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Suboxone clinic closes, clients have alternatives

STEUBENVILLE — Family Recovery Center officials are asking clients who were served by a Suboxone clinic in Mingo Junction that unexpectedly closed this week to contact the agency about continuing treatment.

The Mingo Junction clinic, in the 600 block of Commercial Avenue, was serving about 200 people who are addicted to heroin when it closed with no warning.

Several attempts to contact officials to obtain an explanation for the closure were not successful.

Suboxone is prescription medicine that stops the cravings for heroin, according to officials.

Eloise Traina, Family Recovery Center executive director, said the center is located at 1010 N. Sixth St. and can be accessed from University Boulevard.

She said the agency’s medication-assisted treatment combines medication with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide a “whole-patient approach” to the treatment of substance-use disorders.

“We realize how important it is for clients to have access to this life-saving medication,” Traina said. “Without it, these individuals are at risk of relapse, jeopardizing the progress they’ve made toward recovery. We encourage them to call and make an appointment for an assessment, so we can begin treatment as soon as possible.”

Family Recovery Center officials reported without the medication-assisted treatment, there is a 90 percent chance of relapsing. Clients who are compliant with the program have more than a 50 percent chance of remaining sober after three months, the center reported.

Traina said the medication-assisted treatment program is regulated by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and the state. Suboxone clinics are licensed in the first year to have 30 clients and then 100 clients in the second year. She said, because of the heroin epidemic, the number of clients who can be seen has been increased to 275.

Family Recovery Center has 45 clients at its Steubenville office.

Doctors at Suboxone clinics must be licensed by the DEA, Traina said. The program also must contain individual and group counseling and random drug screenings. Clients must attend support group meetings, such as Narcotics Anonymous, she said.

The Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board contracts with Family Recovery Center to provide substance-abuse treatment.

“We want family and friends to know there is a place to go,” said Pamela Petrilla, prevention and recovery board executive director.

Family Recovery Center can be reached by calling (740) 283-4946.

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