St. Joseph's opens Comprehensive Outpatient Program in Saranac Lake

The ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to officially open the Comprehensive Outpatient Program was completed by (left to right) Carrie Reardon, Board Member, St. Joseph’s; Jennifer Rowledge-DiTullio, COO, Daxia Integrated Health Network; Joe Shoemaker, Franklin County Legislator; Suzanne Lavigne, Director of Community Services, Franklin County; Phillip Lucien, Regional Coordinator, OASAS; Kimberly Benshoff, Regional Director, OASAS; James Button, President & CEO, Daxia Integrated Health Network; Marc Gitlitz, Board Chair, St. Joseph’s; Patricia Lincourt, Deputy Commissioner, OASAS; Dr. April Aycock, Associate Commissioner, OASAS; Kati Jock, Senior Vice President, Daxia Integrated Health Network; Kelly Brunette, Mayor, Village of Saranac Lake; and Jeremy Evans, Trustee, Village of Saranac Lake. SARANAC LAKE | St. Joseph's Addiction Treatment & Recovery Centers has expanded its outpatient services in Saranac Lake into a Comprehensive Outpatient Program, broadening access to evidence-based addiction care for individuals and families across Upstate New York.

The organization marked the expansion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept.9 at the Robert R. Reiss Community Services Center, 50 John Munn Road. Guests at the event represented a broad range of community leaders, partner agencies, elected and state officials, and more.

Developed with support from New York State's Opioid Settlement Fund, the program strengthens St. Joseph's continuum of care through flexible, community-based outpatient services, including medication for opioid and alcohol use disorders. This allows individuals to receive treatment while continuing to live at home, go to work and stay connected to their families.

“For too long, people in this region have had to travel hours, sometimes every day, to access methadone treatment that should be available closer to home,” said James Button, President and CEO of the Daxia Integrated Health Network. “This treatment saves lives and gives individuals the opportunity to rebuild. Today, we are closing a longstanding gap in care and making sure more people and families have access to the treatment they need, right here in their own community and beyond.”

The Comprehensive Outpatient Program offers a full suite of services, including:

-Individual and group counseling

-Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT), including prescribing, dosing and monitoring of methadone and buprenorphine

-Medication management for alcohol use disorder, including acamprosate, disulfiram and naltrexone

-Telehealth

-Peer support

-Adolescent and family services

-Support for loved ones affected by substance use

-Problem gambling services

-Impaired driver services

The program's MAT services include on-site methadone and buprenorphine dosing and monitoring, addressing one of the most significant barriers to opioid use disorder treatment: daily access to medication.

"Too often the barrier to recovery isn't willingness to get help, it's whether help is close enough to reach,” said Jennifer Rowledge-DiTullio, Network Chief Operations Officer. “Expanding our outpatient services in Saranac Lake brings more comprehensive, individualized care into the community, so people can begin recovery without stepping away from the lives and families that matter to them.”

Care is delivered under federal and state guidelines to ensure every patient receives treatment that is safe, regulated, confidential and individualized. The program accepts most major insurance plans, offers a sliding fee scale and provides enrollment assistance for low- or no-cost coverage. No one is turned away.

"At St. Joseph's, every person who walks through our door gets care that's compassionate, confidential and built around them," said Kati Jock, Network Senior Vice President. "This program removes barriers and brings comprehensive, evidence-based treatment closer to the people and families who need it most."

The Comprehensive Outpatient Program is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 to 9 a.m. To learn more or begin services, call 518-891-5353 or visit stjoestreatment.org.

St. Joseph's opens Comprehensive Outpatient Program in Saranac Lake

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