Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP

Harlem East Life Plan (HELP) Unit I OTP occupies a practical but often rare space in New York City's addiction treatment landscape: a single location where individuals can receive medically supervised detox and then transition directly into an outpatient program without changing providers. For people in recovery who are planning ahead rather than responding to a crisis, this continuity matters. The ability to work with the same clinical team from medical stabilization through ongoing outpatient care can make a measurable difference in engagement and outcomes.

The center is a certified Opioid Treatment Program and holds CARF accreditation, a nationally recognized standard in the substance abuse treatment field. Its first-floor location at 2369 2nd Avenue in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood makes it accessible by public transit for New York City residents across boroughs. Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay are all accepted, reflecting a deliberate commitment to keeping addiction treatment within reach for individuals at a range of income levels.

Recovery rarely involves substance use alone. HELP Unit I OTP formally treats co-occurring disorders and trauma or PTSD alongside addiction, an approach that reflects the clinical reality that unaddressed mental health conditions can undermine even well-motivated efforts to stay sober. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the confirmed therapeutic method used at the center, giving clients structured tools to identify and change the behavioral patterns tied to substance use.

Medical oversight at the program is provided by two physicians: Fernando Borrego, MD, as Medical Director and Physician, and Hamid Moussavian, MD, as Medical Director and Psychiatrist. This dual medical leadership is an uncommon feature for an outpatient program and positions the center to address both the physical and psychiatric dimensions of addiction and co-occurring conditions. Clinical leadership is held by Iyana Lomas, LMSW, and Marian Shafir, Advanced CASAC, MFT, rounding out a team with both clinical social work and marriage and family therapy credentials.

HELP Unit I OTP serves a deliberately broad range of individuals. Veterans, pregnant women, seniors and older adults, men, women, individuals needing HIV/AIDS support, and court-ordered participants are all explicitly served by the program. This breadth is not incidental — serving populations with distinct clinical and social needs requires intentional staffing, scheduling, and treatment planning. For people in these groups who have struggled to find an addiction treatment program that acknowledges their specific circumstances, HELP's scope is a meaningful differentiator.

The program offers services in both English and Vietnamese, a practical step toward serving New York City's linguistically diverse communities. The operating schedule — Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — is structured to accommodate individuals who need to maintain employment, childcare, or other responsibilities while engaged in outpatient recovery. Contact the center directly at (212) 876-2300 or by email at [email protected] to learn more about enrollment.

Access to addiction treatment is often determined by finances as much as geography. HELP Unit I OTP accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and self-pay, which meaningfully broadens who can walk through the door. For individuals on fixed incomes, those enrolled in public health insurance, or those paying out of pocket, this payment flexibility removes a common obstacle to entering or staying in outpatient recovery care.

Prospective clients or family members looking to understand coverage and enrollment options are encouraged to reach out to the center directly. The admissions team can be contacted by phone at (212) 876-2300 or by email at [email protected], and the center's website at harlemeastlifeplan.com provides additional information about the program and its services.