'Ashley Addiction Treatment' Is New Name for 33-Year-Old HdG Center: ICYMI

This article originally ran earlier this month, and we are re-featuring it in case you missed it.

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD – To be clear about its mission, a prominent alcohol and drug treatment center in Havre de Grace has changed its name.

Ashley Addiction Treatment is the new name for what was founded more than 30 years ago as "Father Martin's Ashley."

Ashley is the maiden name of the center's cofounder, Mae Abraham, who started the treatment center with Father Joseph Martin in 1983 to address alcoholism.

From its 148-acre campus in Havre de Grace, the center for healing has served more than 35,000 individuals and their families affected by alcohol and drug addiction.

The name change to Ashley Addiction Treatment, rolled out in April, comes after the organization conducted research with patients, their families and health care professionals in the field over the past 18 months.

"Our new name and logo help increase clarity about the purpose of our organization by combining 'Ashley' with a descriptor," CEO Father Mark Hushen said. "...it was important to ensure people are aware of the treatment we provide because lives are at stake."

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• HdG Treatment Center Gets $13 Million Gift
• Father Martin’s Ashley Looks to Expand

Beyond its name, Ashley has changed in terms of its scope.

"...treatment at Ashley is not restricted to a physical place," Bernadette Solounias, M.D., Ashley's vice president of treatment services, told Patch. "We evolve with the world around us and find and use every tool available to get the results our patients’ lives depend on, both at our inpatient facility in Havre de Grace and out in the community. Through integrated treatment and holistic healing, we address all aspects of each individual–mind, body and spirit."

Ashley added outpatient services in Bel Air in partnership with Upper Chesapeake in 2015 and opened a new building called Skip's Hall on its campus off Tydings Road in Havre de Grace.

"As the addiction epidemic evolves, treatment needs to as well," Solounias said. "It’s the only way to meet the complex needs of the 21st century patient, many of whom have co-occurring disorders."

Since Ashley’s early days, it has added these programs and specialties:

• Ashley Outpatient Treatment Center in Bel Air
• Relapse treatment
• Family program
• Children and youth program
• Skip's Hall for integrated therapy
• Young adult track
• Gender-responsive treatment
• Pain recovery program (for those with chronic pain addicted to pain medication)

Ashley's leaders say they will continue developing specialized treatment for their clients, including additional outpatient programs in tandem with major hospitals and other initiatives for specific needs.

Photo courtesy of Ashley.