HARRISBURG ? On Monday Gov. Tom Wolf recognized the one-year anniversary of the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs? (DDAP) PA Get Help Now Helpline, which first began taking calls Nov. 10, 2016.
The helpline is a toll-free, statewide service that connects individuals seeking treatment for themselves or a loved one to options in their community. The helpline, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, received more than 18,000 calls in the first year.
?The PA Get Help Now helpline is connecting people to the care they need to begin the process of recovery,? Wolf said.
?As Pennsylvanians continue to battle against the heroin and opioid epidemic, the helpline is a tremendous example of an initiative that is making a measurable difference in the fight.?
?In the past year, PA Get Help Now has received more than 18,000 calls,? DDAP Acting Secretary Jennifer Smith said.
?These calls have connected thousands of Pennsylvanians into treatment options that help make recovery a reality. Too often I hear that people delay seeking treatment simply because they do not know where to begin. The helpline combats that problem every day.?
The helpline has connected thousands of Pennsylvanians to at least one treatment resource, including detoxification centers, medication-assisted treatment options, outpatient treatment and other treatment and recovery support services.
Helpline operators connect callers directly to these resources and will stay on the phone with the caller until an appointment is scheduled.
?Helpline operators are trained to connect you to treatment resources that can best identify and address a caller?s needs, including financial concerns. If a caller is unsure if their insurance will cover treatment or how they will pay for it, helpline operators will help find the best option for their financial situation,? said Smith. ?Concerns over ability to pay should not prevent anyone from seeking treatment.?
Individuals seeking recovery resources for themselves or a loved one can call the toll-free PA Get Help Now helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
A live chat option is also available online for those seeking help who may not be comfortable speaking directly to a helpline operator.
For more information on the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and treatment options around the commonwealth, visit www.ddap.pa.gov and https://apps.ddap.pa.gov/gethelpnow/.