Aiken Center
The Aiken County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, DBA, The Aiken Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Services, is the public substance abuse service provider for Aiken County, SC. It holds 501 (c) 3 tax exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service. It has been in operation in Aiken County since February 12, 1974—over forty-five years. Pursuant to SC Act 301 of 1973, it was made a “political component” of Aiken County, SC on January 1, 1980. The Aiken Center is one of thirty-three (33) local, sister substance abuse provider agencies that serve all forty-six (46) counties of SC.
The Aiken Center has been CARF (Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited for behavioral health outpatient and prevention/diversion services for adults as well as behavioral health outpatient and prevention/diversion services for children and adolescents since 1994. It is licensed as an outpatient substance abuse treatment provider by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). In accordance with Chapter 61-12-20 of the SC Code of Laws, the Aiken Center is the “designated county authority” for the provision of substance abuse services in Aiken County, SC through designation by the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS).
The Aiken Center functions as an independent entity under contracts with a variety of funding sources, including Aiken County, DAODAS, South Carolina Department of Health and Human services (Medicaid) and a variety of third-party payers. It has been a member agency of the United Way of Aiken County since 1981. It has a current annual budget of $1.7 million dollars. It serves 1,600 clients per year with 22,000 hours of direct treatment/intervention service by a staff of 30 members.
