HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Need Help Now?

If you or someone you care about is having a problem with drugs or alcohol, there are several ways to help:

• The Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Program can help walk you through your options for getting help. You can get further information by calling 570-621-2890, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
• If it is after hours or a holiday, you can contact Schuylkill County We Help at 1-877-9WE HELP (1-877-993-4357) for further assistance. If it is after hours and a medical emergency you should seek help from your local hospital emergency room.
• If you have Health Insurance or Medical Assistance, you can get further information on accessing treatment by contacting the number on the back of your card listed under “Behavioral Health or Substance Abuse Services”.
• For further information on available services, refer to PA Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs website at http://www.ddap.pa.gov/gethelpnow

Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Program Assessment Providers:

Carbon-Monroe-Pike D&A Commission

866-824-3578

570-517-2747 Fax

428 South Seventh Street, Suite 1

Lehighton, PA 18235

Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.

570-628-6990

570-628-5899 Fax

1 South 2^nd Street

Pottsville, PA 17901

Gaudenzia Pottsville

570-622-6485

570-622-2422 Fax

1 South 2^nd Street, 4^th Floor

Pottsville, PA 17901

Lehigh Valley Health Network Center for Counseling

570-622-5898

570-621-4215 Fax

Good Samarian Healthplex

502 S 2^nd Street

Industrial Park Road

Saint Clair, PA 17970

Pathway to Recovery Counseling and Educational Services

570-455-9902

570-455-9452 Fax

223 West Broad Street

Hazleton, PA 18201

Pennsylvania Counseling Services

570-728-2600

570-728-2601 Fax

437 North Centre Street

Pottsville, PA 17901

Visualize Change

570-875-3333

570-875-3433 Fax

913 Centre Street

Ashland, PA 17921

Medication-Assisted Treatment

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapy, which is effective in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD) and can help some people to sustain recovery

     Local MAT providers:

• Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc.
• Gaudenzia
• Visualize Change

What can you do?

• Reach out, if you think someone you know has a problem. Talk to family members, friends, or a health care professional. The earlier treatment begins, the better outcomes are likely to be.
• Understand that treatment is effective and substance use disorders can be effectively treated with behavioral therapies.

Recovery

Recovery is defined as a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.

What should you know about recovery?

• Many people are able to make significant changes in their lives and maintain remission through social networks and recovery-supported environments.
• Recovery supports, including mutual aid groups (AA, NA, Celebrate Recovery), recovery coaches, and peer recovery services can help.
• Recovery community organizations are often best positioned to promote long-term recovery through programs and services that are grounded in the values and principles of the people they serve.
• Recovery experts have raised awareness about services that address substance use disorders as chronic conditions that can be effectively managed through recovery supports and services, often delivered by peers.

Recovery Resources in Schuylkill County

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA) - www.sitmana.org/meetings
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) - www.district58area59aa.org
• The Skook Recovers – theskookrecovers.com
• Nar-Anon Family Groups – naranonepa.org/meeting-list
• Al-Anon Family Groups - https://pa-al-anon.org/locations/first-united-church-of-christ/
• Culture2Culture – 110 E Arch St., Pottsville, PA – culture2culture.org
• Hope Initiative – Faith Church, 1168 Centre Turnpike, Orwigsburg, PA – atfaithchurch.com
• Hope and Coffee – 137 Pine St., Tamaqua, PA – hopeandcoffee.org
• Safer Streets Tamaqua – saferstreetstamaqua.com
• Celebrate Recovery – Bethesda EC Church, 155 Reedsville Road, Schuylkill Haven, PA – bethesdaec.org

 What can you do?

• Show support towards people in recovery. Acknowledge and celebrate their achievements. Encourage them to maintain their recovery program and supports.
• Be supportive, not judgmental, if a loved one has a problem. Recognize that a substance abuse disorder is a medical condition, not a moral failing. Be supportive and compassionate.

Prevention Works!

Although many people regard youth drug and alcohol use as major social and public health problems, efforts to control them have been historically disappointing in many ways.

Until fairly recently, the focus has been on treatment of adolescent problems AFTER the behaviors have surfaced. Unfortunately, this treatment approach doesn’t address the problems until after significant consequences are endured by the young person, those around the young person, and society.

Prevention is about building a fence at the top to keep young people from falling in the first place. Strong positive family ties, social connections, emotional health, and feelings of control help people avoid substance misuse. Prevention serves as the foundation for all a community’s efforts.  Prevention helps build strong communities.  Prevention works!

Prevention Services

The following prevention services are available through the Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Program:

• Provide educational/awareness presentations on the dangers and consequences of alcohol and other drugs for students (grades K-12) and adults
• Available for health fairs/health promotions
• Provide technical assistance to community coalitions/task forces and in the formation of new coalitions
• Coordinate public policy campaigns to raise awareness on drug/alcohol related issues (Red Ribbon Week, National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, National Inhalants Awareness Week, FASD Awareness Month, National Prevention Month)
• Provide funding to our community partners to conduct alcohol and drug free alternative activities
• Provide awareness and education on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
• Coordinate the Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Junior Advisory Board
• In cooperation with our providers and partners, provide evidence-based prevention programs (Keep a Clear Mind, LifeSkills Training, Nurse Family Partnership, Too Good for Drugs, Positive Solutions for Families, Wanna Bet?, Catch My Breath)
• Coordinate the Schuylkill Prevention Partnership coalition collaborative (meets the 3^rd Thursday at noon – September, November, January, March and May – STC South)

Evidence-based Prevention Programs:

• Keep a Clear Mind (KACM) – take home substance abuse awareness/education program for 4^th grade students and their parents. The goal of the program is to raise awareness about the negative effects of substance use, to strengthen refusal skills, and to build parent/child communication on the topic. - keepaclearmind.com
• LifeSkills Training – research based substance abuse prevention program proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors; currently being implemented in the following school districts: Minersville, Pine Grove, Pottsville, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven, Tamaqua and Gillingham Charter lifeskillstraining.com
• Too Good for Drugs – substance use and violence prevention program designed to decrease the risk factors associated with risky behavior and build protection within the child. The program develops a framework of social emotional skills through the development of goal-setting, decision-making, and effective communication skills in addition to peer pressure refusal, pro-social bonding, conflict resolution, and media literacy ;currently being implemented in the following school districts: Mahanoy Area, Minersville, North Schuylkill, Pottsville, Saint Clair, Schuylkill Haven toogoodprograms.org
• Nurse Family Partnership – home visitation program in which a registered nurse makes regular scheduled visits to clients homes between the 2^nd trimester of pregnancy and the child’s second birthday - nursefamilypartnership.org
• Positive Solutions for Families - evidence-based program developed by the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL). It is designed to help parents and caregivers promote their young child's social and emotional development and to better understand young children's challenging behaviors. Parents and caregivers will learn how to use positive approaches to improve their interactions with their child; help children learn appropriate behavior; and to build their child's confidence and self-esteem. Thereby, preparing children for successful early learning experiences. collaborative.org
• Catch My Breath – evidence-based youth vaping prevention program for elementary and middle school age students. The program provides up-to-date information to teachers, parents, and health professionals to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about the use of e-cigarettes, including JUUL devices. - catch.org

Our Partners in Prevention

• Child and Family Support Services (Student Assistance Program) – 2276 W Market St., Pottsville, PA, 17901, 570-622-9860, cfss-pa.com
• Nurse Family Partnership of Schuylkill County – 1402 Laurel Blvd., Suite B, Pottsville, PA 17901, 570-628-2611, nursefamilypartnership.org
• Lehigh Valley Schuylkill Counseling Center – 502 S 2^nd, Saint Clair, PA 17970, 570-622-5898, www.lvhn.org
• Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc. – One S 2^nd, Pottsville, PA 17901, 570-628-6990, www.coginc.org
• Child Development Inc. – 2880 Pottsville-Minersville Hwy., Minersville, PA 17954, 570-544-8959, childdevelop.org
• Interfaith Health Network of Schuylkill County, www.schuylkillvision.com/the-interfaith-health-network-of-schuylkill-county.html
• Schuylkill IU 29 – 17 Maple Ave., Pottsville, PA – 570-544-9131, iu29.org
• Schuylkill ACHIEVE After School Program – 570-544-9131, schuylkillachieve@iu29.org
• Schuylkill County’s VISION – 11 E Main St., Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972, 570-622-6097, schuylkillvision.com
• St. Luke’s University Health Network – www.slhn.org
• Schuylkill County Juvenile Probation – 410 N 2^nd, Pottsville, PA 17901, 570-628-1245, www.co.schuylkill.pa.us
• Schuylkill County Child and Youth – 324 N Center St., Pottsville, PA 17901, 570-628-1050, co.schuylkill.pa.us
• Lehigh Carbon Community College (SHINE Program) – 234 High St., Tamaqua, PA 18252, 570-668-6880, lccc.edu
• STEP Up Tamaqua – taffn.org
• Safer Streets Tamaqua – 570-527-9278, saferstreetstamaqua.com
• Mahanoy Area Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coalition (Mahanoy Area SD) – mabears.net
• Tide Task Force (Pottsville SD) – pottsville.k12.pa.us
• Spartan Task Force (North Schuylkill SD) – northschuylkill.net
• Miners Community Connections (Minersville SD) – battlinminers.com
• Haven Community Action Team (Schuylkill Haven SD) – haven.k12.pa.us
• Blue Mountain Prevention Coalition (Blue Mountain SD) – www.bmsd.org

What can you do?

• Parents, talk to your children about alcohol and drugs. Become informed about substances your children may encounter and the risks they face. Talking openly to your children is crucial.
• Support evidence-based prevention interventions. Effective community-based prevention programs can reduce substance misuse. Research shows that for each dollar invested in evidence-based prevention programs, up to $10 is saved in treatment costs.

For further information, visit…

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – www.drugabuse.gov

NIDA for Teens – www.teens.drugabuse.gov

Partnership for Drug Free Kids – www.drugfree.org

Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS)

2019 Schuylkill County PAYS Report: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/PAYS/SchuylkillCountyProfileReport2019.pdf

2017 Schuylkill County PAYS Report: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/PAYS/SchuylkillCountyProfileReport_2017.pdf

2015 Schuylkill County PAYS Report: https://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/Documents/PAYS/2015CountyReports/SchuylkillCountyProfileReport.pdf

Advocacy

According to Webster’s Dictionary, an advocate is “one who supports or defends a cause,” and “one who pleads on behalf of another.”  As members of the Schuylkill REACH coalition, we support the cause of therapeutic communities and we plead on behalf of addicts who need treatment or are recovering.

What can you do?

• Build awareness of substance use and misuse as a public health problem.
• Advocate for the changes needed in your community. Address substance misuse and substance abuse disorders with a public health approach. Everyone can play an important role in advocating for their needs, the needs of their loved ones, and the needs of their community.
• Mobilize different sectors of the community to encourage change. Encourage all sectors of the community work together toward reductions in substance misuse and substance abuse disorders and improved public health.
• Share your story! Almost half of all Americans have a family member or close friend with addiction. The issue affects so many more people than most realize.

Local advocacy organizations:

• Schuylkill REACH - www.schuylkillreach.org
• The Skook Recovers – theskookrecovers.com
• Safer Streets Tamaqua – saferstreetstamaqua.com
• Schuylkill County Interfaith Health Network – schuylkillvision.com
• Rural Community Opioid/Substance Response Steering Committee – rosemarie.lister@sluhn.org
• HOPE Initiative – atfaithchurch.com
• Culture2Culture – 110 E Arch St., Pottsville, PA 17901, 570-581-8377, culture2culture.org

For more information on advocacy, visit the Partnership to End Addiction, https://drugfree.org/advocate-for-change/

What makes a community healthy?

A healthy community is one in which local groups from all parts of the community work together to prevent disease and make healthy living options accessible. ... It also helps to reduce health gaps caused by differences in income, education, race and ethnicity, location and other factors that can affect health.

Promoting healthy communities

• Address basic needs such as food, shelter and education.
• Promote healthier lifestyles, one person at a time.
• Eliminate barriers to health screenings and needed care.
• Create opportunities for people to improve their lives.

How do we define substance use problems?

Substance misuse is the use of any substance in a manner, situation, amount or frequency that can cause harm to users or those around them. Prolonged, repeated misuse of a substance can lead to a substance abuse disorder, a medical illness that impairs health and function. Severe and chronic substance use disorders are commonly referred to as addictions.

What you should know:

• Alcohol and drug misuse is an urgent and increasing problem throughout the United States.
• 1 in 7 people will develop a substance use disorder at some point in their lives
• Nearly 48 million people (18% of all people) said they used an illicit drug or misused prescription drugs in the past year.
• The majority of people with a substance use disorder started using substances during adolescence.

Community Resources:

• Hope and Coffee – 137 Pine Street, Tamaqua, PA, 570-225-7600 – hopeandcoffee.org
• Culture2Culture – 110 East Arch Street, Pottsville, PA, 570-581-8377 – culture2culture.org
• Servants to All – 4 South Center Street, Pottsville, PA, 570-900-1161 – servantstoall.org
• Schuylkill United Way – 9 N Center St., Pottsville, PA – 570-622-6421 schuylkillunitedway.org
• Schuylkill Community Action – 225 N Center St., Pottsville, PA 17901, 570-622-1995 – schuylkillcommunityaction.com

Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative

In partnership with District Attorney, Mike O’Pake, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Schuylkill County has a Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative policy.  Law enforcement in Schuylkill County will not only help save lives, but demonstrate clearly to your community that law enforcement can be a force for good in more ways than one.  Law enforcement in Schuylkill County will support people who seek help and find the treatment they need so that they can begin their road to recovery.  Please feel free to contact anyone in law Enforcement in your community if you have questions or need assistance.

Schuylkill Safe Medication Storage and Disposal Initiative

As part of our safe medication storage and disposal initiative, the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Program will be distributing medication storage boxes and bottles, and Deterra medication disposal bags free of charge. Proper storage of medication is important to ensure the quality, effectiveness and safety of the medicines. Choosing one designated, secure place to store your medication could be the single most effective deterrent to accidental poisonings, medicine theft, and misuse that can lead to prescription drug addiction. Proper disposal of prescription drugs can prevent the negative and toxic effects on our environment that can take place if the drugs are not disposed of correctly. Safely disposing of drugs can also prevent them from getting into the hands of people who shouldn't have them.

There are two medication storage containers available: the Safer Lock Bottle and the Safer Lock Box, both of which are secured by a four-digit lock. The Deterra medication disposal bags are available in two sizes: the small size will deactivate 15 pills, 2 ounces of liquid or 2 patches; the medium size will deactivate 45 pills, 6 ounces of liquid or 6 patches.

Contact the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Program at 570-628-1794 or email drowland@co.schuylkill.pa.us for more information or to arrange for delivery/pick up of these supplies.

Schuylkill County Permanent Drug Take Back Sites

The Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Program has partnered with the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement to establish permanent drug take back sites throughout the county. Take back sites can be accessed at the following locations:

• Ashland Police Department – 401 S 18^th, Ashland
• Butler Township Police Department – 211 Broad St., Ashland
• Frackville Police Department – 42 S. Center St., Frackville
• Hegins Township Police Department – 417 Gap St., Valley View
• Mahanoy City Police Department – 239 E Pine St., Mahanoy City
• McAdoo Police Department – 23 N Hancock St., McAdoo
• Minersville Police Department – 15 N Delaware Ave., Minersville
• Orwigsburg Police Department – 209 N Warren St., Orwigsburg
• Pine Grove Police Department – One Synder Dr., Pine Grove
• Pottsville Police Department – 401 N Center St., Pottsville
• Rush Township Police Department – 104 Mahanoy Ave., Tamaqua
• Shenandoah Police Department – 15 W Washington St., Shenandoah
• Schuylkill County Courthouse – Public entrance, 401 N 2^nd, Pottsville
• Schuylkill Haven Police Department – 220 Parkway Ave., Schuylkill Haven
• Tamaqua Police Department – 320 Broad St., Tamaqua

        "The Importance of Community in Recovery" – written by Chris Clancy

One of the most enduring sayings in cultures across the world is “It takes a village.” While it’s a phrase used most commonly to describe raising children, it can also be said that it takes a village to be human. Since the earliest days, humans have operated in tribes. Being part of a community – a part of something larger than yourself – gives you a sense of purpose, belonging, and inclusion. In recovery, a community provides a lifeline.

Alcoholics and addicts cannot rely on willpower alone. On the contrary, those suffering from substance abuse need the support of a community to stay clean. Seeking out the guidance of others who have been in your shoes is essential. Without this communal reinforcement, addicts tend to isolate, which can lead to depression and a greater chance of relapse. One popular saying in Alcoholics Anonymous is “I can’t stay sober, but we can.”

LETI: Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative

In partnership with District Attorney, Mike O’Pake, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Schuylkill County has a Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative policy.  Law enforcement in Schuylkill County will not only help save lives, but demonstrate clearly to your community that law enforcement can be a force for good in more ways than one. Law enforcement in Schuylkill County will support people who seek help and find the treatment they need so that they can begin their road to recovery.  Please feel free to contact anyone in law Enforcement in your community if you have questions or need assistance.

Schuylkill County LETI provides the following services:

• Narcan (naloxone) to those who need it
  • If you cannot afford Narcan or your insurance does not cover it, please contact us; there are many ways to obtain it free of charge
  • Click here to locate Naloxone
• Treatment referrals
  • Did you know: Even if you do not have any type of insurance you can still ask for a treatment referral
• Training for law enforcement to understand substance use and treatment opportunities

If you would like to discuss the LETI program details or to learn how LETI could be implemented in your County, contact Janene Holter, PhD at (570) 826-2483.