Agency plays key role in drug addiction help
By Teddy Paynter
Opinion
Medical Leader - Pikeville Medical Center
June 11, 2008

We applaud WestCare and the work they are doing to help battle the drug addiction facing many men and women in eastern Kentucky.

WestCare operates facilities for women in other states, but the Lookout location will be the first such center in eastern Kentucky.

The most important first step is a thorough and detailed assessment of the individual to see where they are on the range of levels and types of addiction.

They may be a recreational user. They may be under court-mandated treatment. They may have problems with one substance or several. They may have related social or health needs that need to be dealt with at the same time or subsequent to treatment for substance abuse.

Choosing the right drug treatment center often means there are family members and/or friends who should be involved in the decision since family counseling may be involved before the person who has the problems with addiction returns to the previous environment.

The other factor to remember is that the individual may not need all the heavy-duty programs. The assessment helps to determine and define the level of treatment.

WestCare truly does care.

Pike County is no different when it comes to battling addiction.

WestCare operates facilities in Ashcamp and in the city of Pikeville as well as serving people who are in recovery while incarcerated in the Pike County Detention Center.

The work of Judge Kelsey Friend and others will continue to be an on-going battle when it comes to drug addiction and treatment.

The success rate of drug programs in Pike County is above 85 percent. Friend would like to see the numbers continue to improve.

With facilities like the new women’s center, those numbers will hopefully continue to climb.


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