A pioneer in the holistic approach to substance abuse and addiction recovery, Maryland Community Health Initiatives (Maryland CHI), Penn North’s parent organization, was one of the first programs in the United States to use acupuncture in the treatment of addiction—launching the first acupuncture and meditation program in the Baltimore City Detention Center in 1993. Expanding on the demonstrated effectiveness and success of that original program, Maryland CHI opened the Penn North Neighborhood Center in 1995. Today, Penn North is a fixture in the community—a safe haven for individuals seeking support, guidance, friendship, treatment, and a healthy retreat from the negative influences in their daily lives.