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Cheryl Andrews, Executive Director for Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission, announced recently that a $ 148,000 grant has been awarded to her agency by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The grant proposes drug and alcohol treatment for inmates being housed in the Washington County Correctional Facility as well as the administration of a Naltrexone injection upon release from the jail. Naltrexone has shown great promise in helping people overcome an opioid substance use disorder.

Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission is one of the key partners in the Washington County Opioid Task Force. “Early on, we recognized that we had two main groups of people who were being disproportionately affected and dying due to the heroin/ opioid epidemic that is sweeping our nation. This program will offer a seamless transition from jail-based treatment to intensive outpatient treatment upon release,” Andrews stated.

A grant proposal was created and submitted in December to provide in-facility treatment to non-violent incarcerated addicts and to provide a non-opioid “blocker” injection on release. Naltrexone injections block the effects of opioids and alcohol for approximately 28 days. Alkermes, the manufacturer who markets the product under the brand name Vivitrol©, has agreed to provide the first injection free of charge to the inmates. Once paroled, inmates will be monitored by the Washington County Adult Probation Office for compliance with ongoing medication and concurrent treatment appointments.

This grant is the first proposed by the Washington County Opioid Task Force. This task force is comprised of members of the criminal justice community, health care professionals, county agencies, commissioners, and faith-based groups to battle the heroin/ opioid epidemic in Washington County.

This was a competitive grant award and Washington County was one of a few locations statewide to be awarded the grant. The proposed program is novel and is one of two in the country offering both treatment and naltrexone to inmates. Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission appreciates the assistance provided by District Attorney Gene Vittone and State Representative Brandon Neuman in preparing and shepherding the grant application through the PCCD review process.

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