Pennsylvania to Begin Issuing Fines for Unlicensed Recovery Houses

Beginning Thursday, June 9, operators of unlicensed recovery houses that receive public funding will be subject to fines of up to $1000 per day by the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP).

The licensure program was developed to ensure individuals in recovery from substance use disorders (SUD) can locate safe drug and alcohol recovery houses across the state. A directory of licensed recovery houses is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ Facility Locator Page.

Steve Ross, special assistant to the DDAP, recently visited Pennsylvania’s first licensed recovery house, We Have a Choice Recovery House.

“Without recovery housing standards or protections, there are unknown numbers of substandard facilities exploiting this vulnerable population,” Ross said in a news release. “These regulations are a significant step in ensuring safe, supportive housing for Pennsylvanians in recovery from substance use disorder.”

Pennsylvania recovery house operators must obtain a license if they meet the following criteria:

• They receive federal or state funding;
• They receive referrals from publicly funded facilities, and/or;
• They receive referrals from individuals whose SUD treatment is funded with federal or state funding.

The licensing regulations have provisions to protect residents in the areas of health and safety, finances, and resident rights. Additional information about the application process is available on the DDAP website, and the department is also offering operators a free 1-day training workshop. To register for the workshop, email RA-licensureapps@pa.gov or call 717-783-8675.

Reference

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs visits Pennsylvania’s first licensed recovery house, stresses importance of becoming licensed. News release. Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. June 3, 2022. Accessed June 7, 2022.