John Catapano, Director of Drug & Alcohol Treatment/Prevention Services
The Huntington Drug & Alcohol Counseling/Education Center is a state licensed, outpatient chemical dependency treatment prevention provider. We are a community based, not-for-profit agency licensed and funded by the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, in conjunction with Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington. We offer individual, group, couples, and family counseling to individuals who are abusing substances, those who are at risk of becoming drug involved, and their families. Prevention Services include presentations in schools and throughout the community on various health-related topics.
Our Mission
To provide comprehensive, prevention, education, and treatment services to youth and adults.
Eligibility
Any individual (age 12 or older) who lives within the Town of Huntington can access the service. Eligible individuals must be at risk to begin substance use, actively using substances, or referred by probation, parole, TASC, etc.
Fees
Youth: Services for youth ages 12-18 are free of charge.
Adults: Services for adults 18 and older receiving Medicaid is billable. Adults who do not receive Medicaid will be given affordable fees according to a sliding scale based on their ability to pay for services. Individual and group fees are charged at a separate rate.
Intake Fee: There is a $50 Assessment Fee for all adult services.
Services
Assessment: Assess the extent of substance use and determine the appropriate treatment options.
Treatment: Helping clients to recognize and address their substance use in a supportive environment.
Psycho-Education Series: A twelve-week education series on substance use/abuse and other related topics.
Counseling: We offer individual, group, couple, and family therapy for youth and adults.
Prevention: Helping those who are at risk to use substances through informational sessions and presentations throughout the community/schools.
Urinalysis/Oral Swab: An inexpensive test that determines whether substances have been used to monitor treatment.
Breath-a-lyzer: A free test to determine alcohol use in selected clientele.
Referrals: Referrals are made, when appropriate, to other service providers for specified treatment concerns.
Prevention Services
Brochure
The Huntington Drug & Alcohol Project’s Prevention Services staff provide programs that emphasize the acquisition of life skills and present students with opportunities to raise awareness within their school and community. This includes the harmful effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco use along with the nature of addiction and dependency. All presentations are free and tailored to meet the needs of the group and to be age appropriate.
Presentations
CHOICES: Developed by Suffolk County, CHOICES is a life skills program designed to help students make healthy decisions. This 10 session program helps students to learn about self esteem, problem solving, substance abuse, and self-discovery. (grades 4,5)
All About Me: Participants receive character education in areas such as decision making, conflict resolution, and making positive choices. (grades 2,3)
Substance Abuse Presentations: This presentation gives an overview of substance abuse. Participants learn about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, including addiction, overdose and binge drinking. This presentation is designed to reinforce the perspective that drug abuse and chemical dependency can happen to anyone. (grades 7-8, 9-12)
Mentorship Program: Students are selected by school officials to attend this program to learn to help their peers develop positive attitudes towards their school. Students participate in activities that increase their awareness about issues that face today’s teens and ways in which they can work to create a safer, more productive school environment. (grades 7-8, 9-12)
Drug Education: Participants receive a one-time overview of various types of drugs and the side effects associated with each. The presentation also includes a Drug Jeopardy game during which participants test their knowledge. (grades 7-8, 9-12)
Information Sessions: The Prevention staff is available to attend various health fairs and community activities where students will have the opportunity to receive information on health-related topics and the resources that the Drug and Alcohol Project offers to Huntington Residents.
Spring Fever Education: This presentation focuses on the dangers of drugs and alcohol during the Spring season. Students are presented with information to help prevent against drinking and driving, date rape, and recreational drug use and to ensure their prom and graduation weekend is safe and memorable. (grades 11,12)
Volcano Group: Participants in the program gain character education in the area of anger management. Students learn coping skills, improve communication skills, and develop productive ways to deal with anger while learning about their own emotions. (grades 6-8, 9-12)
DWI Prevention: Participants are presented with information regarding the effects of drinking alcohol on the mind and body. Participants learn about the impairment of alcohol on an individual’s mental and physical functioning and are presented with several real-life situations that involved drinking and driving as well as statistics reinforcing the presented material.
Treatment Services
Brochure
Alternatives For Youth: Suffolk County’s AFY program provides intervention to families seeking PINS (Person in Need of Supervision) services due to adolescent behavioral problems in the home. If an adolescent is identified as a substance abuser, our staff is trained to treat the entire family to discuss their needs, identify family strengths, and develop a treatment plan to assist the adolescent in attaining and maintaining sobriety.
Parent Support Group: This group provides support to parents of At-Risk/Addicted Adolescents to appropriately respond to their child’s behavior. This group helps parents to gain mutual support and feedback, as well as discuss ongoing issues in a safe, confidential environment. Parents are provided with educational resources as well as local treatment resources in their community.
Parent Education Group: This group addresses parenting skills that can be adapted to fit various family situations. Participants learn several skills, including methods to enhance parent-child relationships, utilizing Behavior Modification techniques, gaining an understanding of the developmental stages of emotional growth, improving problem solving and positive communication skills, and effective techniques to setting boundaries for children. Parents also gain an understanding of addiction as a family disease and learn methods of explaining addiction to their children,
Tobacco Cessation Program: This presentation provides participants with information regarding the health risks of using tobacco products as well as an overview of addiction and chemical dependency. Participants are given information regarding tactics to quit and abstain from using tobacco products. Participants can also refer themselves to receive free counseling and assistance in their recovery process as well as become eligible to receive Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
The Women’s Group: The Women’s group offers a caring and supportive atmosphere where members share the many challenges they face in their recovery and in their daily lives. The women explore issues related to substance use, parenting, childcare, relationships, and hardships.
Anger Management/Domestic Violence Group: This group provides participants with techniques that enable them to vent anger appropriately and understand concepts of domestic violence. Participants gain understanding of issues of power and control and time out strategies, improve relationship skills, accept responsibility for their behaviors, and learn appropriate communication skills. Participants also gain an understanding of anger as an addiction and the dynamics between substance abuse and angry behavior.
Relapse Treatment Group: The group is dedicated to the treatment of patients in the early, middle, and late stages of recovery. The treatment staff offer diverse strategies and treatment planning that empower the clientele with the necessary information and education to overcome the disease of addiction and manage and maintain a sober lifestyle.
Spanish Services: We offer services in Spanish language consisting of individual counseling sessions, drug education group and recovery support group for individuals with alcohol/drug problems.
Ofrecemos servicios para la recuperacion de problemas de drogas y/o alcohol. Estos servicios incluyen sesiones de consejeria individual, grupos de apoyo para la recuperacion y prevencion de la recaida y una serie educativa de doce semanas sobre los efectos daninos del abuso de substancias en el cerebro y el cuerpo humano.
Other Treatment Groups: Huntington Drug & Alcohol offers a variety of treatment groups geared toward specific populations and topics as needed
