The mission of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission (BCDAC) is to reduce the use of tobacco, eliminate the use of illegal drugs, and end the abuse, misuse of, and addiction to alcohol and other drugs throughout Bucks County. To fulfill their mission, BCDAC employs a multi-dimensional approach incorporating, prevention, treatment, and recovery services to help people break free of substance abuse and prevent further abuse.
BCDAC services
BCDAC reaches out through agencies, hospitals, schools, prisons, and community organizations to provide its broad services, collaborating and networking with other organizations throughout the county, including BCHIP. Below is a list of just some of BCDAC’s programs.
- BCDAC partners with the PA Get Help Now hotline, which is staffed by professionals trained in crisis management, is available 24/7, and will provide a warm handoff to the agency or organization that can provide the next step in care.
- A wide variety of substance abuse prevention programs are implemented in schools and community settings throughout the county.
- Medication Take Back Days keep used pharmaceuticals and sharps out of circulation to prevent abuse; the Up and Away Program stresses proper storage of medications to keep them out of the hands of children.
- BCDAC provides Narcan to first responders, schools, and community members as a first line of defense for a suspected opioid overdose. If you have a loved one with a history of substance abuse, having Narcan available may save your loved one’s life. BCDAC also provides community Narcan use training sessions.
- Research indicates that 65% of the prison population has substance abuse disorder (SUD) and another 20% were under the influence at the time of their crime. BCDAC provides a variety of programs to incarcerated people in order to break the cycle and help them avoid a return to addiction and prison.
- BCDAC provides community education in the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which is the damage to the brain of unborn babies that can occur when pregnant women drink heavily.
- The Vaping Prevention Campaign educates both young people and adults about the dangers of this unhealthy addiction.
- BCDAC supports the work of The Council of Compulsive Gambling of PA in providing help to those who have or suspect a gambling problem.
Getting help for yourself or a loved one
Visit the BCDAC website for a complete list of their services. Below is a short list of contact information for immediate help.
- PA Get Help NOW Hotline: 1-800-662-4357 (1-800-662-HELP), available 24/7.
- Call BCDAC at 215-444-2700 for resources and information, M-F 8:30am-4:30pm.
- Narcan is distributed at various locations throughout the county or it can be ordered online; click here to learn more ways to procure Narcan and receive training.
- Gambling Helpline: Call 1-800-848-1880 (1-800-GAMBLER) 24/7 to speak with someone to get the help you may need. For more information on gambling help, click here.
