Fayette County has vast addiction treatment options
I write on behalf of the Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc. (FCDAC) and our Board of Directors. FCDAC is designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as the Single County Authority for Fayette County. Our mission is to enhance our community’s quality of life by promoting addiction free living. We achieve this by empowering individuals to access education, intervention, assessment, treatment and referral sources.
Throughout Pennsylvania, every county has been working to combat the opioid epidemic that continues to wreak havoc. The Single County Authorities within each county are diligently developing programs that meet local needs. Since each county within the Commonwealth is diverse, our challenges in Fayette County are different than those being confronted in surrounding counties, as there is not a ‘one size fits all solution’ for this crisis.
The community must understand that addiction is a disease. The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration describe addiction as a long-term and relapsing condition characterized by the individual compulsively seeking and using drugs despite adverse consequences. Although the use of drugs or alcohol begins as a voluntary behavior, repeated use over time changes the brain’s physical structure, chemistry, and function with these changes persisting long after an individual stops using. Addiction is very much a disease that can be treated and managed when treatment and recovery options are individualized, with no single option being right for everyone.
I am pleased to state that Fayette County, unlike many other regions, currently has a complete and comprehensive provider network that meets the varied and individualized treatment needs of our residents while complying with all state and federal regulations. Presently within Fayette County, residents have immediate in-county access to substance use treatment which includes outpatient services, detoxification, inpatient rehabilitation and halfway house programs. Additionally, medication-assisted treatment services are available with the use of buprenorphine, naltrexone and methadone from multiple local providers. Since none of the in-county treatment providers are at maximum licensed capacity, residents have instant access to local quality treatment. Contrary to much misinformation published through editorials and social media, a well-structured network as determined by leaders on the forefront of the drug crisis is key to successfully treating and managing addiction.
With firm confidence, Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc. knows that the supply of current treatment options and providers meets the demand of all Fayette County residents who seek treatment and recovery.
Jana Kyle
Executive Director of Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.