Implementation of 24/7 Drug and Alcohol Screening Services to Assist Individuals in Need

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Alcohol withdrawal is a severe and possibly life-threatening condition. In March of 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) informed us the PA Liquor Control Board (PLCB) was implementing a “phased-closure” of Wine and Spirt stores within Erie County. We were told to be ready for an increase in calls to our office for alcohol withdrawal services because alcohol dependent individuals were being denied readily accessible alcohol. The implementation of a 24/7 on-call program was established to improve services and assist with substance use withdrawal symptoms. This 24/7 program fills in a gap of availability in services that had not been previously identified and created a new approach to assisting individuals in need. To date, there has been 114 after hour calls made to the County’s D&A Office. These calls allow individuals and families in crisis to have access to qualified case management services and possibly drug and alcohol treatment 24/7. In order to be successful, the D&A Office works in collaboration with a D&A withdrawal management provider and four local hospitals. Our plan is to continue with this program permanently because of the added benefits we see the service providing to our community.