NORWOOD –Canton-Potsdam Hospital has closed its Richville Outpatient Chemical Dependency Services center and consolidated operations to its Norwood rehabilitation center at 38½ Main St..

The Norwood facility will now serve as CPH’s main outpatient chemical dependency rehabilitation center.

The Richville Clinic opened to meet a community need for services in and around the Richville area in 1997. But C-PH said in its announcement that a decline in Medicaid transportation services, increased gasoline prices, and a lack of employment opportunities in St. Lawrence County affected patients’ ability to access services at the clinic. Departing patients had reported that they were able to obtain similar services closer to home or near shopping or other services.

The declining patient population, and an expiring lease agreement at the BOCES-owned building in Richville, made the consolidation a wise and timely move, according to Director of Chemical Dependency Services Adam Bullock.

"Our patient case load had declined to approximately 25 in Richville, while our Norwood center has been expanding and meeting patient needs," Bullock said.

"When the current lease expired, we searched for suitable alternative locations in the Richville area without success. Considering all the factors, the decision to relocate our Richville staff to augment our capabilities at Norwood simply made sense,” said Bullock. The Richville clinic closed Aug. 1.

Services available in Norwood include assessment and evaluation; individual and group counseling; gambling addiction and support services; family, spouse and significant-other support services; adolescent services; discharge and aftercare planning and referrals; Department of Transportation evaluation by a counselor certified by The Association for Addiction Professionals; family counseling and education.

Referrals are accepted from agencies or individuals themselves. Families, spouses and significant others may enter treatment without the chemically dependent person being enrolled in treatment. During the first visit, there is an assessment interview and preliminary planning for treatment.

Once patients are discharged from outpatient chemical dependency services, they are referred for ongoing assistance.

Medicaid, Medicare and many private insurance plans are accepted. Self-pay fees are determined by a sliding fee schedule.

Services are provided at the Norwood clinic from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, it is open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For further information, or to schedule an appointment with an outpatient clinic, call 353-2572 or fax 353-2479.