Overview of the Pennsylvania State Addiction Treatment System (SSA)
Under what department is the SSA located in Pennsylvania? How is it organized? What are its stated vision/mission/priorities?
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs is part of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
How is the program organized?
The Bureau is divided into three divisions: the Division of Treatment, the Division of Prevention and the Division of Program Monitoring.
Vision Statement:
To develop and manage a drug and alcohol system that is responsive to the needs of the public client, a system that encompasses a full continuum of care from prevention through treatment.
Mission Statement(s):
To provide cross-system consensus on evidence-based standards for quality of care practices and outcomes, and to emphasize the benefit of multiple systems working together to ensure that appropriate and effective care is available to all in need.
Program Priority Areas:
The Division of Treatment is responsible for program planning and development of standards, guidelines, service descriptions, and outcome data for the clinical functions of the case and care management and treatment systems, and for providing training resources to treatment professionals in Pennsylvania.
The Division of Prevention is responsible to provide for the development, oversight and management of substance abuse prevention. The system oversight, management of data and the evaluation of services is supported by the nationally recognized Performance Based Prevention Software (PBPS).The major focus is to reduce risk factors associated with substance use and the development of healthy lifestyles that support individuals, communities, families and school in being drug free.
The Division of Program Monitoring is responsible for holding the Bureau’s 49 administrative units or Single County Authorities (SCAs) accountable for local oversight of the Department of Health’s contractual requirements.
Pennsylvania SSA Contact Info:
Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Pennsylvania Department of Health
02 Klein Plaza, Suite B
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Phone: 717-783-8200
Fax: 717-787-6285
Web: www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp
Ms. Robin L. Rothermel
Acting Director

Treatment Facilities
List the number of treatment centers, the type (state-funded, private nonprofit, private for profit, etc.), and their capacity in the state of Pennsylvania.
For Federal Fiscal Year 2004/2005, there were 670 licensed facilities in the state. There were 92,224 clients admitted into the treatment system during this time period.
In Pennsylvania, 449 substance abuse treatment facilities responded to the 2004 N-SSATS, reporting that there were 38,796 clients in substance abuse treatment on March 31, 2004. The survey response rate in Pennsylvania was 96%. [This information was taken from the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS) conducted by SAMHSA.]
Facility Ownership/Operation
Clients in Treatment on March 31, 2004
Facilities / All Clients / Clients Under Age 18
No. / % / No. / % / No. / %
Private non-profit / 322 / 72% / 26,906 / 69% / 2,154 / 76%
Private for-profit / 109 / 24% / 10,454 / 27% / 625 / 22%
Local government / 8 / 2% / 309 / 1% / 33 / 1%
State government / 3 / 1% / 259 / 1% / 28 / 1%
Federal government / 7 / 2% / 868 / 2% / – / –
Dept. of Veterans Affairs / 7 / 2% / 868 / 2% / – / –
Dept. of Defense / – / – / – / – / – / –
Indian Health Service / – / – / – / – / – / –
Other / – / – / – / – / – / –
Tribal government / – / – / – / – / – / –
Total / 449 / 100% 38,796 / 100% 2,840 / 100%
List state substance abuse treatment hotlines.
Numerous hotlines are available at the county level.
List substance abuse treatment workforce development initiatives in Pennsylvania.
The state has had a workforce development task force since 2003. The committee is working on a number of initiatives including legislation for a state loan forgiveness program. (If this legislation is passed, people who begin working in the state’s treatment system and meet certain requirements could have their student loans forgiven.) Other committee initiatives include: recruitment campaigns, treatment provider incentives, administrative relief (reducing the amount of paperwork that counselors must complete) and cost of living increases for treatment practitioners.
Treatment Providers
List the approximate number of treatment providers (frontline counselors/practitioners) in the state of Pennsylvania.
In 2004, there were 2,689 certified counselors or counselors who are in the certification process.
Provide the names and contact information for the provider and credentialing associations in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB)
298 South Progress Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17109 USA
Phone: (717) 540-4455
Fax (717) 540-4458
Web site: www.pcacb.org
E-mail:
Pennsylvania Community Providers Association (PCPA)
Bldg 3, Ste 200, 2101 N Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-364-3280
Fax: 717-364-3287
E-mail:
Drug and Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania (DASPOP)
3820 Club Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717-652-9128
Fax: 717-652-3857
Specific Information Regarding Prescription Drugs
Familiarity with Prescription Drug Abuse Trends
Q1: What process do you have in place to track drug trends?
The Bureau tracks drug trends through county needs assessments. They are currently in the process of developing or purchasing a data system to track admissions data for the state treatment system.
Q2: What is the incidence of prescription drug abuse for your state?
The Bureau does not currently track prescription drug abuse.
Q2a: Describe any (current or planned) initiatives/programs that specifically target prescription drug abuse.
The Bureau will include in the new Treatment Data System prescription drug abuse data elements.
Q3: To what extent do individuals seeking treatment for prescription drug abuse request services in state supported programs? Please describe the type(s) of programs in your state that provide treatment to individuals with a prescription drug addiction.
The Bureau works with providers in the state treatment system to address the types of services needed by clients. Clients with prescription drug abuse problems receive care in the state’s regular treatment system. There are no programs in place designed specifically to treat prescription drug abuse.
Familiarity with PDMP
Q4: Explain how familiar you are with the State Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in Pennsylvania. If you are familiar with this program, please explain what you know. If your agency has interfaced with this program, please explain how it has interfaced.
Bureau staff are familiar with the Pennsylvania PMP. It operates through the office of the state’s attorney general.
Initiatives Targeting Physicians and Pharmacists
General Awareness/Educational Initiatives Related to Addiction
Q5: Describe strategies that have been implemented in your state to reach out to physicians and pharmacists on addiction-related information. Were your efforts successful? Why or why not?
The Bureau distributed CD-Roms regarding Buprenorphine to approximately 7,000 physicians in the state. The disks highlighted how to receive training and become certified in Buprenorphine distribution. The Bureau also has a continuing relationship with the Pennsylvania Hospital Association and the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Through these partnerships, the Bureau continues to distribute addiction-related information to medical professionals as needed.
Initiatives Related to Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment
Q6: Describe current/planned Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) initiatives/programs that target prescribers of prescription drugs such as physicians, others authorized to prescribe prescription drugs and pharmacists?
Pennsylvania has a Federal SBIRT grant, which is implemented in several hospitals. The grant began in October of 2003. Primary care physicians are encouraged to diagnose for substance abuse when presented with early symptoms and to refer appropriate patients for Brief Intervention to substance abuse treatment as appropriate.
Mr. Gene Boyle, director of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, completed this survey on August 4, 2006.
(717) 783-8200 •