Pottsville, PA – Leaders from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) made stops in Schuylkill County today as part of the Shapiro Administration’s broader effort to support rural communities battling substance use disorder (SUD) and the opioid epidemic—centered on helping those in need access and achieve recovery.
DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones joined the Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Program to officially open the county’s new Recovery Center, which underwent recent renovations funded by Schuylkill County’s share of opioid settlements, which was the result of a multistate investigation of opioid manufacturers and distributors spearheaded by then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro. It led to multiple settlement agreements worth billions of dollars to expand or enhance recovery support services for individuals in recovery from opioid use disorder and other SUDs, most of which goes directly to Pennsylvania counties to meet local needs.
Area leaders in SUD programs and services, elected officials from both parties, as well as individuals with lived experience joined the Secretary at stops throughout the day.
"Local communities are on the front lines of Pennsylvania's opioid crisis—spearheading prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services," DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones said. "I commend the boots-on-the-ground teams in Schuylkill County for really being deliberate in where they are physically providing recovery services. Co-locating a crisis walk-in and recovery center sends a strong signal to the community that a wide array of SUD services is both available and accessible.”
The Recovery Center will be peer-driven, meaning those who are living in SUD recovery will be providing many of the services. The center will offer community-based self-help programs, socialization programs, employment assistance with resumes and job searches, and referral services.
The center will be in addition to the existing Crisis Walk-in Center site, which has been providing mental health and drug and alcohol services for county residents, including DDAP-funded individuals, since 2023.
Staff connect individuals with mental health and drug and alcohol resources, provide warm handoff services from the center to area hospitals, and provide one-on-one support for individuals needing inpatient SUD treatment.
To date, more than 350 individuals have utilized the Crisis Walk-in Center since it opened.
“Schuylkill County continues to be challenged by eliminating SUD stigma and building recovery support for our communities,” said Pearl Robertson, Administrator of the Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol Program. “We will continue to work with all of our partners, particularly DDAP at the state level, to educate individuals and families about SUD and overcome systemic barriers.”
Today’s visit is a continuation of stops planned for "DDAP on the Move: Your Voice, Your Community," the next phase of an ongoing statewide engagement tour and commitment by the Department to hear firsthand from those providing and receiving SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, particularly in rural areas.
"The opioid epidemic continues to devastate families in our communities and our Commonwealth," Representative Jamie Barton said. "However, help is out there for folks fighting the disease of addiction. I'm thankful DDAP officials are taking the time to stop in Schuylkill County to hear how we can better address this ongoing crisis."
"Without strong prevention, rural youth are particularly vulnerable due to peer influence, lack of alternative activities and often generational substance use patterns,” said Representative Tim Twardzik. “Breaking the disease of addiction helps to stop workforce decline, family disruption and strain on law enforcement, and I appreciate the opportunity to address those issues with our state and local partners today.”
Addressing Rural Workforce and Treatment Gaps
Pennsylvania is projected to face a shortage of more than 6,300 behavioral health professionals by 2026, with rural regions facing the brunt of this challenge. The Shapiro Administration has implemented several initiatives to address this, including:
- Establishing telehealth licenses to expand treatment accessibility statewide
- Licensing Pennsylvania's first mobile opioid treatment program to pave the way for increased access to medication-assisted treatment
- Launching a workforce development pilot program with Carlow and Waynesburg universities to accelerate the training of new substance use treatment professionals
- Providing nearly $20 million in student loan repayments to approximately 350 substance use disorder professionals statewide to support workforce retention
To build on that success, Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2025-26 budget includes an additional $10 million to expand loan repayment programs, reinforcing Pennsylvania's commitment to growing and sustaining a strong behavioral health workforce.
Ongoing Community Engagement
In addition to the crisis walk-in and recovery centers, other stops today included a tour of the LVHN Center for Counseling Services–Schuylkill | Lehigh Valley Health Network, an outpatient provider offering individual and group counseling, as well as case management, level of care assessments, and certified recovery services.
Future visits will cover Lycoming and Clinton counties as well as Delaware, Clearfield, and Greene counties.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts in combating the overdose crisis at ddap.pa.gov.
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