As spring rolls in, so does the Department of Drug and Alcohol Services continued efforts of prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery in Chester County. Check out our spring newsletter below for more info!
Changing Attitudes: 
It’s not a ‘Rite of Passage’
Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services Recognizes April as
Alcohol Awareness Month!
Alcohol Awareness month, founded and sponsored by National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. (NCADD) in 1987, is a campaign which helps to reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism and encourages communities to spread education and awareness on alcohol, alcoholism and recovery. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 88,000 deaths across the United States due to excessive alcohol consumption. These deaths do not discriminate against age, race, or socioeconomic status; and they are widespread across our country. Each year, Alcohol Awareness Month has a different theme; this year’s being Changing Attitudes: It's not a 'Rite of Passage' .

Alcohol Awareness Months’ theme for 2018, Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘Rite of Passage’ is quite fitting as we have recently seen national headlines on the dangers of alcohol consumption and hazing following the loss of several students who engaged in alcohol-related hazing rituals, and also the increase of alcohol-related sexual assaults which took place on several campuses across the United States. Unfortunately, in the college setting, alcohol is often seen as a ‘Rite of Passage’—when you go to college you hang out with upperclassmen, you attend parties and you binge drink alcohol.

Alcohol use among young people, especially college age students between the ages of 18-24,
 is a very dangerous behavior with negative consequences. In fact, according to
  • 1,825 students who die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes.
  • 696,000 students who are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
  • 97,000 students who report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

  We can change the perception of alcohol in our society as a 'Rite of Passage' by generating awareness, increasing education, changing policies and implementing environmental campaigns, such as Alcohol Awareness Month.

 Universities across the United States have begun to increase education on the dangers of alcohol consumption, and have also committed to changing their policies around underage drinking and alcohol consumption; so we must also do our part as a society.

 Join Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services by participating in Alcohol Awareness Month. Log onto NCADD’s website, www.ncadd.org , to see how you can get involved. Together we can reduce the stigma associated with alcoholism, and spread education and awareness on alcohol, alcoholism and recovery.


If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, treatment is available. If you have insurance , including Medicaid, please call the number listed on the back of your insurance card to get information on how to access drug and alcohol services. If you do not have insurance , please call one of the following agencies which is closest to you, for help:
  • Gaudenzia Coatesville(Coatesville) - 610-383-9600
  • Mirmont Outpatient (Exton) - 484-565-1130
  • Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems (Kennett Square) - 610-388-9225
  • Creative Health Services (Phoenixville)- 610-933-1223
  • Gaudenzia West Chester(West Chester) - 610-429-1414


If you have further questions, or need additional resources, please log onto the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services website. You can also call the Chester County Information and Referral line at:866-286-3767.
DEA Drug Take Back Day
Saturday, April 28, 2018

Chester County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services is raising community awareness for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day taking place on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Organized nationwide by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides local sites for safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28th, prescription drug disposal sites will be set up throughout Chester County, in locations including Berwyn, Coatesville,
Downingtown, Kennett Square, Malvern, Phoenixville and West Grove.

To find a location near you , click here .
What is Addiction?
Community Naloxone Trainings
Good Fellowship has partnered with Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services to reduce the incidence of accidental drug overdoses. Join us to learn about opioids, naloxone and
accessing treatment in Chester County.

501 E. Lincoln Hwy., Coatesville, PA 19320
Saturday, April 28, 2018
9:00am-10:30am
 
1025 Paoli Pike, West Chester, Pa
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
6:30pm-8:30pm

688 Sugartown Road, Malvern, Pa
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
7:00pm-8:30pm
Have You Seen Us??
The Department of Drug and Alcohol Services is currently running the below Public Service Announcements on several TV networks.
Have you seen one/both of these PSA's?
Yes
No
Provider Spotlight:
Creative Health Services
Creative Health Services, located in Phoenixville, is one of the five points of entry in Chester County for uninsured or underinsured resident. For more information, click here.


Human Services Block Grant Plan
Public Hearing Notice


Chester County is one of the counties in Pennsylvania to implement the Human Services Block Grant. The Chester County Department of Human Services will be holding two public hearings to solicit comments on the draft Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Human Services Block Grant Plan: 

  • Monday April 9, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. at the Chester County Government Services Center, Suite 175 located at 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA 19380 
  • Tuesday April 10, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Brandywine Health Center Conference Room located at 744 East Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA 19320
If you are interested in submitting comments, please send an e-mail by April 20, 2018 to the Department of Human Services. A draft plan will be posted on the Department of Human Services website or can be obtained by calling the Department of Human Services at 610-344-5262.
  Kacie's Cause
Mothers Day Walk
May 13, 2018

Join Kacie's Cause for a Mother's Day Walk to  bring awareness of the drug epidemic in Chester County.

This event will feature a walk, Naloxone Training, Drug Take Back Box, and several community organization resource tables.
Get in the Know! Spring 2018 Events

The Anonymous People is a documentary which follows over 23 million Americans who are living in long-term recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
The Ride for Recovery motorcycle ride and family picnic supports Livengrin’s mission by increasing public awareness about the disease of addiction and treatment while raising funds which directly benefit patient programs, charitable care, and other services.


Community Resource Materials 

Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services created community resource materials which are available below for download and dissemination.