When people hear “syringe exchange”, it is natural for them to assume that its only service is to provide clean needles in exchange for used syringes to deter the spread of diseases. But syringes are but one of the harm reduction materials dispensed.
Another essential service is the advice, guidance and assistance that exchange personnel provide clients to help them obtain proper treatment and hopefully return to their loved ones and become productive members of the community.
The below example is an exchange between Melinda Zipp, director of the Lancaster Harm Reduction Project, and a mother seeking assistance for her son.
Hello,
I am the Director of the Lancaster Harm Reduction Project, Inc. and I was asked to look into Suboxone Programs that may be able to assist your son. I would start by having him contact Addiction Recovery Systems, their phone number is
(717)394-7160 and they are located at 2192 Embassy Drive ,Lancaster, PA, 17603.
They will conduct a confidential screening and since he doesn’t have any insurance, will probably recommend he go into their office and complete a medical assistance application online with the staffs assistance. They will not start him on Suboxone until after the response to the application has been received due to the expense. If denied, they would discuss the option of Methadone which is more cost effective.
Another program he could contact for assistance is the RASE Project at (717)232-8535. The Buprenorphine Coordinator Program they run serves South Central Pennsylvania, including: Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Cumberland, Perry,
Dauphin, Lebanon, York and Lancaster Counties. Coordinators work in county areas providing services to individuals appropriate for buprenorphine (Suboxone) treatment. If they can assist him they will instruct him on what he needs to do. RASE of Lancaster is located at 130 E. Chestnut Street, First Floor, Lancaster,
PA 17602.
If your son doesn’t qualify for medical assistance I would also recommend having your son contact PALCO (Project Access Lancaster County)at (717)392-1595.
PALCO’s mission is to provide a coordinated healthcare network of volunteer physicians, other health care providers, hospital services, diagnostic services
and pharmaceutical assistance for the low income uninsured residents of Lancaster County. PALCO provides a health care bridge for people who cannot afford health insurance, but who do not qualify for Medical Assistance, Veterans
Benefits, or Medicare. They can also help him look into the federal health insurance market place under the Affordable Care Act if he wishes.
Please let me know if I can be of any other assistance.
Melinda Zipp
Director of Outreach
Lancaster Harm Reduction Project, Inc.
(717)808-1084
[email protected]
