Opioid addiction is a chronic disease that affects the body, brain, relationships, and economics. Opioids are a type of drug that works in the nervous system and generates feelings of pleasure and pain relief. Addiction to opioids is powerful, and often the addiction leads to compulsive urges, making recovery without treatment extremely difficult.
Some of these drugs are legal and prescribed by physicians. Others, such as heroin, are illegal. Our team are experts in addiction and offer comprehensive treatment right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Opioid Addiction Center of Excellence
Recovery success for opioid addiction requires long-term care. We're here every step. Since 2017, the State of Pennsylvania designated Reading Hospital as an Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence. We continuously work to fight the opioid epidemic and help people recover.
Our Reading Hospital Center of Excellence is a Medical Assistance funded program. We work to lessen the difficulty in accessing treatment and help connect you to your community resources to help ensure on-going recovery. Our coordinated services and compassionate support mean that you have a better chance for recovery.
Referral to Reading Hospital Center of Excellence
Community physicians and those within Tower Health facilities can make a referral to our program. We base referrals on needs, wants, location, language, insurance, and comfort.
The Reading Hospital Center of Excellence assists individuals with an opioid use disorder in coordinating their care. Arranging care with multiple providers in different locations can be challenging and frustrating at times. We ensure that people with an opioid-related substance use disorder stay in treatment to receive follow-up care and are supported within their communities. As a Center of Excellence, we help coordinate care for people with Medicaid.
To make a referral, call 484-869-4013 or please complete this referral form.
Signs You or a Loved One Needs Help
Opioid addiction not only causes life-long health problems, but users are also at great risk of overdose. An overdose occurs when breathing stops or becomes slow or difficult.
Signs of an overdose also include:
- Change in color of lips or fingernails to blue
- Clammy skin and pale face
- Non-responsive behaviors
- Unable to awaken or unable to speak
- Vomiting
Signs you or a loved one is using opioids and can benefit from treatment:
- Borrowing opioid medication from other people
- Combine opioid use with other substances such as alcohol
- Engages in risky behaviors
- Extreme mood changes
- Has a family history of addiction
- Taking more opioid medicine that what is prescribed
- Taking opioids illegally
- Taking opioids without any pain present but “just in case”
Coordinated Opioid Addiction Services
Our team of board certified addiction medicine experts support you with compassion and experience. We help you on your recovery pathway — designed specifically for you.
Opioid use treatments we offer include:
- Medicines. We may use medications to help with withdrawal symptoms, to prevent relapse, and to treat addiction. We also treat mental health conditions with medicine such as anti-anxiety medicines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and stimulants. Your care team will determine if medicine is right for you.
- Detoxification. We provide this treatment in a safe, secure, and supervised environment. It can help you manage the range of withdrawal symptoms and keep you healthy and comfortable as your body adjusts.
- Inpatient behavioral health services. We offer medically supervised detox services on an inpatient basis. Inpatient care is supervised by a team, and you’ll participate in therapy, medication management, and life skills classes.
- Outpatient behavioral health services. Outpatient counseling is an effective treatment approach combined with other treatments. These can include behavioral therapies, medicine management, group therapy, and family therapy.
- Dual diagnoses management. Often, a substance use disorder co-occurs (occurs at the same time) with other conditions. If you experience a dual diagnosis, we offer assistance with managing those conditions. Many people with addiction also are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
- Connection to related medical services. Often when a person has an addiction, there are other underlying health concerns. We connect you to other services that help you heal. These include dental care, eye care, primary care, pain management, and more.
- Support and education. We help you and your family understand the dynamics of addiction, the physical and mental effects it has on you, and we connect you to community resources such as a 12-step program to ensure your treatment is comprehensive.
Recovery Support Specialists
Our care coordinators connect you to medical and treatment services, including substance abuse, mental health, primary care, medication-assisted treatment for addiction, pain management, dental, eye care, and other services they may need.
We work together to identify and provide support in developing a plan to resolve unmet needs such as housing, childcare, education, vocational skills, employment, transportation, clothing, food, health insurance, and recovery-friendly recreation and activities.
Recovery Specialists also:
- Assist in establishing a health recovery support network in the community.
- Provide education, information, and support regarding addiction and recovery to individuals struggling with opioid addiction, family members, agencies, and community groups.
- Meet individuals in the community to assist in transitioning to the next level of care.
- Assist in re-establishing and improving family and significant relationships.
Program Candidacy
We recognize that not all programs fit all patients’ needs. That’s why we design the services in a way to support your success.
You are eligible for services if you:
- Are diagnosed with an opioid use disorder
- Are 18 years or older
- Commit to participating in treatment
- Need help arranging medical care and social services
Emergency Care for Overdoses
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a substance overdoes, call 911 immediately.
Accidental or intentional overdoses are the leading cause of death for people between 35 and 54. The Tower Health emergency room offers services to treat an overdose.
If you need immediate assistance in finding treatment today, please go to the Emergency Department at Reading Hospital and request Warm Hand Off Services, which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss recovery options, please call us at 484-869-4013 or complete the COE Referral form.
If you would like more information about Medication Assisted Treatment, visit our Addiction Medicine page.
If you are suffering from a physical pain issue and would like information, learn more about our pain management services.
