After a long period of time where the world was ravaged by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, with the emergence of vaccines and continued public health and safety protocols, for several months it seemed as if the world had a handle on COVID-19. Seemingly managed in during the springtime and into the summer, America began to open back up. More people were getting vaccinated, mask mandates were lifted, quarantines become almost non-existent, and life began to return to what seemed like a sense of normalcy. The hope everyone had yearned for since early 2020 seemed to take hold. Unfortunately, as the later summer continued, the thread of the Delta variant, currently the predominate strain of the virus in [...]

Detox is often, for most individuals suffering from addiction, the first step in the process of addiction treatment and recovery. Detox can be frightening, and the fear of withdrawals can keep a person using for many years past the point where they need to or want to seek sobriety and recovery. However, the process of detox does not have to be scary, when doing so under the expertise of 24/7 medical staff, well-versed in withdrawal management and medical stabilization. It is also important that the person feels safe and comfortable during the detox process. Eric (whose name has been changed) was a patient at Innovo in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020. He offered to write the following. [...]

As officials around the country continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials in Pennsylvania face another rising public health epidemic- opioid overdoses and drug deaths. During the coronavirus pandemic, Pennsylvania’s addiction crisis continued, and the opioid epidemic claimed the lives of hundreds of Pennsylvanians.   The opioid deaths in Pennsylvania are staggering. In 2020, the state of Pennsylvania recorded 4,880 opioid overdose deaths. That number was an increase of 422 deaths from the 2019 total. These numbers do not take into account other addiction-related and drug-related deaths that took place during the same time period. The increase in numbers is in stark contrast to the previous years, which saw a 20 percent decrease in opioid deaths between the years [...]

March 2021 is National Social Work Month. This is a month celebrated each year to honor and recognize the incredible work done by social workers throughout the country. The theme for Social Work Month 2021 is “Social Workers Are Essential.” Social work is a profession that focuses on helping people. Social workers by trade are clinicians who are trained to help individuals address personal issues, as well as systemic barriers to optimal living. Social workers look to create positive change in people, in families, and in communities throughout America. Every day in our country, social workers create positive contributions in the lives of millions of people, as well as create positive change in our communities. National Social Work Month [...]

2020 was the first year for Innovo Detox. I suppose we can say, without hesitation, what a year it was! After years of planning and renovation on our facility, we planned on opening our doors in mid-March in order to offer high-quality stand-alone detox and medical stabilization services for individuals and families impacted by addiction. On Thursday, March 5th, we hosted an open house where over 250 professionals, colleagues, community members, friends and family were able to come by, tour the Innovo Detox facility, and meet the staff. On Monday, March 16th we planned on opening our doors to accept patients. And then Pennsylvania and the rest of the county shut down. The looming threat of the COVID-19 pandemic [...]

The terms “chemical dependency”, “substance use disorder”, and “addiction” are often used interchangeably. Even the term “substance abuse”, which was widely used for years but recently has fallen out of favor due to it being a term that can be stigmatizing and judgmental, is still sometimes used when describing substance misuse issues. However, each term is different and has a different meaning.   What is chemical dependency?   The term “chemical dependency” often is used when discussing substance use or substance misuse, but it is not exactly the same as substance use disorder or addiction.  Chemical dependency is “the body’s physical and/or psychological dependence to a psychoactive (mind-altering) substance, such as narcotics, alcohol, or nicotine. Physical dependency on such chemicals [...]

National Recovery Month in the United States is a national observance held each year in the month of September to celebrate recovery, inform on substance use disorders and mental health issues, break the stigma associated with addiction, and educate the public that behavioral health treatment and support are effective avenues to help people find enriching, healthy, and rewarding lives through recovery.   Throughout the country, and over the course of many years, millions and millions of Americans have found freedom, health, and happiness through recovery from addiction. These individuals and their families have had their lives transformed through the process of recovery from addiction, and annually, National Recovery Month allows a platform for those stories to reach the general public [...]

What can we do to stay isolated, but not lonely? Here are some tips for remaining connected during our current public health pandemic.