Muller, left, and Carpenter-Palumbo

NEWBURGH – Some 250 people are being treated at the new methadone maintenance treatment program operated by the Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center in Newburgh.

State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Karen Carpenter-Palumbo attended a ribbon cutting Tuesday saying the facility is much needed.

“We know that there are over 2.5 million people with an addiction. Last year over 9,000 were served right here in this region,” she said.

Health Center President Linda Muller said chemical dependence is not limited anymore to just drug addicts.

“When you look at chemical dependency, any one of us is a day away from being there. This is not just a disease that happens in the bowels of an inner city,” she said. “Chemical dependency is around. Our children, unfortunately, use drugs and it’s not your heroin user anymore. Somebody who abuses Vicodin or any pain medication or any opiate driven meds can be right here in this program, people who look just like us.”

Funding for the program comes from clients and the state agency.

The methadone clinic had been operated by St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. When that facility dropped it, the health center stepped in to take it over.