ALCOHOL & DRUG COUNCIL
BEGINS BUILDING RENOVATIONS TO OPEN ACCESS DETOX CENTER
Watch Open Access Detox Project Launch Video
Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County is beginning renovations on their 2353 North Triphammer Road facility to create an Open Access 40-bed medically supervised withdrawal (detox) and stabilization program. With capital funding from the NYS Department of Health (DOH) Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation program and NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Rapid Expansion program, this new facility will fill a critical gap in addiction treatment in our region, and will serve as a valuable healthcare resource for the people of Tompkins and surrounding counties, offering a safe, accessible and stigma-free environment for people with substance use disorders to seek help whenever they are ready – at any time of the day or night. Trained staff will work with each person to choose the level of care that best meets their needs. Human service agency partners and peer advocates will also help support a continuum of care along the path to greater wellness, as we work together to meet people where they are and more holistically address the public health crisis of addiction.
The Council has selected Welliver Construction Company as the general contractor for this very significant project, and is confident in their ability to execute the exceptional designs developed by HOLT Architects. Renovation work will begin in mid-January 2022, with an expected completion date of January 2023.
The Council would like to acknowledge the significant grant support and strategic guidance provided by Care Compass Network in the planning and development of this project, as well as the exceptional Project Management services provided by Kelly White, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant, Illume Projects. The consistent advancement of this project over the past several years is due in large part to the support and partnership of the Tompkins County Legislature, Frank Kruppa, Tompkins County Mental Health Commissioner, the Village of Lansing, and the many organizations and human services partners who have helped to inform the accessible, impactful and collaborative vision for this new facility.
“Our community has long needed this level of care – now more than ever, with overdose rates tragically higher than they have ever been, and precious lives being lost across our nation,” says Angela Sullivan, Alcohol & Drug Council Executive Director. “We have been working very hard to bring these vital healthcare services to our area, and we’re deeply grateful to our state and county government leaders and the many human service partners who have helped us to reach this point.”
“This facility will offer unprecedented 24/7 access to care for people in our region struggling with substance use,” notes Alex Remizowski, Alcohol & Drug Council Board Chair. “Angela Sullivan and the entire ADC staff have been working tirelessly for years to bring the project to where it is today, and we are all looking forward to the day when we open our doors to the countless people whose lives will be transformed by the compassionate, individualized, exceptional care they will receive here.”
“The day is very close when we can provide a full spectrum of services to patients suffering from addiction in Tompkins and surrounding counties, and provide a viable alternative to emergency room visits, hospital stays, and even jail time for many patients,” says Dr. John-Paul Mead, Alcohol & Drug Council Medical Director. “I look forward to treating people in all stages of use, abuse, withdrawal, and recovery, from a wide array of substances, including alcohol, opiates, methamphetamines, marijuana, cocaine, and synthetics.”
“I am heartened to see construction begin on the Alcohol and Drug Council of Tompkins County’s long-awaited Detox Center,” says Assemblymember Anna Kelles. “For years Director Angela Sullivan, along with the amazing staff at the ADC and the county, have fought to bring the funding and expertise together to make this facility for detox and addiction services a reality for the community and it couldn’t be more timely. The COVID pandemic has led to increased social isolation, mental health crises, economic hardship, and loss of stable housing. These are some of the many factors that have led to an exponential increase in the number of people suffering from substance use disorders. This Detox facility will provide a judgment free environment where people can find both respite and medical support. I am grateful to Director Sullivan and all of the community stakeholders for their tireless work to bring this project to fruition.”
“We are excited the Alcohol and Drug Council was willing to step in and present a plan that could be supported by DOH and OASAS, and that construction on the facility will soon be underway,” says Frank Kruppa, Tompkins County Mental Health Commissioner. “Tompkins County has prioritized the need for these services in the community for many years, and we know that access to this level of care will save lives.”
“We are incredibly grateful for these state funds, which will allow the ADC to serve people from a nine-county region, with detox and residential care that simply doesn’t exist here,” adds Shawna Black, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature. “We have heard from our local judges that without this kind of facility, they often have to send people to jail to keep them safe. With this partnership with New York State, ADC’s compassionate commitment to the clients in our community will literally save lives.”
“We are very pleased to have been selected to partner with ADC and manage this vitally important project,” says Stephen Welliver, Executive Vice President, Welliver Construction Company. “It is a privilege to be part of bringing life-saving services to the people of our region during a time when the need is so great.”
