Chester County's Department of Drug & Alcohol Services (CCDDAS) will offer several community events during April. CCDDAS recently noted that the opioid and overdose crisis, along with other substance use disorders, are still prevalent during the pandemic. In some ways, the crisis is exacerbated by the pandemic, according to CCDDAS.
The upcoming events are part of a continued effort to prevent further opioid use disorders (OUD) and accidental overdose death. All event details and registrations can be found on http://www.chesco.org/drugandalcohol. Residents should wear a mask and practice social distancing at all locations.
A Virtual Opioid Epidemic and Narcan Training hosted by Chester County Hospital will be held on Wednesday, April 21, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Each participant will receive training on the use of naloxone and receive a dose of naloxone at no charge. Registration is required for the training.
A mobile medication collection hosted by Chester County Hospital and the Chester County Sheriff's Office will take place on Thursday, April 22, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Chester County Hospital South Campus, 701 E. Marshall St., West Chester. Citizens are invited to dispose of unneeded or expired medications.
A mobile medication collection hosted by Tredyffrin Police Department will be held on Friday, April 23, at Surrey Services, 60 Surrey Way, Devon, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Citizens are invited to dispose of unneeded or expired medications.
The National DEA Drug Take Back Day hosted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be Saturday, April 24. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., temporary prescription drug disposal sites will be set up throughout Chester County.
Drug and alcohol treatment and support services, which include 12-step meetings and other supports, have been and will continue to be available during the pandemic. Regardless of whether an individual has insurance or not, drug and alcohol treatment services are available in Chester County.
Accessing the services is dependent upon individual coverage. Individuals with insurance, including Medicaid, should call the number listed on the back of their insurance card to get information on how to access drug and alcohol services. For individuals who do not have insurance, several local agencies are available to help. They include Gaudenzia Coatesville, which may be contacted at 610-383-9600; Mirmont Outpatient in Exton, 484-565-1130; Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems in Kennett Square, 610-388-9225; Creative Health Services in Phoenixville, 610-933-1223; and Gaudenzia West Chester, 610-429-1414.
In addition to drug and alcohol treatment, other recovery supports and human services are also still available. The Chester County Human Services COVID-19 Resource Guide can be found at http://www.chesco.org/drugandalcohol. To access the Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force website, visit http://www.stopodchesco.org.
Leave a Review