Porter-Starke Services and Swanson Center, two community mental health centers serving Northwest Indiana, recently received a grant through the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction to expand access to medication assisted treatment for prescription drug and opiate addiction in the area. Porter-Starke Services currently prescribes both methadone and suboxone as a method of treatment for addiction to these substances, while surrounding this medication with counseling and other services that support recovery.
This collaboration allows individuals residing in LaPorte County to receive outpatient counseling close to home at Swanson Center, while residents of Starke and Porter Counties can receive similar services at Porter-Starke. Transportation and cost of services for new enrollees in the services are subsidized by the grant funding.
“This project will expand access to life saving medication for many individuals in Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties,” said Rocco Schiralli, President/CEO of Porter-Starke Services. “Swanson Center is a great partner and we look forward to coordinating client care with them so that more individuals can receive treatment,” said Schiralli.
The purpose of the project is to increase the number of individuals receiving treatment with therapies approved by the Federal Drug Administration and ultimately decrease illicit use. Individuals in the community can enroll in services by calling Swanson Center at 219-879-4621 or Porter-Starke Services at 219-531-3500 any time after February 1, 2016.