Drug and alcohol treatment facility seeks zoning approval
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Citing a great need for treatment centers in our area two addiction treatment professionals are looking to open a new facility in Wilkes Barre. First, they need the green light from the city’s zoning board.
The owners want to repurpose this vacant assisted living facility into a drug and alcohol detox and treatment center. It will specifically help people on medical assistance, which is a group they say has a difficult time finding this kind of care.
“This is going to be a place where people can change their lives,” said Nick Colangelo, PhD, owner
Always Believe. That’s the proposed name of a luxury treatment destination aiming to open its doors in Wilkes Barre.
“The goal for this place is to provide medical stabilization and residential primary treatment for people suffering from substance use disorder in northeast Pennsylvania,” stated Larry Moran Esq, owner
Colangelo and Moran both have extensive backgrounds in addiction treatment care. They say their new facility would service up to 120 people and create more than 30 jobs.
“We’re talking about good jobs. We’re talking about licensed nurse practitioners. We’re talking about nurses. We’re talking about medical professionals. We’re gonna need janitorial, custodial, and kitchen staff as well,” explained Moran.
The facility will welcome clients of all insurance backgrounds, something the owners say is needed in this area.
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“We believe all people need the opportunity to get good service, get an opportunity to change their life, get their families back together, and get on with having a life after addiction,” stated Colangelo.
Moran says the opioid epidemic is a local crisis.
“I can list for hours the family members that I know from this community, who’ve lost loved ones from this crisis.”
By opening up Always Believe, Moran and Colangelo hope to curb the crisis and help those who need it most.
“We have to stop the fentanyl and opioid epidemic, and this is the best way to do it. Meet them on the front lines with 120 beds that are here to welcome the people that can’t get access to good treatment elsewhere,” expressed Moran.
The property needs a variance from the zoning board to convert the property from residential to institutional since it’s technically in a residential area.
Neighbors did not express concerns about the facility. The owners say it will have 24-hour security. The fate of Always Believe will be decided at a city zoning hearing on April 17.
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