Recovery from the disease of addiction is possible with community-based supports and a substance-free environment where peers can assist each other in their recovery journey,” Commissioner González-Sánchez said. “ PIVOT will be able to use this funding to continue their good work and help more upstate New Yorkers maintain a healthy lifestyle, right in Jefferson County.”
These recovery centers are the latest addition to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s multi-pronged approach to addressing substance use disorders in New York State.
"I have personally been involved in work to plug holes in treatment and support services available in the North Country. I'd like to thank Gov. Cuomo and Commissioner González-Sánchez for bringing this important funding to the North Country," Assemblywoman Russell said.
"This builds on our effort to train more physicians in the area so they can prescribe specialized medication to people in recovery. I wrote a letter in support of PIVOT's application for this grant. This will bring badly needed long-term recovery support to the North Country," according to the assemblywoman.
"We have a huge addiction problem in our region, and this has been one of the barriers to keeping people clean. One of the biggest areas we had to address was having proper recovery programs to help people stay clean after they have successfully completed detox and in-patient treatment programs," she added.
Assemblywoman Russell noted Friday's event came in the wake of a month when there had been well over a dozen reported overdoses and five deaths connected to drug use.
"Unfortunately in the past several weeks we have seen in our area the death of people who have been in recovery for some time. Tragically they didn't find all the support they needed to stay clean and they fell back into drug use," according to Assemblywoman Russell.
"It's cruel to put all of our energies into detox and treatment if we fall down in the most important part - long-term sobriety and the support needed by those in recovery. We know the likelihood of death is much higher for people who have been clean for a long time and then start using again. It has a chilling effect on efforts to get more users in treatment when people who have been so doing well start using again and die," she said.
The centers will offer information and education to the community on how to access addiction treatment; assist with the navigation of insurance and treatment issues; provide wellness information and activities to foster a lifetime of wellness for individuals, families and community members; and engage peers and volunteers to assist those in recovery on their path toward wellness.
These Recovery Community and Outreach Centers will provide a community-based, non-clinical setting that is safe, welcoming and alcohol/drug-free for any member of the community.
Each recovery center will respond to the local area’s specific needs related to obtaining substance abuse treatment services and addiction recovery supports.
The centers will promote long-term recovery through skill building, recreation, wellness education, employment readiness, civic restoration opportunities, and other social activities.
Services will be accessible not only during the daytime hours, but also during evening and weekends, to meet the needs of individuals and families who may be in need of assistance at varying hours.
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the State’s toll-free, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week HOPEline, 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or texting HOPENY.
Find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider by searching the OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard or by visiting the Access Treatment page on the NYS OASAS website. For information about combating heroin use and prescription opioid drug abuse, visit New York State’s Combat Heroin website.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez was in Watertown on Friday to meet with local officials after PIVOT was recently awarded $1.75 million to create a Recovery Community and Outreach Center in the community. The site was one of six selected through a competitive NYS OASAS request for proposal evaluation and will receive annual funding for five years. The new centers will provide supports for individuals and families who are recovering from a substance abuse disorder, or are seeking recovery services. Commissioner Gonzalez was welcomed to Watertown by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, a host of county and city officials, PIVOT staff and community members. Pictured are (l-r): Jefferson County Deputy Director for Public Health, Alliance for Better Communities Chairman and City Councillor Steve Jennings, Assemblywoman Russell, Tonia Stephenson, Catherine Chipp, Commissioner González-Sánchez, PIVOT Executive Director William Bowman, PIVOT Program Director Anita Seefried-Brown, Jefferson County Community Services Director Roger Ambrose, Jefferson County District Attorney Kristina Mills and Jefferson County Sheriff Colleen O'Neill.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell visits with New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez.
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell speaks at an event marking PIVOT's successful application for funding to expand substance abuse recovery support services in the region.
TOP PHOTO:
New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez was in Watertown on Friday to meet with local officials after PIVOT was recently awarded $1.75 million to create a Recovery Community and Outreach Center in the community. The site was one of six selected through a competitive NYS OASAS request for proposal evaluation and will receive annual funding for five years. The new centers will provide supports for individuals and families who are recovering from a substance abuse disorder, or are seeking recovery services. Commissioner Gonzalez was welcomed to Watertown by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, a host of county and city officials, PIVOT staff and community members. Pictured are (l-r): Jefferson County Deputy Director for Public Health, Alliance for Better Communities Chairman and City Councillor Steve Jennings, Assemblywoman Russell, Tonia Stephenson, Catherine Chipp, Commissioner González-Sánchez, PIVOT Executive Director William Bowman, PIVOT Program Director Anita Seefried-Brown, Jefferson County Community Services Director Roger Ambrose, Jefferson County District Attorney Kristina Mills and Jefferson County Sheriff Colleen O'Neill.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell visits with New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez.
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell speaks at an event marking PIVOT's successful application for funding to expand substance abuse recovery support services in the region.
