Armstrong County Jail receives $150,000 to fight drug addiction

Armstrong County received a $150,000 grant to expand the county jail’s Medication Assistance Treatment (MAT) program, the office of Rep. Joseph Petrarca announced Wednesday. The program provides drug treatment services and cognitive behavioral therapy to offenders with drug addiction.

The grant was provided by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which assists the state’s criminal justice system.

“As a commission member, I fully support these evidence-based programs that help with treatment for their addiction and increase their chances for a successful recovery, with the ultimate goal of ensuring their success in reintegration today,” Petrarca said in a press release.

Jackie Weaknecht, program manager of the the Office of Criminal Justice System Improvements for the commission, said Armstrong was chosen for the grant because of its need for the program to expand. Armstrong is planning to provide Suboxone in the jail, a substance that is used to help lesson the strength of cravings and wean addicts off of opioids.

Suboxone will be coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy to try to change the behaviors and thinking that leads to addiction, Weaknecht said. The Armstrong County Jail is planning to serve 30 to 40 inmates in its MAT program.

“Right now, we have so many individuals who are dependent on opioids, and that is really the true driver for these programs,” Weaknecht said. “It’s a key opportunity to basically help them change their lives, pull away from addiction and become productive members of society.”