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In an effort to combat the opioid epidemic and expand services for residents of central New York, New York state’s Office of Addiction Services and Supports opened an opioid treatment program in Auburn to provide “medical assessments, medication for addiction including methadone, counseling, and peer services.”

The new program is operated by Farnham Family Services, a private nonprofit organization that offers treatment services and education to combat alcohol and drug addiction. Doctors, licensed therapists, counselors and engagement staff work with the center.

The August opening marks progress in the state’s initiative to increase opioid treatment programs. The initiative hopes to address the ever-expanding need for treatment options in central New York, where individuals with substance use disorder routinely have to drive at least an hour to find care.

“We’ve only been open about a month and already I’ve had stories from people whose time to receive care went from two hours to 10 minutes,” said Mark Raymond, the medical services director of Farnham Family Services.

According to the Cayuga County Overdose Data Dashboard, 77.8% of suspected overdoses in Cayuga County occurred within the limits of the city of Auburn in August 2023. In Onondaga County, 1,663 overdoses have been reported so far in 2023, according to county government data.

This program is the first in Cayuga County to offer methadone, a treatment for opioid addiction that prevents intense withdrawal symptoms that often hinder individuals ability to recover

Prior to the treatment center’s opening, the closest methadone providers were in Syracuse at Helio Health Inc and Crouse Health Hospital Inc, said Dessa Bergen-Cico, a professor in Syracuse University’s department of public health and coordinator of SU’s addiction studies program.

“(The location) gives them more time with their family, gives them more access to treatment and increases the likelihood that they can get back to work and get back to their normal life,” Bergen-Cico said.

FFS has five locations in New York, including Oswego, Fulton, Mexico, Pulaski and now Auburn. The new center is located at 13 Chapel Street in Auburn, the same building as Nick’s Ride 4 Friends, a nonprofit organization with a similar mission.

Nick’s Ride 4 Friends was founded in honor of Nick Campagnola, a 20-year-old who died after a struggle with substance use disorder, according to the program’s website. The group takes a “boots-on-the-ground” approach for effective treatment, according to its website. The use of their “clubhouse” model allows individuals in recovery to be surrounded by peers and a support system as the organization concentrates on treatment, wellness and employment.

Nick’s Ride 4 Friends is non-clinical and does not provide methadone, according to executive director Ashley Moench. She said the probability of overdose is much higher when people don’t have access to methadone.

“It’s taken once a day so when people take methadone for the treatment of pain…they’re stacking it,” Moench said. The amount of misinformation about methadone and addiction treatment centers in general have prevented more of these programs from opening, Moench added.

Bergen-Cico said access to medications is crucial to overcoming opioid addiction. One of her studies, “Psychophysiological Sensing to Enhance Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Self-Regulation of Opioid Cravings,” focused on opioid use disorders and the behaviors associated with them.

“What it shows is how important this access to this type of medication is for keeping people physically stable… and able to do the difficult work on recovery without being distracted,” Bergen-Cico said.

Raymond said FFS offers more than just medication — providers there also help with job searches, school enrollment and offer Narcan training, he said. The center prioritizes providing its patients with the individualized care they need to address different specific needs, according to its website.

“We’re all in this together, we’re trying to take care of people… the entire city is benefitting because folks are getting the treatment they need,” Raymond said.

Published on September 27, 2023 at 11:38 pm

Contact Delia: dsrangel@syr.edu