Help is here: First of its kind Medication Unit opens in Monticello

MONTICELLO –– “We are thrilled that this day has finally come,” said Health and Human Services Commissioner John Liddle to attendees at Friday’s ribbon cutting for Lexington Center for Recovery’s new, outpatient Opiate Treatment Medication Unit –– the first of its kind in New York State –– at 26 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 2 in Monticello. “I’ve been saying that help is on the way, and now, I can very confidently say that help is here.”

Sullivan County continues to have the highest opioid overdose death rate in New York State. Lexington Center for Recovery, which is headquartered in Katonah, has been providing community-based substance use treatment services for 40 years. 

This new unit, which is a satellite clinic of their Poughkeepsie location, began official operations on October 10 and provides life-saving methadone treatment to those struggling with opioid addiction. 

Methadone, which the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports is a safe and effective long-acting full opioid agonist, and schedule II controlled medication, usually serves as one component of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes counseling and other behavioral health therapies.

At Friday’s event, Liddle thanked all those that worked on the collaborative effort, adding that while methadone is a controversial topic for some, having a medication unit in Sullivan County will save them $1.5 million a year in Medicaid transportation costs. 

“No matter your political stripe in these divided days, this is an outstanding thing for Sullivan County, all the way around,” said Liddle. 

According to Lexington’s Barbara Tabala, who serves as their Director of Services in Dutchess and Sullivan Counties, they’ve had a couple hundred patients from Sullivan County who’ve been traveling to their clinics in Dutchess, Westchester and Rockland Counties for treatment.

The new unit in Monticello will not be their only one in Sullivan County, as it was announced that there are plans for a future unit at the County’s Social Services campus on Community Lane in Liberty.

“We are delighted to be able to offer these services to Sullivan County residents. Our staff has worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition. We couldn’t have accomplished this milestone without the cooperation and support of Sullivan County staff. Thanks to all who participated,” said Lexington’s Executive Director, Adrienne Marcus and Associate Director, Suzanne Tisne.

NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kelly S. Ramsey also spoke at Friday’s ribbon cutting.

“Methadone and buprenorphine save lives, so it’s important that for the first time, this is happening in Sullivan County,” she said, adding that OASAS was happy Lexington was there, and how it is a burden on patients and their families when they have to travel to other counties for treatment.

Patients at the Monticello unit, in addition to receiving methadone treatment, will be seen by nurses and the location’s physician, to monitor their healthcare needs and link them to appropriate health care services in the community. Individual counseling services will also be offered.

 Unit hours are currently 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, with methadone dosing hours being from 6-11:30 a.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, unit hours are 7:30-10:30 a.m. 

For more information about the new unit and additional services provided by Lexington Center for Recovery, visit https://lexingtonctr.org/.