PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Announces Next Steps to Address the Heroin and Opioid Crisis in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of Governor Wolf's 2015-16 budget proposal, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) announced today that it is seeking proposals from the local county drug and alcohol agencies to address the heroin and opioid overdose epidemic. 

"We know that individualized treatment conducted with clinical integrity, is an effective solution in addressing the current epidemic," said the DDAP Acting Secretary Gary Tennis.  "This funding opportunity will improve intervention strategies, increase the use of best practices, and increase access to treatment through the local counties."

The proposal asks counties to develop and implement strategies that will provide individuals the full continuum of care while facilitating their application for funding through Medicaid or private insurance. In addition, the proposal calls for the participating county to track the outcomes of opioid addicted individuals who are referred into treatment. 

Additional proposal options include developing or enhancing current methods to access funding for treatment services, use of medications as companions to clinically appropriate treatment, ensuring overdose survivors are referred to treatment, and utilizing evidence-based prevention programs.

"Many counties are already striving towards these important initiatives and are ready to work with Pennsylvania to ensure that the right level of treatment is provided with sufficient lengths of stay to get good outcomes. We are excited to move forward with this initiative," said Tennis.

DDAP's 2015-16 budget proposal will direct $5 million toward this funding initiative and will disburse monies to the local counties based on the following criteria:           

• Commit at least 80 percent of the total grant award to clinically appropriate treatment and supportive medication expenses;
• Spend no more than 20 percent of the total grant award for outreach, education, training, prevention and case management;
• Spend no more than 20 percent of the total grant award for data collection, performance measurement, performance assessment and publication of outcomes data.

For more information, visit www.ddap.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Carey Miller, DDAP, 717-547-3314

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

Related Links

http://www.ddap.pa.gov

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED