New program on opioid treatment launching at Clarion University

(Harrisburg) — The state’s opioid crisis has only gotten worse in the past few years, and a state university is stepping up to try to provide some help.

Clarion University – in northwestern Pennsylvania – is creating a new certificate program that will offer training for opioid treatment specialists.

Students will take four online courses covering the research behind opioid addiction, how to help someone with treatment and recovery, and tips for being effective advocates for better public policy.

The program is open to anyone who applies and is accepted, and costs about $4,600 for state residents.

It starts this fall.

Gov. Tom Wolf says on the policy side, his administration has tried to work towards a bettter understanding of the root causes of addiction.

“One of the things that we recognize is no two sufferers of substance use disorder suffers the same way, and so there are many different ways to address this issue. And this is one really really important one. I really value having Clarion as a partner in this effort,” says Wolf.

Clarion University leaders expect drug counselors, peer specialists, nurses and E-M-Ts will enroll in the program.

“We’ve got a big problem. It affects not just families, but as Dr. Whitney said, the criminal justice system, pharmacies, physician prescribers, schools,” says Dr. Ray Feroz, chair of the Department of Human Services, Rehabilitation, Health and Sport Sciences at Clarion.

Authorities say more than 4,600 people in Pennsylvania died from drug overdoses last year.