Governor Tom Wolf Visits PCS - Pennsylvania Counseling Services, Inc.
HARRISBURG, PA — Governor Tom Wolf traveled to Pennsylvania Counseling Services’ (PCS) 17th Street location on Monday, July 18, to discuss his plan of action and the location’s role in battling the opioid epidemic plaguing Pennsylvania. PCS’s 17th Street and York Psychiatric locations are two of 20 organizations selected to become Opioid Centers of Excellence (COE) and join the Wolf Administration in fighting this epidemic.
“If you fought an addiction, loved someone who has or are part of the addiction field, you know that while there are times of hope and serenity there are also times of despair and alarm.
According to Wolf, opioid-related substance use disorder is an all-inclusive epidemic. It affects people across the commonwealth giving no regard to wealth, location, race, political party or gender.
“This is a tragic problem that affects too many families, too many people throughout Pennsylvania, and it’s something we can do something about,” Wolf said.
In the 2016-17 state budget, the Wolf Administration successfully secured $20.4 million funded by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish 20 Centers of Excellence throughout Pennsylvania.
According to Wolf, by the end of August Pennsylvania will have implemented a completed “ABC MAP” program, which is a database that will allow licensed prescribers of opioids to track who is prescribing the same drug to which patients, ensuring the prescription system is as comprehensive as possible. Additionally, state and county prison systems will collaborate to create a seamless and “warm handoff” from prison to a clean, addiction-free life after prison.
“The point is that Pennsylvania has a problem we need to address, and that’s exactly what the commonwealth intends to do.
To watch a clip of the event, check out CBS 21’s local news coverage HERE.
For more information on the Centers of Excellence partnership, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website or visit our Opioid Centers of Excellence page.