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Pathways Center is proud to announce the expansion of comprehensive opioid and substance use disorder (OUD/SUD) treatment and recovery services in Troup County, Georgia, made possible by funding from the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust, administered by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). This grant will significantly enhance access to lifesaving treatment for individuals at risk for or experiencing substance use disorders in a rural community deeply affected by the opioid crisis.

Rooted in its mission to “serve as many people as possible, provide quality care, and operate in a fiscally responsible manner,” Pathways Center has delivered behavioral health services to West Georgia since 1972. As one of Georgia’s 22 Community Service Boards (CSBs), Pathways Center provides treatment to individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. All programs are culturally responsive, family-centered, and client-driven with a focus on empowerment, self-sufficiency, and improved quality of life.

Through this grant, Pathways Center will bring Opioid Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and wraparound services directly to its Troup Outpatient Clinic at 122 Gordon Commercial Drive, LaGrange, GA. These services include screening, assessment, Opioid MAT induction and maintenance, individual and group therapy, case management, peer support, and linkages to social services. Referrals will be accepted from Child and Family Services, the Troup County court system, other community agencies, self-referrals, and Pathways Center programs.

The new Troup County Opioid MAT services build on the success of a similar program launched in neighboring Coweta County in January 2023, which has provided care to more than 100 individuals and continues to experience growing demand. Since January 2023, clients in that program have kept more than 558 Opioid MAT physician appointments, 110 Opioid MAT counselor appointments, and over 530 nurse appointments—demonstrating strong impacts with recovery.

Pathways Center’s Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) in Coweta County, which includes two beds for residential opioid addiction treatment, provides sub-acute detoxification, psychiatric stabilization, and 24/7 emergency admissions. Since November 2022, over 150 individuals have received opioid treatment there, supported by more than 155 group counseling sessions and 433 individual sessions. Many individuals discharged from the CSU are referred for ongoing Opioid MAT services, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access in Troup County. Evidence-Based, Culturally Responsive Care All services at Pathways Center are informed by evidence-based practices, including:

• Harm Reduction
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Holistic Care Approaches
• Family Systems Therapy
• Peer Recovery Support
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation 

Assessments are conducted using validated tools such as the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and a Behavioral Health Assessment (BHA). Treatment plans are developed in collaboration with each individual and their support system, with emphasis on cultural relevance, safety planning, and community reintegration. 

“This expansion allows us to directly respond to the needs of Troup County with the full spectrum of substance use treatment, close to home,” said Meribeth Pillot, LPC, CPSC – Pathways Center Associate Clinical Director. “We are grateful to the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust and DBHDD for recognizing the urgency of this issue and supporting our mission to increase access to quality care in rural Georgia.” 

As the demand for opioid treatment continues to rise across West Georgia, Pathways Center remains committed to increasing access to care, eliminating barriers, and supporting individuals through every stage of recovery. 

For more information on services, please contact: 706-845-4054.