In the effort to tackle addiction and meet the needs of addicted persons and their families head-on, New York has made the decision to divert $450,000 apiece for 9 Open Access Centers which will make addiction and recovery services available 24 hours a day. In the next few years, these centers will open across the state. Currently, the state is accepting bid so it’s not possible to offer specifics on what these centers may offer.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Centers was announced at the grand opening of a new $8.4 million outpatient addiction treatment center in Rochester, and have already been factored into the 2018 state budget.

The centers will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The goal of these centers, according to Governor Cuomo, is to deliver “immediate engagement, assessment, and referral services to people suffering from substance use disorders.”

“As co-chair of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, I have heard from families all across New York who have felt the impact of this deadly addiction,” Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said of the endeavor. “This administration is taking aggressive actions to combat addiction, provide resources, and support the vital recovery of our families and communities. Open access centers will secure the supportive environments that our communities need and provide families with a place to turn in times of crisis.”

The state has also put out a “Request for Information” for several recovery-related high schools, meant to provide a supportive environment for teens coping with substance abuse issues in their daily lives. This request is expected to bring an influx of quotes and offers for proposals from the treatment and educational communities.

According to the governor’s office, a recovery high school offers an “alternative, multi-service high school program in a safe, sober, and supportive environment, for students who are in grades nine through 12 and dealing with a substance use disorder.” Treatment and recovery services, as well as a supportive environment, are expected to be incorporated into the normal school environment. Staff members will have appropriate backgrounds to work in such a nuanced environment.

Until the Open Access Centers open, New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

If you are outside of New York and need information on recovery resources, please contact any of the centers on our website. There is hope! Many people with substance abuse disorders have been able to reclaim their lives, and all phone calls are confidential.