New substance abuse assessment facility open in York

(York) — People seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse have a new place to turn for help in central Pennsylvania.

The York/Adams Drug and Alcohol Commission has opened the facility inside the county Human Services Center in the city of York.

With about 2,500 substance abuse assessments performed from 2010 to 2011, the commission says the York location will take some of the strain off other service providers across the county.

Administrator Shawn McNichol says regulatory and insurance company requirements create a lot of paperwork to go with substance abuse assessments.

“The intake process, it keeps getting longer at the providers, because each insurance provider states that when somebody calls, you have to ask them these very specific questions,” McNichol says.

McNichol says the new center should allow treatment providers to focus on helping clients, rather than filling out forms.

The facility will be run under contract by substance abuse treatment provider White Deer Run.

Evaluations are free except for individuals ordered to undergo them after facing DUI charges.