August 25, 2021 - Reading, PA
Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Secretary Jen Smith, visited Reading Hospital - Tower Health to highlight successes within their warm handoff program and to discuss the importance of providing a direct referral from the emergency room to a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider following an overdose."At a time when we're seeing a staggering increase in the number of overdose deaths, warm handoff programs play a critical role in strengthening Pennsylvania's drug and alcohol system," said DDAP Secretary Jen Smith. "Warm handoff programs, like the successful one here at Reading Hospital, show how compassion and appropriate resources can save lives."In the period right after an overdose survivor leaves the emergency room, there is often a high risk of a repeat overdose. The goal of the warm handoff program is to reduce that risk by providing a referral which directly transfers overdose survivors from the hospital emergency department to SUD treatment and resources.
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