Prior to last week, most Butler County residents probably weren't aware of the scope of work being carried out by the Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Addiction Center.

Many probably still aren't, and some of those probably have no reason to be interested, if they or their family members or friends have no addiction problems.

But addiction is a significant problem in Butler County, as in many other places, and no family is immune from its possibility.

Therefore, it's important for there to be a general understanding across the county regarding the center's work, treatment options and available facilities. With greater awareness, people might seek help from the center more quickly, rather than after the problem has seriously escalated and has become much more difficult to resolve.

There's no shame in getting help for an addiction. It is a shame when people do not seek help.

People might have been surprised to read in Friday's Butler Eagle that about 200 people had been treated daily at the Gaiser Center's outpatient locations at VA Butler Healthcare in Butler Township and at the Salvation Army building on West Cunningham Street in Butler.

Those two sites are being replaced by the agency's new, larger center at 315 Liberty St. in Butler, the former location for New Castle-based Widmer Engineering.

The building has been extensively remodeled and will provide about 2,800 square feet of space for the agency to conduct its important work. At VA Healthcare and the Salvation Army buildings, the center had only about a total of 1,000 square feet in which to serve its clients.

With the additional space, the center will be able to expand its level of service, and Linda Franiewski, center executive director, said the daily outpatient treatment caseload should be able to increase by about 25 percent.

Gaiser also provides counseling to 160 people at its inpatient facility on Old Plank Road in Butler Township.

Overall, Gaiser employs 24 full- and part-time employees while serving 800 to 900 clients a year.

For the community, it should be uplifting that those people are trying to overcome their problems and return their lives to a positive footing. People who read the Butler Eagle crime roundup each day are well aware of the kinds of problems that are associated with addiction, whether that addiction involves illegal or prescription drugs, alcohol or whatever.

It is to Butler County's credit that an agency such as Gaiser is so much a part of the community and is having such a positive impact.

Meanwhile, the new Gaiser location has won praise from Diane Burke, a counselor for the Butler County Prison's drug and alcohol recovery program, because of its close proximity to the new prison, which is scheduled to be in full operation on July 1.

Gaiser has offered counseling to prisoners since 1995 and serves the county's adult probation office.

"It is just beyond beautiful, and now we have the room we need to grow," Franiewski said.

But while the facility might have a pleasant and homey atmosphere, what is more important is the work it has been accomplishing and will continue to accomplish in the future.

The Liberty Street facility is a new beginning of sorts, but it also represents the vision that the center has developed over the years. And, although unfortunate that the need exists, that vision is that the center will be more needed in the future, not less needed.

The Ellen O'Brien Gaiser Addiction Center is now better poised for the future. And Butler County will be better as a result of its work.

Even if some people aren't aware of the scale of its work, those who need its services can rest assured that the center and its staff are willing and able to make a positive difference in their lives.