Groundbreaking Set For New $90M Substance Abuse Treatment Center

CALVERTON, NY — It's new hope for those seeking treatment for addiction as a groundbreaking is set for a $90 million substance abuse treatment and research center in Calverton this week.

The groundbreaking is slated to take place on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Quoting staggering statistic that indicates 72,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses in 2017, including 500 Long Island residents, the Engel Burman Group and Northwell Health announced Tuesday that it will break ground on “Wellbridge," the New York-area’s first residential treatment and research center for those struggling with opioid and other substance use disorders.

The 80-bed facility, being built at a cost of $90 million on a 40-acre parcel at Enterprise Park at Calverton in Rverhead Town, will be the nation’s first residential addiction treatment and research center connected to a major health system, a release said; the facility will combine traditional and alternative treatments along with the latest in addiction research, such as brain imaging of clients and other neuroscience investigational methods.

"Wellbridge will serve as a learning laboratory that provides traditional and alternative treatments, giving addiction specialists and researchers the ability to assess the short- and long-term progress of clients, identify clues to improve therapies and prevent relapse, and study the neurobiological effects of addiction through brain imaging and other neuroscience investigational methods," the release said.

At the groundbreaking, Douglas Albert, 60, of Lindenhurst, who is employed as a union steam fitter, will discuss his journey of addiction and recovery: He was prescribed painkillers by a doctor in 2007 after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee, and the medication led to a downward spiral that ended 13 years of sobriety after years of alcohol and cocaine abuse, the release said.

Also expected to attend are Dr. Jon Morgenstern, assistant vice president, substance abuse services, Northwell Health; Jan Burman, president, Engel Burman Group; Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health; Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone; Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini; and Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith.

Prevention advocates applauded the news: "At the height of a crisis, any new resources focused on treatment and research are certainly welcome," said Jeffrey Reynolds, president and chief executive officer of the Family and Children's Association in Mineola. "We know Long Island has been hit hard by opioids and heroin, but we also know we have some of the best minds here. I’m looking forward to the groundbreaking, and importantly a grand opening."

Drew Scott, co-chair of the Southampton Town Opioid Addiction Committee, who lost his beautiful granddaughter Hallie to a heroin overdose, said members of the committee "have known and been excited about this project for months. The need for more addiction treatment is enormous, and the potential for success is great because Northwell has a admirable track record.”

Rendering courtesy the Engel Burman Group and Northwell Health.