A new opioid treatment program is opening in Front Royal. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
When the Front Royal facility opens its doors on Thursday, it will become the 14th program run by Pinnacle Treatment Centers in Virginia. The private provider of addiction treatment also has locations in eight other states across the U.S.
STEVEN QUACKENBUSH: We try and address … the entire person, the bio-psycho-social – not just specifically the substance abuse disorder. But at the same time, we believe the patient is the best expert in their own lives, so throughout their treatment they have a voice and are able to work alongside the clinical staff to be able to develop that treatment plan that best suits their personal needs and the goals they are working to achieve in the long run.
Steven Quackenbush is the executive director of the Front Royal Treatment Center. Their opioid treatment program will offer outpatient services including counseling; medication-assisted treatment, such as methadone and suboxone; and referrals to other clinical specialists, such as pain management providers.
Warren County, where Front Royal is located, had 16 opioid overdose deaths in 2021, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That breaks down to a rate of almost 40 deaths per 100,000 residents – well beyond the state average of 26.
QUACKENBUSH: The need is here. … It used to be that we would try to cover up, because addiction is such a stigmatized disease. … You're seeing a shift in that, and so the community understands that there's a problem, and also understands that there's a lack of resources and services to treat that problem.
Quackenbush said they will be hiring nurses and certified substance abuse counselors in the coming months. Their goal is to have capacity for 3-400 patients at a ratio of 50 patients per counselor.
The Front Royal Treatment Center will accept walk-in intakes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also call at any time to set up an appointment at 540-551-4056.
