We’ve all spent the last year focused on the health of Pennsylvania residents throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the pandemic, of course, deserves an incredible amount of attention and resources to keep Pennsylvanians safe, other health crises are at risk of being overshadowed; most notably, the opioid epidemic. The Pennsylvania Department of Health still...
Category: Programs
How The GateHouse Approaches MAT for Opioid Addiction as One Tool in its 12-Step Program Toolbox
When Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction first became available, many in the recovery community struggled with the idea of treating a substance use disorder with a medication. “In the beginning, and even still today, some people believed using MAT for opioid addiction would simply shift a person’s addiction from one drug to another...
How to Recognize the Signs of Addiction and Find Help for Your Loved One
When you’re not familiar with the signs of addiction, it can be a difficult disease to identify. Sadly, that’s one of the reasons why someone with a substance use disorder can often hide their addiction from family members for months or even years. If your loved one is suffering from addiction, there’s a long list...
Resilience and Strength as We Begin a New Year at The GateHouse
Few years compared to 2020. The past year forced everyone, including all of us at The GateHouse, to face new hurdles – many of which seemed insurmountable at the time. Yet, despite its struggles, 2020 showed us how resilient we truly are. The flip to a new calendar year certainly doesn’t mean that the challenges...
Staying Connected to Family & Friends During a Socially Distanced Holiday
Recovery from substance abuse is a life-long journey. The journey isn’t easy, and it can become even more difficult during the holidays. Between holiday parties and family gatherings, the combination of stress and temptation can be overwhelming for anyone trying to stay clean. This year, however, the holidays will look much different than years past....
‘Giving Extra’ by Breathing Life Back into Others: Kristi’s Recovery Story
Kristi knows how debilitating addiction can be. “Living with addiction is like living a walking death,” she said. Kristi Martarano BS, CADC, CCPG, is Clinical Director at The GateHouse. Like many of her colleagues, she was also once a client at The GateHouse working toward her own recovery. She’s been in the same shoes as...
‘Giving Extra’ by Creating Recovery Support for Others: Kendrick’s Recovery Story
Kendrick spent years living in a vicious cycle of addiction. “I’d use and lose everything,” he said. “Then, I’d get my life back on track for a few months only to lose it all again.” Today, Kendrick Westmoreland is the Clinical Director of Outpatient Services at The GateHouse. He also knows what it’s like to...
‘Giving Extra’ By Helping Others Heal: Cyndi’s Recovery Story
Cyndi was 18 years into her recovery journey when she relapsed. She had a beautiful home, a teenage son and had built a wonderful life for herself. “Your addiction is always doing push-ups, even when you’re not using,” she said. Today, Cyndi is our Intake Supervisor at The GateHouse. But, before working with us, she...
Outpatient Services That Care for Clients Through Life-Long Recovery
“At The GateHouse, we’re treating the whole person, and that means helping them gain access to all of the resources they need to maintain recovery.” – Kendrick Westmoreland When a client leaves one of our Residential Extended Care facilities and returns to their community, life in recovery begins. That transition can be overwhelming and...
Helping Families Support Their Loved Ones Through Long-Term Addiction Recovery
“We see a family’s eyes open when they realize what their loved one is going through and that they can have an impact in their recovery.” – Verlina Velazquez-Millings Verlina Velazquez-Millings, Director of Programs at The GateHouse, has been in the long-term addiction recovery field for the last 20 years. She’s spent three...