The Suffolk Legislature approved (IR No. 1543-2011) legislation sponsored by Leg. Kate Browning creating the 19-member Sober Home Oversight Board last fall. Legislator Browning has advocated sober home reform for several years and sponsored this bill to spur change given the state’s refusal to regulate sober homes.

“Suffolk County is taking on a proactive role in order to fill the void left by New York State’s refusal to take responsibility for regulating sober homes,” stated Legislator Kate Browning. “While rogue boarding houses cannot be shut down by Suffolk County, this is a function of the towns, we can work towards regulating legitimate sober housing so that there are safe options for residents in need. I look forward to working with the group towards that end. In addition, I believe this board can become a strong voice in advocating for the state to do more.”

The Sober Home Oversight Board is co-chaired by LICADD’s own Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds and Suffolk Department of Health Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services director Art Flescher, LCSW, CASAC. Representatives from the Department of Social Services, the Suffolk County Police Department, Brookhaven Town’s Code Enforcement Department, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, New York State Office of Mental Hygiene, as well as treatment professionals from South Oaks Hospital, Hope House, the YMCA and Long Island Recovery Advocates have been named to serve on the panel.

“I’m thrilled to be participating on this important workgroup, the first of its kind in New York State,” said LICADD Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds. “I applaud Kate Browning’s diligence and pioneering work in this area and I know that together we can encourage the creation of safe, supportive sober homes that will lessen the reliance on unsanctioned, unsafe rooming houses.”

The group’s first two tasks include working with Suffolk’s Department of Social Services and Department of Health to implement a recently released Request for Qualifications for sober home operators and to create a set of standards that will ensure that approved sober homes provide a safe environment and supportive atmosphere with appropriate links to treatment to aid in successful addiction recovery.

There’s been lots of press lately about the possibility of Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) closing some or all of its detox beds and a substantial portion of its inpatient rehab beds. The timing couldn’t be worse given the level of untreated opiate addiction on Long Island. NUMC, with its 20 detox beds and Long Beach Medical Center with eight beds are the only inpatient detoxes in Nassau and given the lack of beds in Suffolk, folks often travel to NUMC from Riverhead at 5:00AM in an attempt to secure a bed. Too often, the unit is full, the trip is in vain and recovery gets further out of reach.

There are a couple things at work here. NUMC’s reimbursement rates from NYS are being slashed, pushing a public hospital with perennial financial challenges even closer to the brink. Second, there’s a fairly aggressive push nationally and supported here in New York by OASAS to make detox an outpatient, rather than an inpatient service. That’s fine for some patients some of the time, but clearly not for those using benzos or alcohol where the risk of medical consequences is significant. Even among those exclusively using opiates, detoxing on the floor of your bathroom can be difficult to endure, frightening for family members and provides no link to treatment.

NUMC should rethink its proposal – even if it costs a few bucks – because right now there are few alternatives. There should be, though. Addiction is one of Long Island’s most pressing public health problems right now and every Long Island hospital should be going out of their way to accommodate detox patients, not sending them home or to NUMC or Long Beach. We also need to develop alternative service models for patients who don’t need inpatient hospital care, but do need a safe, secure place to get stabilized as they begin their journey of recovery. The potential loss of detox beds at NUMC should accelerate that process and make the rest of Long Island’s hospitals – most of whom abandoned detox years ago – more accountable.

Prior to her position as LICADD’s Student Assistance Program Coordinator, Erickson interned and worked at the Smithtown Youth Bureau. There she implemented the evidence-based Too Good for Drugs prevention program, ran a life-skills group at Phoenix House Hauppauge, and taught leadership skills as a Daisy Troop leader. Erickson has also participated on the Smithtown Youth Board, where she was recently invited to be an expert panelist in the annual Life after High School Night. She is passionate about prevention education and is excited to be a part of LICADD’s team. “Drug and alcohol use is starting earlier and earlier, and it is important to reach children and get the positive message of drug and alcohol prevention out as early as possible,” said Erickson. “Through prevention education, students gain an understanding of substances while gaining self-esteem and other key assets, which will help them to make positive choices in the future.”

LICADD’s Clinical Director Steven Chassman, LCSW, welcomed Ms. Erickson to LICADD’s expanding team. “She comes with great experience, a wonderful sense of energy and an ability to connect with the young people we are trying to reach,” he said. “Caitlin will be a great asset to our team as demand for educational programs from local schools continues to increase.”