New addiction treatment center to house 30 residential, 12 detox beds

MORGANTOWN — WVU Medicine’s new $12 million residential addiction treatment facility should begin accepting patients sometime in March, according to WVU Medicine Public Affairs Director Amy Johns.

While the facility is located within the understood boundaries of Mylan Park, it isn’t technically part of the park but considered “adjacent” to it as the land was purchased from the park and developed by Recovery Properties, LLC, of Morgantown.

Mylan Park Foundation President Ron Justice said the park has right-of-way agreements in place with WVU Medicine that will allow for the use of park roads and infrastructure, similar to arrangements made with other agencies like PACE, SteppingStones and the board of education.

According to Johns, the facility will include 30 residential treatment beds and 12 detox beds, and will follow the Hazelden Betty Ford model of offering intensive residential care in a 28-day program.

“The mission of the center will be to help West Virginians who need access to a comprehensive program that offers recovery from the disease of addiction,” Johns said. “The center will focus on treating patients with all forms of substance use disorders. This includes a focus on opioid use disorders, but also alcohol use disorders, recent overdose survivors and pregnant women with substance use disorders.”

The center is expected to staff about 40 employees and will be operated by WVU Medicine.

The new facility will be in addition to WVU Hospitals’ Chestnut Ridge Center, which will continue to operate.

Johns said the additional treatment options are badly needed and part of WVU Medicine’s commitment to combating the addiction epidemic ravaging West Virginia.

“WVU Medicine has had a leading role in the fight against opioid use for many years. Our outpatient medication assisted treatment program is considered a model that other programs across the country are following.”

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Story by Ben Conley