Samaritan Daytop Village and OASAS Recognize Service and Sacrifice of Military Veterans Recovering from Addiction at Renovated Ed Thompson Veterans Program

(June 1, 2018 - New York, NY) On the heels of Memorial Day, Samaritan Daytop Village, joined by the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) and community members, recognized the service and sacrifice of military veterans who are now recovering from addiction. The ceremony honoring service members on May 31st took place at Samaritan Daytop Village’s Ed Thompson Veterans Program, which has undergone a $7.5 million renovation funded by OASAS. Samaritan Daytop Village is widely recognized as a pioneer in specialized treatment services for military veterans including substance use disorder and PTSD.

 

Presenters included Tino Hernandez, President & CEO, Samaritan Daytop Village; Arlene González-Sánchez, Commissioner, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); and John S., a veteran and client of the Ed Thompson Veterans Program.

Mr. Hernandez said, “Today, we honor our veterans who, after serving bravely, now fight, as civilians, a new battle against PTSD and substance use disorder. Samaritan Daytop Village and the Ed Thompson Veterans Program proudly count ourselves among their staunchest allies and supporters, and we work with them to help them overcome their personal struggles and challenges.”

Hernandez noted that every seven hours, someone dies of a drug overdose in New York City. And within context, veterans are twice as likely as non-veterans to die from accidental opioid overdoses.

"Providing substance use disorder care for veterans presents a unique set of challenges, and we owe it to them to do everything we can to meet the needs of those seeking that care,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “I thank Governor Cuomo for continuing to help expand and enhance care for veterans with projects like this, and guaranteeing that they have the support they need to succeed in their recovery.”

Programs and services offered at the Ed Thompson Veterans Program include group and individual counseling, relapse prevention counseling, trauma-specific therapies, primary and mental health care, vocational and employment services, family intervention, veteran benefits counseling, housing assistance and aftercare services.

The 50-bed facility is named in honor of the National Guard and Korean War Army veteran, the late Sergeant Ed Thompson, who inspired Samaritan Daytop Village’s programs to assist veterans. Following his honorable discharge, Thompson suffered from PTSD and addiction issues. He sought treatment and then embarked on a post-military career at Samaritan Daytop Village as a program director and advocate for those recovering from addiction.

In addition to modernizing the 50-year-old structure and bringing it up to current codes, new to the building are the top two floors of dormitory spaces, a client lounge, quiet/reading room, outdoor basketball court, outdoor grilling/seating area, and ADA-compliant ramps and an elevator.

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About Samaritan Daytop Village: For more than 50 years, Samaritan Daytop Village has been improving the quality of life for New Yorkers facing adversity. We are nationally-recognized for our work in treatment for substance use disorder, specialized services for veterans, and services for homeless individuals and families. Our continuum of services includes health care, mental health care, addiction treatment, recovery services, transitional and permanent housing assistance, and services for seniors. Annually, Samaritan Village serves over 28,000 people at more than 50 facilities throughout New York City, Long Island and upstate New York.