Recovery Homes Needed In Ohio, Solon Resident Finds

SOLON, OH - From Compass Family: By Marilyn Spitaleri: With Ohio experiencing a surge in fatal drug overdoses, now – more than ever – it’s time to raise awareness of Ohio’s recovery homes for those returning from the grips of addiction so they won’t relapse and become a statistic.

Many people are unaware that Ohio counties are rich in recovery homes. Following treatment, these homes are important for the individual in recovery to live in a supportive, structured, alcohol- and drug-free environment that surrounds residents with others who are pursuing the same goals of recovery and wellness. These homes are individually owned and certified by the state, and residents pay rent to live in the homes.

My own awareness of addiction stems from personal stories from family and friends. I became involved with the Alcohol, Drug, Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ASAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County after hearing they were engaging the community in discussions about how to tackle the opioid epidemic. I learned the importance of recovery housing for those recovering from addiction so they won’t return to the environment where the drug use took place, and can live in a place of care and support. I wanted to help support this unique recovery community, which led me to Trumbull County, where I also became involved with the ADAMHS Board there and where I connected with COMPASS Family & Community Services.

I worked with COMPASS for three months through a paid sabbatical offered by my employer, Cigna, as part of a Community Ambassador Fellowship program that enables employees to take time off from their day jobs and work within their communities. In that time, I was able to
develop, package and implement a program of support for 108 individuals in recovery homes, aimed at promoting self-worth and self-love. These residents are mainly young men and women in their 20s and early 30s who have left school, lost a job, car, and perhaps even family, and desire to recover from addiction. Some may have nothing and need a job and income to buy a car or return to school; some have resources and want to return to their profession or school to complete their degree. All individuals have one thing in common: They need the caring and support of a community.

I partnered with local restaurants, businesses and churches to obtain discounts or donations of meals. I assembled welcome bags to give recovery home residents a sense of belonging. I helped plan meals, addressed housing-specific needs by providing necessities like mattresses, rental assistance, and/or transportation as well as gas vouchers. In addition, I worked with COMPASS Workforce Development to deliver job training. I also volunteered at community events to raise awareness of recovery homes and the signs and symptoms of drug misuse and overdose, including events at Youngstown State University’s Puppy Palozza fall welcome and wellness event on campus in August, and Rally for Recovery in September.

We need to help the community understand the value of living in a recovery home after someone is discharged from a treatment facility. This provides a therapeutic network where individuals are reassured, cared for and loved, and which reinforces the recovering individual’s decision to live a life of sobriety. By raising awareness, our entire community can help those struggling to recover from addiction. I encourage everyone to become more aware of the purpose and value of state-approved recovery homes and to support them in any way you can. The opportunity to help those close to home – who could be our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, wives, husbands, neighbors or our co-workers – is rewarding to the entire community and life-changing for those individuals in recovery.

To find out more about how you can help those recovering from addiction by supporting Ohio’s recovery homes, contact COMPASS at http://compassfamily.org/ or call 330- 782-5664.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock