NORRISTOWN, PA—Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP)Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones visited Montgomery County as part of her ongoing efforts to address the opioid and overdose crises affecting communities across the Commonwealth.
Dr. Davis-Jones engaged with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Drug and Alcohol, HHS staff, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers and recovery organizations, health care providers, elected officials, and other stakeholders. Her visit focused on gathering valuable feedback, sharing best practices, and strengthening partnerships to save lives and reduce the devastating impact of substance use disorders.
During her visit, Secretary Davis-Jones participated in a series of meetings and events including:
- Community Roundtable Discussion: Dr. Davis-Jones and other elected officials heard first-hand accounts from SUD treatment providers and healthcare professionals about the challenges they face supporting those in recovery in Montgomery County.
- Listening Session: To ensure the voices of those directly affected by addiction were heard, HHS facilitated listening sessions with Dr. Davis-Jones and individuals in recovery, as well as family members who have been impacted by the opioid crisis.
- Site Visits: Dr. Davis-Jones toured a recovery house and athletic center to gather insights into the facilities and services available to individuals’ seeking recovery.
“We know that for those living with an alcohol or substance use problem, treatment alone isn’t enough. It’s why we focus on prevention, recovery support, community connectedness, and whole person care as well as treatment,” said Dr. Tamra Williams, director of health and human services at Montgomery County. “We want to thank DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones and her entire team for the opportunity to put a face to recovery in Montgomery County and highlight some very special programs during her visit that show our commitment to helping those in recovery.”
“The management of the overdose crisis will take all of us working together – state and local governments and those providing the direct boots-on-the-ground responses and supports,” said Dr. Davis-Jones. “To know what’s working and what’s not working in Montgomery County is vital to this effort and I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear from the local voices brought to the table.”
The county’s Office of Drug and Alcohol, which is housed under the county’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the single authority (SCA) on drug and alcohol services in Montgomery County. The Office of Drug and Alcohol provides a wide range of services to county residents in the areas of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support.
For more information about the Office of Drug and Alcohol and available services, visit our website.
