The Catholic Family Center will now be able to help more individuals in our community suffering from addiction.
The organization announced the opening of the Restart Outpatient Integrated Care Facility Tuesday afternoon.
The Restart Outpatient Department, already established for over 40 years in the community, now has a site that will allow for the expansion of medical services and prescribing capabilities.
The expansion also includes an outpatient clinic, day rehabilitation, peer recovery services designed and delivered by individuals who have been successful in the recovery process, and primary medical services.
With over $8 million from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the facility will be able to expand medication-assisted treatment to address the opioid epidemic, with medications such as suboxone, subutex and vivitrol.
Commissioner of the State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Arlene González-Sánchez, says the opening is bittersweet.
"I wish I could be standing here and saying we don't need these services, but unfortunately that is not the case."
She says the centralized location of the space, part of the building on North Clinton Avenue, shows the community that this is a serious disease that needs to be treated like one.
"Nobody wanted to see these things; nobody wanted to talk about it. So being out in front, showing that there is a need, it helps us with the stigma that's attached to it."