Questions Remain On County Addiction Programs

Washington County Commissioners will be looking to authorize a measure for a letter of intention submission to the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs in an effort to have Washington County Human Services department operate drug and alcohol addiction programs under a Single County Authority designation. During the agenda setting meeting, Cheryl Andrews, Executive Director of the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission asked that the motion be removed from the agenda or at least tabled to have further conversation. At issue is Washington County’s plan to have the County Human Services Department be the lead organization for addictions programs. In Andrew’s view, that would be pushing aside the more than 20 years of work helping those with addiction performed by the WDAC. She feels that the County taking over an addictions program would add too much bureaucracy. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman says that a report provided by the Hill Group supports the county becoming the Single County Authority for addictions programs. He says that centralization of human services programs is key to success. Many people that suffer other difficulties can trace those difficulties to addiction, therefore the need for centralization. Commissioner Larry Maggi disagrees with Sherman saying that he is concerned about the budget by adding approximately a dozen people to the county payroll. He also says that the WDAC has done a great job for more than 20 years and sees no reason for the county to absorb the work that they do.