Healthy living includes recovery

BELLEVUE — For many, addiction and recovery services are vital in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For those seeking detox or recovery treatment, the Erie County Health Department works with federal and state agencies and local partners to build trust within the community. The health department has a goal of decreasing overdose-related fatalities and increasing recovery treatment options. The health department created a behavioral health division in 2017, creating a 24/7 detoxification unit. The unit opened in 2018 and provides American Society of Addiction Medicine withdrawal management care for adult clients. Assistant health commissioner Trey Hardy said they've had 3,000 client stays. "In 2019, through a partnership with Erie County commissioners and two other local provider agencies, LCADA and Road to Hope, the Erie County Health Department purchased and remodeled a building directly adjacent to its existing campus and started providing transitional or recovery housing," Hardy said. "The facility has the capacity for 48 beds for women who want to keep focused on their recovery." The partnership includes eight condominium-style units in Vermilion to allow women with children to continue recovery while raising their families in a safe environment. For those looking to continue their recovery, Animal House Sober Club in Bellevue offers recovery meetings every day of the week at 7 p.m. at 206 ½ W. Main St. "We have all open meetings and we have some family meetings, too. A lot of people have just been affected by addiction somehow in their life," executive director Joseph Burkhart said. "Addiction is a family disease. We encourage family and friends to come or people who want to know more about addiction." The sober club started in December 2020 after the pandemic made in-person meetings more difficult. "When we shut down the first time, we saw a lot of relapses and there was a huge overdose spike. We wanted a safe place for people to come and still have their meetings," Burkhart said. Burkhart said to maintain recovery, meetings are incredibly important. The meetings provide fellowship and a support group for those struggling with addiction. "A lot of people have success when they regularly attend meetings and have that support group," he said. "We have a lot of people from all walks of life here, addiction doesn't discriminate. We know what everyone has gone through, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I care about these people like my brothers and sisters." The Erie County Health Department has also utilized many federal and state grants to support recovery efforts. A federal first responder grant provided Erie, Huron and Ottawa counties with nasal Narcan kits and two other grants to support the detox unit, transitional housing and counseling services. A fourth federal grant provides medical services with Firelands Counseling and Recovery to their clients within their recovery programs. "The health department has a drug overdose response team supported by a fifth federal grant that allows team members to go out into the community and work with law enforcement to engage overdose victims, their friends and their family members in an effort to connect them with recovery services within the community," Hardy said. "Recently, the health department was notified that an additional $2 million federal grant would be forthcoming to facilitate a new construction, crisis stabilization facility on their existing campus providing additional community services." Burkhart said the sober club also provides some accountability for members. "The clubhouse reaches out to people to check in on them," he said. "Anyone who we think may need help, we can help provide them with resources for sober living facilities or rehabs." Another important aspect of Animal House is giving back to the community, Burkhart said. "We have events for the community to give back. It gives you responsibility, accountability and a purpose," he said. "You're building a support group by meeting these new people and they can relate and they care about you. It's a safe spot where you don't have to worry about drugs and alcohol." The health department also has partnerships with Bayshore Counseling, Firelands Regional Medical Center, Firelands Counseling and Recovery, The LCADA Way, Sandusky Artisans Community Recovery Center, Sandusky Treatment Services, Brightview, Let's Get Real, and a host of others to expand their Circle of Care concept and get people in the community the help they need. More information can be found at eriecohealth.com, or by calling the detox number at 419-624-3353.