MAKENNA. JERRY, THIS MEANS TONIGHT, THE WARE CENTER IN DOWNTOWN LANCASTER WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY. ONE CONVERSATION AT A TIME. I’M SUPER PROUD AND SUPER EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO HEALING BEYOND BOUNDARIES. AHEAD OF TUESDAY’S MIDTERM ELECTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, LEGISLATORS AND LOCAL LEADERS ARE COMING TOGETHER FOR A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION AND RECOVERY IN THE RED ROSE CITY. HOW DOES THE SCIENCE THAT WE KNOW ON ADDICTION WALK ALONGSIDE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION? SO IT’S NICE THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A REPRIEVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF. HOSTED AT THE WARE CENTER IN DOWNTOWN LANCASTER, MONDAY’S OPEN FORUM INCLUDED CONVERSATIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVE IZZY SMITH, WADEL, THE MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF AND LEADERS WITHIN BLUEPRINTS FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY, A LOCAL TREATMENT FACILITY. BACK WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, WE COULDN’T TALK ABOUT THINGS. NOW, IN 2025, WE CAN STAND UP LOUD. WE CAN STAND UP PROUD, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT RECOVERY AND HOW REAL IT IS AND HOW POWERFUL IT CAN BE. THE POWER OF ADDICTION AND THE WAYS IT’S MANAGED. TAKING CENTER STAGE DURING THE FORUM, YOU KNOW, BY TAKING DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO ADDICTION THAN INCARCERATION, TAKING A HEALTH CARE OR A SOCIAL WORK MODEL, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT MOST, THEY’RE GOING TO BE DECIDED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. ISSUES THAT IMPACT MORE THAN LOCAL ELECTIONS, BUT EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING AT HOME WITH MENTAL HEALTH, IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING AT HOME WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, DO NOT BE ASHAMED. DO NOT BE AFRAID. THERE’S PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IN SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA THAT ARE READY 24 HOURS A DAY TO HELP YOU GET BETTER. PLEASE DON’T BE ASHAMED. PLEASE, PLEASE REACH OUT FOR HELP. NOW, WE DO HAVE A LIST OF THOSE RESOURCES ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN THERE, AS WELL AS A LONGER LIST OVER ON OUR WEBSITE, WGAL.COM.
Lancaster leaders address mental health and addiction before midterm elections
Updated: 10:07 PM EST Nov 3, 2025
Ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, a community conversation on mental health, addiction, and recovery was held at the Ware Center in downtown Lancaster, featuring discussions with local leaders and law enforcement.”How does the science that we know on addiction walk alongside law enforcement and community supervision, you know?” Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El said. “It’s nice that we have a little bit of a reprieve to talk about this stuff.”The forum included conversations with Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El, Millersville University’s deputy police chief, and leaders from Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, a local treatment facility.”Back when I was struggling with substance use disorder and mental health disorders, we couldn’t talk about things,” said Chris Dreisbach, the founder of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery. “Now, in 2025, we can stand up loud, we can stand up proud, and we can talk about recovery and how real it is and how powerful it can be.”The power of addiction and the ways it is managed took center stage during the forum. “You know, by taking different approaches to addiction than incarceration, taking a health care or a social work model, all the things that we care about most, they’re going to be decided at the local level,” Smith-Wade-El said.Chris Dreisbach encouraged those struggling with mental health or substance use disorder to seek help, saying, “If you’re struggling at home with mental health, or you’re struggling at home with substance use disorder, do not be ashamed, do not be afraid. There are people in this community right now in south central Pennsylvania who are ready, 24 hours a day, to help you get better. Please don’t be ashamed. Please, please reach out for help.” Blueprints for Addiction Recovery: 717-361-1660National Drug Helpline: 844-289-0879PorchLight Recovery: 833-799-6500 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988
LANCASTER, Pa. —
Ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, a community conversation on mental health, addiction, and recovery was held at the Ware Center in downtown Lancaster, featuring discussions with local leaders and law enforcement.
“How does the science that we know on addiction walk alongside law enforcement and community supervision, you know?” Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El said. “It’s nice that we have a little bit of a reprieve to talk about this stuff.”
The forum included conversations with Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El, Millersville University’s deputy police chief, and leaders from Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, a local treatment facility.
“Back when I was struggling with substance use disorder and mental health disorders, we couldn’t talk about things,” said Chris Dreisbach, the founder of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery. “Now, in 2025, we can stand up loud, we can stand up proud, and we can talk about recovery and how real it is and how powerful it can be.”
The power of addiction and the ways it is managed took center stage during the forum.
“You know, by taking different approaches to addiction than incarceration, taking a health care or a social work model, all the things that we care about most, they’re going to be decided at the local level,” Smith-Wade-El said.
Chris Dreisbach encouraged those struggling with mental health or substance use disorder to seek help, saying, “If you’re struggling at home with mental health, or you’re struggling at home with substance use disorder, do not be ashamed, do not be afraid. There are people in this community right now in south central Pennsylvania who are ready, 24 hours a day, to help you get better. Please don’t be ashamed. Please, please reach out for help.”