Although it is the only male halfway house of its kind in the area, the new The Lighthouse for Men, 1820 Washington Road, North Stabane, did not open its doors on Sept. 28 to lots of patients.

It was by design.

"We will admit five patients a week -- no more. We want to get to know them and let them know us," said Holly Martin, chief operating officer for Greenbriar Treatment Center.

Greenbriar is a for-profit chemical dependency rehabilitation system owned by the nonprofit Washington Hospital.

"It can be a little overwhelming for [patients] to make the commitment to come here, and that kind of anxiety is eased if intake is slower," Ms. Martin explained.

Greenbriar operates The Lighthouse for Men, the only male halfway house in the area licensed to treat dual diagnosis of chemical dependence and mental health issues.

Up to 25 men of all ages will find treatment and a place to call home for three months to a year in the new 6,000-square-foot, $900,000 facility in North Strabane.

The cost is funded by the state Medicaid reinvestment program and Greenbriar.

In order to be admitted, patients must meet medical necessity criteria, such as being willing to adhere to the program; having problems in their lives related to their addiction; and possessing a high likelihood of resuming drinking and drug use without the structured environment.

No one with a history of violence is accepted. The halfway house has 24-hour security and 24-hour staff.

Therapy, rehabilitation, counseling and group discussions are daily activities. Residents engage in household chores, such as cooking, cleaning and caring for their rooms.

"It is like dorm style living, but everything is brand new," said Greenbriar's Vanessa Sebetich.

Once patients demonstrate they can function on their own, securing volunteer work and a job becomes a focus.

Mrs. Martin said the ultimate goal was to prevent relapse.

"Some patients know how to do treatment, but don't know how to do the real world. Our goal is to teach them to function in the real world and take care of their own needs.

"We want them to learn to take medication and make doctors appointments and pay bills," she said.

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