Naaman Center Provides Services At The Factory

Adam Nagle, director of The Factory Ministries in Paradise, is clear about the need for drug and alcohol counseling and other services in the area. "When you Google 'drug and alcohol services in Lancaster County' (in the Pequea Valley area), there is nothing," said Nagle. "It is a desert for these types of resources. Yet, when you talk to local police and look at Narcan use ... you know it's prevalent and a real need."

Daniel Makowski, caseworker with the Naaman Center, can fill in the specifics of the issues Nagle references. "Attorney General Josh Shapiro's office released a report on the number of overdose deaths in Pennsylvania in the last year," said Makowski, noting that the state ranks third in the nation in this area. "There were 5,341 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania. One hundred thirty-one of those deaths were in Lancaster County." Makowski went on to point out that the lack of access to drug and alcohol services in rural areas coupled with problems with traveling to Lancaster city, such as transportation or taking time off from work, further complicate the problem.

To remedy the situation, The Factory and the Naaman Center are partnering to provide mental health counseling services via telehealth and a caseworker, specifically Makowski, located in the building at 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, each Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Naaman Center offers outpatient addiction treatment from a number of Lancaster County locations.

Starting in early October, Makowski has been conducting drug and alcohol evaluations and screenings at The Factory to create a whole picture of a client and meet his or her needs. Evaluations include questions about living situation, education history, employment, substance use history, legal issues, mental health, and medical history. "These are all things we need to think about to determine the best level of care for this person," said Makowski.

Viewing the whole picture translates to treatment as well. "This isn't just somebody who abuses substances," said Makowski. "There are a lot of pieces to this person's life." Makowski noted that it is important to look into a client's background to discover contributing factors to substance abuse issues, such as stressors like finding affordable housing.

Anna Beasley, director of adult advocacy for The Factory Ministries, pointed out that substance abuse affects a circle of individuals surrounding the abuser. "To have the Naaman Center in this community is such an incredible opportunity not only for individuals struggling with substance abuse, but also for their families," she said. "I love it when powerful resources are made accessible to everyone, and I believe the Naaman Center is just that - a powerful resource of hope and healing."

More information about The Factory may be found at https://thefactoryministries.com. The Factory will be taking part in the ExtraGive 2022 online fundraising event to be held on Friday, Nov. 18. A Block Party will be held at The Factory from 4:30 to 7 p.m. that day. Readers who wish to support the organization during the ExtraGive may visit http://www.extragive.org.

Readers who wish to learn about The Naaman Center may visit https://naamancenter.com.