by LaMara HunterKelly | Feb 25, 2020 | In The News
By KAREN BROWN • FEB 25, 2020
…“I’ve taken phone calls from police officers that are literally, you know, hot calls,” said Trevor Dayton, a DART recovery coach [and Northampton Recovery Center member.] “This happened less than 60 minutes ago. Can you call them now? They’d like to talk.’ Sometimes that’s all it takes — responding in the moment to help somebody move forward from where they’re at, and not sure how to move forward by themselves.”
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Feb 17, 2020 | In The News
By BERA DUNAU
Staff Writer
Published: 2/17/2020 12:05:46 AM
NORTHAMPTON — A local nonprofit that helps people struggling with addiction is set to move into the former La Fiorentina pastry shop on Armory Street.
“We anticipate being able to move in in May,” said Lynn Ferro, director of the Northampton Recovery Center.
She said the nonprofit has signed a lease to occupy the former bakery, which will require extensive renovation. The recovery center has accepted a bid for the work, which will begin as soon as all permits are obtained, Ferro said.
La Fiorentina, which opened in Northampton in 1991, closed last summer.
The Northampton Recovery Center helps people recovering from addiction and offers support for the loved ones of those in recovery or struggling with addiction. Founded in the fall of 2016, it provides a safe space, programming and social events for those it serves.
“Community and connection are key antidotes to addiction,” Ferro said.
The organization is mostly run by volunteers and uses a peer participatory process. This means that those who use and are most affected by the programming have a primary role in how programming at the rehab center is developed and participate in the organization on every level.
“We are not a top-down agency,” she said.
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Nov 26, 2019 | In The News
By KRISTEL APPLEBEE, Consortium Executive Director
For the Gazette
Published: 11/26/2019 12:01:19 AM
The term “opioid epidemic” has become as American as apple pie in our nation’s lexicon. Here in western Massachusetts, communities have been hit hard by the crisis, with families grieving unthinkable losses. It seems most people know someone impacted. As a result, funding for opioid education, treatment, and prevention has increased; this concentrated community focus on solutions has also brought support for the peer recovery movement, specifically through recovery support centers funded by the state.
Treatment is a critical piece of the recovery continuum of care, offering a foothold to those in the deep throes of addiction. But treatment alone is not enough. Having a welcoming place for folks in early recovery to connect, heal and grow by participating and sharing with one another, can provide a solid foundation for lifelong recovery. Many people in recovery find they need support throughout their lives. Though recovery is an inside job, a supportive community is the key to success…
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Oct 24, 2019 | In The News
Cara Moser and Julie Foster look at photos and talk about their daughters after a meeting of Harm Reduction Works in July at the Northampton Recovery Center. Both women lost their daughters to opioid overdoses and now are working to promote harm reduction practices.By LAURIE LOISEL
For the Gazette
On a balmy Wednesday evening in late July, 11 people circled up on comfy couches and chairs at the Northampton Recovery Center for the weekly gathering of Harm Reduction Works, a meeting billed as an alternative to abstinence-only opioid recovery groups.
“I’m here because I feel compelled to be here,” said Cara Moser in a round of introductions. “My daughter died eight months ago, and I feel like it’s important to learn as much as we can about keeping people alive.”
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by LaMara HunterKelly | Aug 27, 2019 | In The News
