Statewide tour started to combat the opioid epidemic

STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Healing through music. The State Department of Drug and Alcohol Secretary Dr. Latika Davis Jones paid a visit to Pyramid Healthcare’s Stroudsburg Outpatient Center, to participate in a music therapy session.

Taking steps toward recovery through music.

The stop is a part of a statewide tour to learn and gather feedback from addiction treatment specialists, to find out how to better combat the opioid and overdose epidemic across the commonwealth.

Taking steps toward recovery through music.

“So a lot of our clients have anxiety depression they’re worried about what other people are thinking about themselves, so we kind of try to get them out of that space,” said Shirley Carver a behavioral health technician trainer from Pyramid Healthcare.

Pyramid Healthcare offers drug and alcohol treatment as well as mental health services for adults and teens. Treatment is like music therapy using drums.

Officials from the Shapiro Administration’s Department of Drug and Alcohol were able to experience a drumming therapy session for themselves.

“This is a part of our stage two stakeholder engagement tour, so we’re here today to hear from the key leaders in communities and we wanna know what’s working what’s not working and we’re looking for solutions. We’re trying to find out from them what we can do to improve our overall drug and alcohol system to make healthy outcomes for individuals that are impacted by substance use,” explained Dr. Latika.

The tour is making stops in Monroe, Carbon, and Pike counties.

By learning about different forms of treatment and speaking with specialists, secretary Davis-Jones says they are hoping to make strides in combatting the opioid and overdose epidemic.

“We’re trying to intensify primary prevention services, we’re also focussed on strengthening our treatment system and empowering sustained recovery,” added Dr. Latika.

The secretary’s tour will end on Tuesday with a stop at a recovery house in Tobyhanna.

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