Source: SouthJerseyLocalNews.com
Burlington County is expanding its addiction services with the launch of a Recovery Center to better help residents obtain treatment and other critical mental health and community support to assist them through recovery.
Located at the Burlington County Human Services Building in Westampton, the Center will serve as a so-called “one-stop” location where individuals can obtain peer support and information about treatment programs, recovery support services and community resources.
The Center will also serve as a location for other wellness activities and classes on subjects like nutrition, anger management, relaxation and meditation and resume writing, and it will provide space for groups like Narcotics and Alcoholics Anonymous to meet, and also for recovering residents to find information about sober living and housing assistance and social programs that can assist them.
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said he intends for the prosecutor’s Office to have a presence at the Center through its Operation Helping Hand grant program, and to provide information on the Office’s Straight to Treatment program, which allows people struggling with addiction to walk into a police station and get referred to treatment.
A total of 164 people died from suspected drug overdoses in Burlington County last year, up from 161 in 2018 and 149 deaths in 2017. So far this year, the county has had 91 suspected overdose deaths. Another 473 were revived thanks to timely Naloxone administration.
In addition to the programming at the Recovery Center, individuals in recovery will also have access to a host of other services provided at the Human Services Building, including Burlington County’s Housing Hub, which specializes in housing assistance, the Board of Social Services and the County’s Department of Veterans Services.
The Recovery Center’s launch marked the latest of several initiatives to improve residents’ access to drug treatment and other critical services. The Board approved a contract extension with Maryville Inc. to continue services at the Post House treatment center in Pemberton Township. The 48-bed facility offers services for male patients struggling with substance abuse and other co-occurring disorder.
Burlington County Board Director Felicia Hopson said, “The Recovery Center is an extension of (our) promise to govern responsibly. but also with compassion and empathy for the struggles our residents face. There are real people who will benefit greatly from a program like this. It’s why I’m so proud we’re launching this initiative.”