Photo Caption: HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services Chemical Dependence Clinic team includes credentialed counselors, clinical social workers, psychiatrists and nurses to help clients manage their struggle with addiction.

(Staten Island, NY)—HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services has responded to the prescription drug epidemic on Staten Island with the expansion of its Chemical Dependence clinic at 56 Bay Street.

“The Staten Island community has experienced a well-documented surge in prescription drug and heroin abuse, but has not seen a dramatic increase in addiction services to help those struggling to get well,” said Jennifer Outlaw, Senior Vice President of Integrated Health Services. “HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services has been a very proud member of the Staten Island community for decades and we felt a duty to support our neighbors.”

In 2015, HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services built a Mental Health Clinic alongside the agency’s long standing Chemical Dependence Clinic.  Through this expansion, the agency is able to meet all of the behavioral health needs of Staten Island clients in a single location and coordinate client care across specialties. The agency provides treatment for mental illness and substance use, including DWI/DUI, under one roof.

“We had one young man in his 30s who was referred by parole for cocaine use. At the end of 16 weeks, he was sober. If our clients follow our care plan, we are generally able to graduate them in three to four months,” explained Wanda Richardson, Site Supervisor of the Staten Island clinic.

The Chemical Dependence Clinic holds both one-on-one and specialized group treatment and therapeutic sessions.  One popular group session is Anger Management, a 12-week certificate program designed to provide participants with real world skills for regulating their emotions and avoiding angry responses to triggering events.

The clinic supports clients throughout their recovery process, including relapse. “We had one gentleman in his mid-forties struggling with opioid use who experienced a relapse. However, we have staff equipped to handle that,” said Richardson. The clinic has Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselors, Clinical Social Works, Psychiatrists and Nurses who design highly individualized treatment plans for each patient.  The clinic does urine testing on-site, making abstinence monitoring quick and easy.

HeartShare St. Vincent’s is accepting new patients and currently has no waitlist for treatment.  The Staten Island Chemical Dependence Clinic located at 56 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY is accessible by bus at Slosson Terrace / Bay Street. The clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A roundtrip Metrocard is provided for each visit to those Medicaid eligible. For those without insurance, the staff can assist clients in submitting an Affordable Health plan application. Clinic walk-ins are welcome.

For more information on how to enroll as a client at any of our clinic locations, please call 718-981-7861.For more information, visit www.hsvsnyc.org.