COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL POLICY IS A MESS

 

When you write these commentaries long enough, issues from the past will often resurface. In March of 2021, I received a phone call from now deceased District Attorney Eugene Vittone. Vittone told me about his efforts to save the Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission (WDAC) from county plans to dissolve it.

Vittone sent a letter opposing the county plan to Jennifer Smith, Pennsylvania Secretary, Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. In Pennsylvania, treatment programs are administered through county drug and alcohol offices called Single County Authorities (SCAs). Smith’s Department has for years provided funding to Washington County’s designated SCA, the WDAC.

The letter made a passionate case that WDAC should not be terminated and its important functions not absorbed by the county. The letter began by explaining “WDAC is providing service to clients at a superior level. This level of service is envied by many other counties. The WDAC under Executive Director, Cheryl Andrews, has done a fantastic job of integrating and improving {D&A} services.”

Vittone, a Republican, made the following observation about county administration of drug policy: “Washington County’s track record in providing services where they have control is not reassuring.”

Vittone’s letter ended with the request that “I strongly encourage the Department to reject this ill-considered proposal to move the SCA back within county control.”

In March of 2021, I wrote a commentary, published in the Observer Reporter, raising similar points. I concluded, “A new monolithic human services department would swallow up the existing independent commission like a giant amoeba. There is little confidence that a transition could go smoothly, especially given the lack of transparency. Whatever grand plan is in play must be exposed and explained.”

Shortly thereafter, the county’s scheme to take over the services of the WDAC were discontinued. Washington County drug and alcohol policy remained stable for several years. Now, there is a new threat, initiated by Commissioners Sherman and Janis, that must be challenged.

A short history on the formation and work of the WDAC is helpful. In 2003, in an effort to offload the expenses associated with drug and alcohol programs, the county commissioners encouraged the state to award the local SCA contract to an independent third party. Following a review of proposals, WDAC was selected. In 2011, Ms. Andrews began developing the Drug Commission into a highly regarded program.

The WDAC is responsible for overseeing drug and alcohol prevention and treatment services for county residents. Its goal is to provide a whole person care model by coordinating with other agencies. WDAC has a strong presence in county schools and maintains an active recovery center.

In 2021, a national, bipartisan coalition of attorneys general, including now-Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, reached settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors who had directly contributed to the opioid addiction crisis. Pennsylvania is due to receive $2.2 billion dollars from the national opioid settlements over a period of years.

Pennsylvania was unique in that the lion’s-share of the settlement funds were given to local county governments. The one important oversight was the creation of the PA Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust (The Trust). The Trust was tasked with reviewing each county’s plans to disperse the settlement funds. The Trust relies on “Exhibit E” from the opioid settlement documents, a comprehensive list of remediation uses, in reviewing and approving county grants.

Andrews soon realized that the county was granting funds without following Exhibit E or having a process for preapproval that would be acceptable to the Trust. She began appearing at public Commissioners’ meetings to express her concerns.

At the February, 2026 public meeting, Andrews was denied the opportunity to speak. The excuse provided by the majority commissioners’ staff was that she resides in Greene County. Andrews now sends another employee to the meetings. Her office estimates that Commissioners Sherman and Janis have distributed $900,000 in opioid settlement funds without a process that follows Exhibit E.

As the county’s designated SCA, the WDAC timely submitted proposals to receive its share of the county opioid settlement funds. Each request was denied. Recently county staff, via email, informed the WDAC not to bother submitting future proposals.

Shortly after Andrews voiced her objections, the Republican Commissioners renewed efforts to dissolve the WDAC and to take over its SCA functions. Similar to 2021, the Commonwealth was notified of their intentions. Thankfully, these county efforts were disregarded, and the Pennsylvania Department overseeing drug and alcohol policy presented WDAC with a new 5-year contract. WDAC remains the Single County Authority for Washington County. Despite the new contract, the county continues to hire staff that duplicate WDAC responsibilities and refuses to cooperate with its mission.

I recently listened to a video link of a public meeting conducted by the Trust. The members reviewed county opioid grants from across Pennsylvania. Washington was the only county chastised for having a large number of requests for non-compliant programs. The Chair, Thomas VanKirk, recommended that our commissioners receive technical assistance from the County Commissioner’s Association. There is little evidence that a hastily formed county committee to review local grants will solve the dysfunction.

As is the practice in other counties, Commissioners Sherman and Janis should immediately relinquish the dispersing of opioid money to Pennsylvania’s local designated SCA, the WDAC. The independent commission has no political agenda. More importantly, when it comes to drug and alcohol policy, it actually knows what it is doing.