Hope for Addicts
Over the past year, the Butler County community has come together to address the “heroin epidemic.” Addiction treatment services have expanded and support groups have formed. Churches, families and organizations have rallied to provide something that opiate addicts need more than anything—hope.
Community Behavioral Health’s role in this epidemic continues to grow and evolve to address the variety of barriers addicts face. Whether they seek help themselves, are encouraged by a family member to seek treatment, or are referred by the courts— Community Behavioral Health assesses each client holistically; treating their addiction, as well as helping them through any other barrier to recovery.
Comprehensive Treatment
As one of the leading providers of mental health counseling, rehabilitation and support services in Butler County, Community Behavioral Health impacts and provides hope for nearly 8,000 clients and their families annually. “When clients get to us, they need help beyond what most people can comprehend.” said Steve Cahill, Director of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services at Community Behavioral Health.
“They need someone who believes in them, and they need hope.”
“I had a client who was referred to us after losing custody of her two small children. She was addicted to heroin, she couldn’t pay her bills, and was out of her depression medication. Through CBH services, we got her the medication she needed to curb her craving for opiates to manage her depression, and started her in our dual recovery program,” continued Cahill.
“She called me earlier this year to share good news—she had found a job with the help of our employment assistance program, and was recently re-granted custody of her children.”
As the number of individuals in need of mental and behavioral health services in Butler County continues to grow, Community Behavioral Health recognizes that often mental illness is coupled with a drug or alcohol addiction. In fact, many of Community Behavioral Health’s mental health clients are also receiving drug and alcohol addiction services—a large percentage of which report opiates as their drug of choice.
Above and Beyond
Beyond providing treatment, Community Behavioral Health is working to address some of the outlying, under-mentioned problems that heroin addicts face. Services extend past just helping clients overcome addiction—they help clients get their lives back on track.
According to Laura Sheehan, President of Community Behavioral Health, some of the biggest unmet needs for heroin addicts are recovery housing and employment assistance programs.
“When addicts leave jail, many have two options: they are either homeless, or they’re living in the same environment they were living in when they were using,” Sheehan said. “They are living around people who are not supportive of their recovery efforts.”
Currently, Community Behavioral Health offers mental health clients assistance in finding appropriate housing. Sheehan and the rest of the Community Behavioral Health leadership team, are currently in the process of expanding their housing options to include sober living residencies for recovering addicts.
In addition, CBH collaborates with the Butler County Department of Jobs and Family Services to provide employment assistance, offering clients who have difficulty obtaining and maintaining employment because of social, situational, or mental health barriers the resources they need to be successful.
Community Behavioral Health treats individuals, couples and families—helping them fight through addictions, navigate life transitions and overcome mental illnesses so they can live their best quality of life. Whether counselors are treating clients for mental health in Hamilton or Middletown, assisting them with finding meaningful employment at Ohio Means Jobs in Fairfield, or developing substance abuse programs for adolescents in local school districts, Community Behavioral Health’s comprehensive services address every client’s unique situation to help more people, more often.
For more information about these services at Community Behavioral Health contact:
Mental Health Services
Susanna Lozano
513-868-5129
slozano@community-first.org
Alcohol & Drug Services
Steve Cahill
513-868-5105
scahill@community-first.org
Employment Services
Christy Morris
513-785-6509
cmorris@community-first.org
Jodi Fritsch November 19th, 2014
Posted In: Uncategorized