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INDIANAPOLIS — More than $1 million in federal grants will help add more peer recovery specialists at 16 organizations throughout Indiana.
The federal grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will add at least 40 part-time and full-time peer recovery specialists at 16 recovery-based organizations in the state, the Commission to Combat Drug Abuse announced during a meeting Thursday.
Peer recovery support specialists are trained professionals with personal experiences with mental health or substance use disorder and help others through the recovery process.
"Having someone that's been there before, that's trained and certified to help them along the way is an unbelievable asset that we just haven't had much access to in the past," said Brandon George, vice president of programs and recovery for Mental Health America of Indiana.
Below are the 16 recovery-based organizations and areas in Indiana the recovery specialists will work for, according to a press release from the state:
- 1Voice (Southeast)
- Artistic Recovery (Northwest)
- Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition (Central)
- Integrated Wellness (Northwest)
- IU Virtual Recovery Hub (Central)
- Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition (Northeast)
- Minority Recovery Collective Inc. (Central)
- Oaklawn (Northeast)
- PACE Inc. (Central)
- Peace Zone Inc. (Southwest)
- Phoenix Recovery Solutions (Northwest)
- Pick Yourself Up (Northwest)
- Recovery Cafe Indy (Central)
- Scott County T.H.R.I.V.E (Southeast)
- Turning Point Systems of Care (Northeast)
- Wabash Valley Recovery Center (Southwest)
The Indiana Recovery Network and regional recovery hubs project hope to help people be able to find recovery-focused organizations in their region, George said. These organizations allow people to keep the same recovery coach or specialist throughout their entire recovery journey.
"Even if you were to leave treatment, or possibly relapse, which is a common occurrence, you wouldn't have to start all over alone, you would still have a recovery coach there to help you along the way," George said.
Since this time last year, emergency departments in Indiana have seen a 59 percent increase in overdose events, said Douglas Huntsinger, Indiana Executive Director for Drug Prevention, Treatment, and Enforcement, during Thursday's meeting. There has also been a nearly 60 percent increase in Naloxone administration by emergency medical services personnel.
“For people with mental health and substance use disorders, COVID-19 has increased feelings of anxiety and isolation, and has simultaneously limited access to treatment and recovery services,” Huntsinger, said in the release. “The Indiana Recovery Network’s regional recovery hubs will expand our ability to assist Hoosiers with mental health and substance use disorders, regardless of where someone is in their recovery journey.”
Peer specialists are critical to help people sustain their recovery, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Dr. Jennifer Sullivan said.
“Now more than ever, these expanded peer recovery options are essential to supporting those experiencing mental health issues and substance use disorders,” Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the release. “I’m thrilled that this partnership will help ensure Hoosiers have access to the resources they need as we live through this historic pandemic.”
Resources
For more information on a recovery organization near you, you can visit the Indiana Recovery Network website.
You can call 211 for help 24/7.
You can call the Indiana Addiction Hotline at 1-800-622-HELP (4357).
For more information on getting Naloxone in Indiana, click here.
To view more resources from NextLevel Recovery Indiana, click here to visit its website.
