A new residential addiction treatment center for women is getting ready to open in the Knox County town of Washington.

Organizers hope that the new 16-bed facility, called Tessa’s House, will provide a critical service in a rural area where people — and especially women — may have a harder time accessing treatment for their addiction to drugs and alcohol.

Merrilee Dahm Larsen, the executive director of Tessa’s House, said that she is not aware of any facilities in the region that offer a comparable residential treatment program for women, who face unique stigmas when it comes to overcoming addiction.

“Not only are we dealing with stigma for women accessing treatment, but the barriers are higher for women in rural areas,” Dahm Larsen said.

A grand opening for the center will be held on

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