The Wright Center Shines Light on Substance Use Disorder

The Wright Center agrees that most of us know someone who has struggled with substance use disorder. For too many people, it’s a battle that ends in tragedy. Clearly, we need every possible resource we can muster to fight this ever-evolving public health crisis that affects our communities, and awareness campaigns like International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) play a prominent role.

Observed every Aug. 31, IOAD not only raises awareness about overdose but also promotes evidence-based overdose prevention measures and drug policy. More poignantly, it also recognizes the overwhelming grief felt by the families and friends of those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to an overdose.

The theme of this year’s IOAD is “Together we can,” which illustrates the power of communities to stand together and lessen one of the world’s biggest public health crises through collective action. It’s a great, hopeful message.

The Wright Center for Community Health works every day to deliver hope to the individuals and families touched by substance use disorder and overdoses. Our Pennsylvania-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence has been one of the local leaders in providing community-based substance use disorder treatment since 2016 when it was among the 45 flagship centers named by the state.

Patients qualify for Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence care if they have an opioid use disorder, have co-occurring behavioral/substance misuse and physical health conditions, require assistance navigating the health care system, and need guidance to stay engaged in treatment in order to avoid relapse. Services are offered regardless of the patient’s insurance status or ability to pay, with a sliding-fee discount program available to those who qualify.

Unlike a traditional inpatient rehabilitation facility, we offer an outpatient services model that allows patients to receive exceptional care while attending to the other aspects of their lives. We employ a “whole-patient” philosophy centered around medications for opiate use disorder, a truly innovative concept that combines medical and social supports to guide an individual on their recovery journey.

Patients are cared for by a first-rate and highly committed team of recovery and behavioral health specialists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, certified recovery specialists, and medical providers, who collaborate closely to counsel and support individuals coping with a variety of substance use disorders – not just opioids, but also alcohol, cocaine, and other addictive drugs. We also help them find stable housing, navigate insurance barriers, and repair family and community relationships.

The Wright Center for Community Health also works to reduce opioid-related deaths and has been approved as a Pennsylvania Overdose Prevention Program (POPP) site. Through this program, The Wright Center distributes naloxone kits and drug-checking strips to individuals in the event they experience an emergency with a family member, friend, or in the community. Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is free to the community at any of our regional community health centers.

We’re also very proud of our Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support (Healthy MOMS) Program, which recently received a $62,000 grant from the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department to expand its services. The grant came via the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Services block grant, which the state allocated to the city’s health department for distribution.

Healthy MOMS, co-founded by The Wright Center in 2018 and modeled after a program in Ohio, is a multi-agency effort that assists pregnant women and new mothers in achieving and maintaining sobriety. It was first launched in Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties but now serves women and their families throughout much of Northeast Pennsylvania. To date, the program has served more than 500 mothers and 282 babies.

Participants are offered blanket services that include medications for opiate use disorder and other addiction services, counseling, primary health care, OB-GYN care, parenting tips, legal advice, and other forms of support. Based on the available evidence, mothers who join Healthy MOMS and participate in recovery services well before their delivery dates are less likely to give birth to babies who experience neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a potentially painful and costly medical condition caused when a newborn withdrawal from opioids or other drugs that the baby had been exposed to in the womb. We see addiction as a lifelong disease requiring a long-term commitment to recovery. Rest assured, we’ll continue improving upon that commitment in the years ahead. Together, we can save and enhance the lives of many people in our communities.

Geisinger Discusses Vasectomy Recovery

Think you’ll have a long recovery? Think again.
By: Geisinger, Brant Fulmer, MD, Urology

A vasectomy is a big decision. There’s a lot to consider — including recovery. Knowing what to expect in the healing process can make things go a little smoother.

Getting things rolling

Before you have a vasectomy, you’ll start by meeting with your healthcare provider. They’ll ask a few questions to help you decide if the procedure is right for you. Some things they may discuss with you:

  • Your plans for children in the future
  • How your partner (if you have one) feels about your decision
  • Other birth control methods
  • What to expect from the procedure
  • That you understand a vasectomy is permanent

What happens during a vasectomy?

You’ll have the vasectomy done at a doctor’s office or outpatient surgical center. The whole process usually takes about a half hour. During the procedure, your provider will:

  • Numb the area with a local anesthetic
  • Make a small incision or puncture in the upper part of the scrotum
  • Withdraw part of the tube that carries semen, called the vas deferens
  • Cut and seal the vas deferens using heat, surgical clips or another method
  • Close the incision with stitches or surgical glue

Then you’ll go home to start recuperating.

The vasectomy recovery process

Once you get home, you’ll need to rest for at least 24 hours. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay in bed. Just take it easy and stay as comfortable as possible until you get back to normal. So how long does that take?

After a vasectomy, most men resume their regular activities within 48 hours.

But you’ll want to avoid heavy lifting, contact sports and sex for a week or so. Avoid lifting more than 50 pounds for about two weeks after the procedure.  This helps reduce the risk of prolonged swelling and pain.

When you’re ready to return to your normal schedule, do it gradually to prevent injuries.

To make your recovery go as smoothly as possible:

Ice the area

To help with swelling, Dr. Fulmer recommends using ice packs on your scrotum intermittently for the first 24 to 48 hours. Wrap your ice pack in a towel and apply for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Don’t have an ice pack? A bag of frozen vegetables makes a good substitute.

Stop the soreness

You may feel some discomfort for the first few days after your procedure. Take some ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage any pain. Another way to keep discomfort to a minimum: Avoid strenuous activities like going to the gym for a few days.

Consider your clothing

Your provider may suggest wearing compression shorts, an athletic supporter or snug-fitting underwear for a few days while you heal. A pair of specialty post-vasectomy underwear can offer proper support — and some even offer the bonus of built-in ice packs.

Besides the underwear, you’ll want to break out your comfy clothes. Think sweatpants, basketball shorts or pajamas.

Other things that help with healing include elevating your feet and keeping the area clean and dry.

What happens after recovery?

You’ll have a follow-up appointment with your provider approximately three months after your procedure. During this visit, your provider will have you give a semen sample, which they’ll check for sperm. By checking for sperm, they’ll know whether the procedure worked.

If sperm are still present after your follow-up, your provider will help you determine next steps.

Be sure to use a backup method of birth control until this appointment. That way you won’t have to worry about an unintended pregnancy.

Contemplating a vasectomy?

Before scheduling a vasectomy, discuss your lifestyle and plans. Are you and your partner sure that having children (or more children) isn’t in your future? Make sure your decision is firm before you move forward. 

A vasectomy should be considered permanent sterilization and not a temporary fix.

If this is something you’re interested in, talk to your primary care doctor or schedule an appointment with a urologist. They’ll talk through all the details with you and start the process.

For the latest health and wellness tips and advice, visit geisinger.org/balance.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity Announces $5.5 Million in Savings for PA 529 GSP Owners

Treasurer Stacy Garrity today announced that asset-based fees will be waived for PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) account owners for the third year in a row. This year’s fee waiver will save families $5.5 million and is funded by PA 529 GSP surplus earnings.

“Waiving these fees makes our fantastic PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan even stronger for the families using it to save for their child’s future education,” Treasurer Garrity said. “The PA 529 GSP helps families meet their savings goals no matter what path their child will take in the future, whether that’s career training, an apprenticeship, technical school, community college or a four-year university.  For families, this means more money saved for the future, which means less to borrow when a child chooses their path.”

This year’s PA 529 GSP fee waiver went into effect on July 1, 2024, and account owners will not see any asset-based fees on quarterly account statements through June 30, 2025.

Treasurer Garrity has also cut fees multiple times for the Morningstar Gold-Rated PA 529 Investment Plan (IP). In total, fee cuts and waivers for all PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts will save families more than $16.5 million by the end of the current fiscal year.

PA 529 accounts are designed to help Pennsylvania families steadily and strategically save for a wide variety of qualifying technical, collegiate, apprenticeship and K-12 educational expenses. There are significant state and federal tax benefits when saving with PA 529, and PA 529 assets do not impact eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid.

The PA 529 GSP allows families to save at today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s tuition costs. Account earnings are based on college tuition inflation rates, and families can choose the tuition credit rate they wish to save at from community colleges to Ivy League universities.

The PA 529 IP offers a variety of investment options. Account earnings are dependent upon financial market performance.

PA 529 has been helping families meet their savings goals for more than 30 years. There are more than 300,000 PA 529 accounts, including more than 113,000 PA 529 GSP accounts and more than 187,000 PA 529 IP accounts. Families currently have nearly $8 billion saved for future education expenses.

To learn more about PA 529, visit pa529.com or call 800-440-4000.

The Wright Center’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support Program

The Wright Center discusses how Shannon Sharkazy has always felt a calling to help others. First, though, she had to help herself.

A 36-month prison sentence for cocaine distribution and related charges proved to be the impetus for her recovery from substance use disorder in 2006. While incarcerated, Sharkazy helped some of her fellow inmates learn to read and take other steps to change their lives, igniting her passion for helping others.

“After I came home from prison, I knew I was not cut out for my old life,” the 41-year-old Honesdale, Pennsylvania, resident said. “I didn’t want to be that person, so I had to make some changes.”

Today, Sharkazy is a devoted mother of five children, ranging in age from 16 months to 11 years old. When she isn’t working as the administrator of a church in Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, she operates Gypsy Hollow, a transition home for rescued farm animals, where she is in the process of developing the mentorship program, Second Act, to help women – especially moms – learn and improve relationship, communication, and mindset skills.

She also speaks publicly about her recovery journey, attributing her success to those who supported her, including The Wright Center for Community Health’s Healthy Maternal Opiate Medical Support Program, known simply as Healthy MOMS.

“I needed support,” Sharkazy said. “They immediately saw who I really was and what I needed.”

Healthy MOMS focuses on helping mothers-to-be and mothers with substance use disorder, bringing together health care, legal, housing, and social services organizations from more than seven counties in Northeast Pennsylvania. Participants can join before giving birth and remain in the program until the child turns 2. An assigned case manager helps with a range of support services, including medications for opiate use disorder, counseling, primary and OB-GYN care, parenting tips, legal advice, and more.

The program has served mothers as young as 14, but most are in their late 20s and 30s. Named after a similar program in Ohio, it was introduced in this region as a pilot program in two counties, with initial grant funding secured by the Lackawanna/Susquehanna Office of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Today, it assists women in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties. Since its launch in 2018, they’ve helped more than 500 mothers and welcomed more than 280 infants.

“As we know too well, it takes a village to raise a child. The complex struggles surrounding opioid addiction can make pregnancy an even tougher time,” said Maria Kolcharno, Healthy MOMS Program manager and director of addictions services at The Wright Center for Community Health. “The evidence suggests that mothers who join the program and participate in recovery services well before their delivery dates are less likely to give birth to babies who experience neonatal abstinence syndrome, a potentially painful and costly medical condition caused when a newborn withdraws from drugs the baby had been exposed to in the womb.”

‘I need help’

Despite Sharkazy’s commitment to sobriety after her release from prison, chaos ensued. She was married to an abusive alcoholic, far away from her family. She gave birth to her daughter, Blake, who is now 11, followed by her son, Carter, who is now 10.

She divorced her husband, moved back home with her two children, and eventually began dating a man who was recovering from substance use disorder. Unfortunately, he relapsed, and soon after, Sharkazy realized she was pregnant with her second daughter, Mason, now 5, who was born with cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome.

Over time, Sharkazy started taking prescription medication to manage pain caused by several debilitating, chronic issues. “My doses kept increasing,” Sharkazy said. “And then I got pregnant again, and I thought, ‘I can’t be on these ridiculous doses anymore. I need help.’”

She became aware of The Wright Center for Community Health offering medications for opiate use disorder through her ex-husband’s experience at the community health center in Jermyn. Aware that Suboxone, a prescription drug for managing substance use disorder, could also provide pain relief, Sharkazy started her treatment with The Wright Center in November 2019. She found the staff, especially Ed Walsh, a case manager in The Wright Center’s state-designated Opioid Use Disorder Center of Excellence, and Dr. Charles Burns, a former Wright Center doctor board certified in addiction medicine, to be exceptionally supportive and free of judgment.

Sharkazy then became one of the first clients in the Healthy MOMS Program to access the specialized health services she needed. Healthy MOMS Case Manager Michele Coyle has worked with Sharkazy for four years, celebrating her successes and helping her through life’s challenges. Over the years, Sharkazy has served as a keynote speaker at Wright Center events and shared her story at several other programs around the region. 

“It’s been beautiful to see her maintain her sobriety and to act as an advocate for her children and herself,” Coyle said.

‘In the right place’

Although she was putting in the hard work with the support of Coyle and other staff members in the Healthy MOMs Program, Sharkazy’s use of Suboxone, along with other complications, led to an extended hospital stay for her newborn daughter, Emerson, who is now 4. 

“Because of the medication I was prescribed, hospital staff assumed I was an IV drug user, even though I have never once put a drug in my veins and had been sober for years,” she said. “They treated me terribly, but the Healthy MOMS staff made it a lot easier. They advocated for me, in and outside of the hospital.”

Sharkazy remained in the Healthy MOMS Program for the birth of her fifth child, Ethan, who is now 16 months old. When she had similar problems with hospital staff over the stigma of using Suboxone, Healthy MOMS staff again advocated for her, including producing paperwork. 

“I can’t imagine being a mom newly in recovery or a mom without a support system, facing these challenging situations,” Sharkazy said. “I knew I could just call Michele, and she would be there to talk to, do check-ins, and just to make sure I was mentally in the right place.”

Coyle said that, over the years, Sharkazy has become a resource to other clients, especially those with children who have special needs.

“I’m supporting her needs, but sometimes, I go to her for advice. She’s navigated the system and is willing to share what she’s learned,” Coyle said. “I think we’ve learned a lot together.”

‘Pay it forward’

Since its inception in 2018, Healthy MOMS has experienced significant growth, according to Coyle. As word spreads about its many success stories, The Wright Center has expanded the program’s reach and now collaborates with more than a dozen partner agencies, including Maternal and Family Health Services, Outreach Center for Community Resources, St. Joseph’s Center, Geisinger, Commonwealth Health, and several county agencies.

“We have a lot of opportunities now to do more with and for the moms in the program,” Coyle said. “Every case is different, but we’re ready to meet the needs of each client.”

These days, Sharkazy is thriving, thanks to the continued support of the Healthy MOMS Program.

“It’s amazing to see her succeed,” Coyle said. “This is why I do what I do. It’s nice to think about how I had a small part in her journey to where she is today.”

Sharkazy has also found myriad ways to fulfill her goal of helping others. In addition to raising her children, caring for her ailing father, and looking after a variety of rescued farm animals, she works at Beach Lake United Methodist Church. She has also shared her story while serving as an advocate for varied topics, including children with cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome, the lack of rural health care resources, single mothers, and mothers with substance use disorder. “I tell my story to everyone. It’s a way to pay it forward,” she said. “Working with and being a voice for moms in recovery is something I want to continue to explore.”

The Honesdale National Bank to Host Ribbon Cutting

The Honesdale National Bank (HNB) will be making a summer splash in Moscow to celebrate the opening of its new location at 330 N Main Street. To celebrate the expansion of banking services to this Lackawanna County community, all are invited to join in the fun.

Attendees may open accounts, win prizes, and most importantly – raise money for local nonprofits. $10 will be donated to the non-profits noted below for each account opened as well as each time a banker is dunked into the Summe Splash Dunk Tank.

Benefiting Non-Profits:

North Pocono Area Council of PTA • North Pocono Public Library  • North Pocono Moscow Rotary Club • Moscow Volunteer Fire & Hose Company  • Spring Brook Volunteer Fire Company • Elmhurst-Roaring Brook Fire Department Covington Fire Company • Jefferson Township Volunteer Fire Company  • Madisonville Fire Company

When: Friday, August 9, 20224 – RAIN OR SHINE

11:00am – 1:00pm         Grand Opening Festivities
11:30am                       Ribbon Cutting

Location: HNB Moscow Office

330 N Main Street, Moscow, PA 18444

Photo Ops & B-Roll

Opportunities:             

Ribbon Cutting with bank executives, the Greater Scranton Chamber
 of Commerce and local dignitaries         

Summer Splash Dunk Tank: Watch an HNB team member be dunked into the dunk tank by community members looking to earn $10 donations per dunk for local non-profits

Blu the Mascot showcasing that the best investments we make are in the communities we serve.

Johnson College Enrolling for 285 Computer Numerical Control Course

Johnson College is now enrolling for its 285 Computer Numerical Control (CNC) course at its Scranton campus. The course will run Monday through Thursday from 4:00 to 10:15 p.m. beginning September 3, 2024, and ending November 25, 2024.

The 285-hour non-credit certificate Computer Numerical Control training is designed for individuals looking to enter the high-demand machining field. The course covers the theory and hands-on practice of both conventional and computer numerical control machining fields. In addition to math for machinists, emphasis on the use of metals and the stresses placed upon them will be taught.

The total cost of the course is $4,200. Participants must have a GED or high school diploma.

To learn more or to enroll, visit https://johnson.edu/continuing-ed/285-computer-numerical-control-cnc/ or contact the Continuing Education Department at 570-702-8979 or continuinged@johnson.edu.

Episode Twenty-Six: All Things Chamber is Back at State Street in Clarks Summit

Don’t Miss the Update

Chamber Open House is Friday, September 6. We LOVE our members and want to show our appreciation for your support throughout the year. Join us as we come together with fellow members and enjoy a variety of lunch specialties from member businesses! We will be tenting our entire front parking lot and driveway to create comfortable space. Meet our Board or Directors, staff and network with fellow members. Swing by and let us thank you!

Skills in Scranton’s Educator in the Workplace connects K-12 educators, administration, superintendents, school board members, and school counselors to businesses and industry leaders. Enrollment closes September 26.

Upcoming Chamber Events

EVENT PAGE
MEMBER BENEFITS

Mohegan Sun Arena to Host Fire Safety Event

Before the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party begins at the Mohegan Sun Arena this weekend, event organizers have announced a free community fire safety event will take place this Friday, Aug. 9.

From 4 p.m. through 7 p.m., a free touch-a-truck event will allow children and truck enthusiasts the chance to see iconic vehicles up close before the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party officially kicks off its first performance on Saturday. Local first responders will be on-site at the ASM Global-managed Mohegan Sun Arena to display a variety of emergency services vehicles alongside the brand-new Hot Wheels 5-Alarm monster truck.

The Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department Station 188 Fire & Rescue will be displaying their Rescue and Ladder Engines, while the Ashley Rescue Hose Co. No. 1 will have the station’s water pumper on-hand at the event. ACT Towing will have two wreckers on site for a closer look, as well. A number of other emergency response vehicles are still being confirmed.

The Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department, led by Fire Chief Richard Hart, has been instrumental in organizing this community event.

Justin Topa, marketing manager of the Mohegan Sun Arena, hopes the fire safety event will provide an opportunity to celebrate emergency responders while creating a comfortability with the vehicles they drive.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live and our local first responders to provide families with an opportunity to meet their local heroes in a fun and non-emergency setting,” said Topa. “Children will have the chance to get their first up-close look at the Hot Wheels 5-Alarm monster truck alongside several emergency response vehicles that protect our communities every day. We expect this event’s going to be an exciting way to foster appreciation for our heroes and the amazing work they’re doing within our communities.”

The Hot Wheels 5-Alarm Monster Truck, inspired by the heroic work of firefighters, will be a standout feature of the event before heading inside the arena for a weekend of Glow Party performances. Ty Cornelius Jr, driver of the Hot Wheels 5-Alarm Monster Truck, is excited to play a role in honoring local first responders.

“We are incredibly honored to acknowledge the unwavering courage and commitment of our firefighters,” said Cornelius Jr. “The Hot Wheels 5-Alarm Monster Truck embodies the spirit of bravery that these first responders demonstrate every day. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ for their service and sacrifice.”

Representatives from Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live and the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Wilkes-Barre Township’s Station 188 and all of the local heroes within the region. As a token of gratitude for their dedication and bravery, firefighters from the participating stations will receive tickets to the event and a chance to experience the thrill of the Monster Trucks up close.

“We hope this small gesture conveys our deep appreciation for the vital role they play in keeping our communities safe,” said Topa.

This is the first time that the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party has toured within northeastern Pennsylvania. Three performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoon will bring fans’ favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life including the all-new HW Skelesaurus™ and HW 5-Alarm™! The legendary Bigfoot® is also featured alongside Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Bone Shaker™, and Gunkster™ Hot Wheels Monster Trucks.

The Glow Party production features a laser light show, spectacular theatrical effects, dance parties, and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Fans can also witness a special appearance from a transforming robot, plus the high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Freestyle Motocross Team. The community is encouraged to come to any one of the three performances and can save on tickets and fees by purchasing tickets directly at the NBT Bank box office.

The Friday fire safety event is free-to-attend, but weather-dependent, so event organizers recommend that families keep an eye on the Mohegan Arena PA Facebook page in the event of any updates or cancellations caused by inclement weather.

Keystone Mission Hosts Grand Opening for Seeds of Hope Community Garden

The Scranton Chamber of Commerce spread the ribbon on Keystone Mission’s opening ceremony for the Seeds of Hope Community Garden behind their Scranton Innovation Center.

The idea of a community garden sprung to life in April 2023 and is designed to facilitate the development of life and vocational skills for guests at the Mission. The initiative engages Center guests, staff, and the local community to actively participate in planning, growing, and harvesting of fresh produce.

After a successful summer of harvesting a variety of vegetables and spices, the garden received a handcrafted sign to commemorate the many hands that played a vital role in planning and upkeeping the garden.

“This coming-together of staff, guests of our Pathfinder’s Program, many community organizations, and local residents is a true testament to what can be accomplished when we come together,” says Danielle O. Keith-Alexandre, CEO & Executive Director. “This project is now a reality, and it is wonderful to experience the foliage and fresh produce from the garden. We hope that community members will stop by and enjoy the scenery that exudes from the ambience of our Seeds of Hope Community Garden!”

Keystone Mission recognizes the many hands that made this possible such as the Pathfinder’s Program, The Scranton Area Community Foundation, Michael McAllister, Scranton Counseling Center, Mr. Mulch, The Hughes Family, and the Klee Family. Keystone Mission gives special recognition to Mitchell Hreha and his company, 3VKG, for donating time and material to build a handcrafted Seeds of Hope Sign.

To find out more about how you can participate or benefit from the Community Garden, please visit www.KeystoneMission.org/seeds-of-hope/.