New regional drop-in centers to open in Uniontown, Charleroi
CHARLEROI – The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Program (DDAP) on Tuesday presented a $1.5 million grant to Club Serenity in Charleroi to open a regional substance use disorder drop-in center that will serve residents in Washington, Greene, Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones visited Club Serenity, a nonprofit recovery center that helps those battling substance use disorder, on Tuesday morning to announce the award.
The new recovery center, in partnership with Club Serenity, will provide a safe, judgment-free place for people to learn about and connect with recovery and treatment options.
The grant was one of 12 that the DDAP is awarding to organizations to expand drop-in center services. The grants are part of a larger effort to expand access to recovery resources and harm reduction services across the state.
The grants will support organizations in providing essential services like overdose prevention, access to health care, case management, and crucial resources like shelter, food, and hygiene supplies.
“SUD (substance use disorder) drop-in centers provide access to basic human essentials like health care, shelter, and food for individuals looking for supportive SUD services, and help Pennsylvanians get connected to treatment, recovery, and harm reduction options,” Davis-Jones said.
The drop-in center will be housed in Uniontown, Fayette County, with a satellite campus at Club Serenity’s headquarters on Fallowfield Avenue in Charleroi, and will open sometime later this summer.
Dr. Joey Pagano, vice-president and clinical director of Club Serenity – and an author who celebrated 12 years in recovery in June – said the drop-in center “aims to meet people where they’re at” and will provide a “doorway for peoples’ recovery journey.”
“I wear a lot of hats, but most of all I wear a hat of a person in long-term recovery, and this community is where I grew up my entire life,” said Pagano. “This used to be called the ‘Magic City,’ and we want to bring the magic back to this city, where addiction has plagued us for so long. We are going to truly make a difference with this program. I can’t express in words my gratitude, but what I can do is, in my actions, continue to persevere and continue to help people suffering from SUD.”
Funding for the grant is provided, in part, from the portion of the opioid settlement funding that was appropriated to DDPA by the General Assembly for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Davis-Jones said the drop-in centers, including the four-county drop-in center based in Fayette County, will expand access to resources to those seeking help.
“Today is a day that we really think about the importance of making sure that people who are on the path to recovery and are currently on the journey have a safe place to go,” said Davis-Jones.”
She also thanked organizations, including Washington Drug and Alcohol for their “boots-on-the-ground” service to the community.
“Without WDAC and organizations like them, our work is not possible at the state level,” said Davis-Jones. “Thank you for what you do every day to ensure that people have access to the services that they need, and we’re talking about everything from prevention to intervention, treatment, recovery support, harm reduction, that’s just to name a few of the services.”
Cheryl Andrews, WDAC executive director – who noted the city of Washington has a nickname of “Recovery Town” – said, “Our county has all levels of substance use disorder treatment, coupled with an infrastructure that supports long-term recovery. We’re fortunate to have three-quarters-way housing, recovery clubs, and recovery community organizations that foster support and advocate for recovery,” said Andrews.
She said the community “stands together and we reach across all geographic, political, racial, and cultural barriers so that all together we can mobilize our efforts and increase the number of people in long-term recovery.”