Addiction is a big problem in Carbon County.

Last week, the county commissioners voted to approve the five-year grant agreement with Carbon-Monroe-Pike county commissioners and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol programs to help cover costs for services in the three counties. Carbon County serves as the main branch of the program, overseeing the expenses.On Thursday, Jamie Drake, acting director of Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission, attended the commissioners' meeting to outline what the $5.1 million agreement will do to serve the three communities.This funding will be used to serve specific populations that have been earmarked by the state and federal government, including women trying to regain custody of their children, pregnant women and students identified as having addiction problems."Carbon County is unique though," Drake said. "We have a functional outpatient treatment unit, while the other counties contract that out."That means that services differ slightly in Carbon, which serves approximately 400 people annually with drug and alcohol assessments, outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient counseling, referrals to inpatient treatment, a weekly suboxone program, prevention work in the schools and the DUI program.Carbon also implemented a program within the prison system to get inmates the help they need while incarcerated, as well as get them approved for medical assistance so once they are released, their treatment can continue uninterrupted.Funding problemThe $5,127,550 agreement will be split between the three counties it serves and comes from both state and federal funding, Drake said, noting that right now because of the budget stalemate, the money is in limbo, meaning there is no money coming into the commission to cover costs for programs."It's rough right now," Drake said, adding that some providers have agreed to not bill for services provided until the state budget is passed. This allows the commission to continue treating addicted individuals and get them the help they need, but Drake stressed that the budget stalemate is causing problems.How to get helpCommissioner William O'Gurek asked Drake what can be done to get information out to the public on how to get help."I am really more concerned about the people who have problems in their homes and who call us and say about their son or daughter," he told Drake. "We need to be as responsive to these people as possible so a weekend doesn't go past where parents are frightened by their son or daughter having a problem and are admitting they have a problem and they have no where to go."That's my concern I really want to take care of people who need to be taken care of with these types of problems."Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein added that addiction affects everyone and does not discriminate based on financial status, upbringing and education level.Drake said that they were rolling out information packets to agencies and doctors offices in the other counties and will look into doing it in Carbon as well. These packets contain information for individuals and families in need of help for an addiction based on if they have insurance or are uninsured.She noted that there are different processes that people must take depending on their insurance status, but added that the CMP offices will help sift through all the information, negotiate terms and get the person the programs they need as well."When it comes to drug and alcohol, I call it the 'ahha moment' when someone finally comes forward and says 'I have a problem. You have to address it at that point. It can't be two weeks later because they may have changed their mind and no longer want to go," Drake said.For more information, family can visit

www.cmpda.cog.pa.us; or call toll free at 1-866-824-3578 or the Carbon office at 610-377-5177.