GCASA’s expanded addiction services now available in Batavia
Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced expanded addiction treatment services are now available at the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse’s Batavia campus.
The expansion includes a new opioid treatment program, a mobile treatment unit and renovations to the residential treatment facility on the campus. The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services provided more than $900,000 in capital funding for this expansion, and is also providing more than $200,000 in annual funding to support operation of services at the campus.
“New York will fight this epidemic with every tool at its disposal and will help ensure that anyone in need of care receives the help they need,” Governor Cuomo said. “By expanding access to addiction treatment services in Batavia, we are allowing residents to access these critical, lifesaving services close to home, building a healthier, stronger New York for all.”
The new opioid treatment program at GCASA is the first in Genesee County. Opioid treatment programs provide medication assisted treatment for those suffering from addiction, which involves the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a patient-centered, individualized approach to the treatment of substance abuse. Research shows that when treating substance use disorders, a combination of medication and behavioral therapies is most successful.
The mobile treatment unit will offer peer engagement and support services, as well as evaluations and counseling. It will also provide tele-practice services to help people in rural areas access treatment. This mobile unit is being funded through the $25.2 million Opioid State Targeted Response Grant, awarded to New York State by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The Atwater residential facility, on the Genesee Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse Batavia Campus, offers 17 residential treatment beds for men and numerous services, including treatment, training programs, and opportunities for volunteer work. The provider also operates an outpatient treatment facility on the same campus. As part of the facility’s renovation project, a group room, new offices and a medical room were added to the facility, and the kitchen and intake area were renovated. In addition, the Genesee Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse is planning to add 16 detox beds in a future expansion, with funding provided by OASAS.
“As our state continues to grapple with the heroin and opioid addiction epidemic, I am very pleased to see that some of the millions in state resources we have allocated at the state Capitol are being put to good use here at home in Batavia,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. “Too many New Yorkers are struggling with addiction and I would like the public to know that there is no shame in asking for help. In fact, there is no time like the present to seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, and I know that the professionals at Genesee Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse will be there to assist you.”
