Drug Abuse Program Benefits from Peer Support

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Aug. 27, 2018 - PRLog -- A drug abuse program has been benefiting patients' recovery outcomes through peer support.

The program has a peer-support team, which includes individuals who have been going through the path of recovery for several years and can assist those who are just getting started working to achieve sobriety.

The drug abuse program was implemented in Youngstown, Ohio by the Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley when Mercy Health professionals and other community noticed a gap in treatment for locals who have been diagnosed with substance use disorders.

The professionals connect with the patients about what feels like to go through an inpatient addiction treatment program or a drug detox program while emphasizing that they have been able to fully recover and have better lives.
The Youngstown program features a director that manages the operations of the program as well as seven other staff members.

The peer-support team starts the program by having in-depth conversations about their personal struggles with each one of the patients to make them feel comfortable.

Members of the program explained that each patient is unique and will need to have a different set of objectives outline for them. Each patient goes through a screening process, which will determine if a member of the support team should be meeting with that patient - if that patient is willing.

Several peer-recovery workers recently joined the program thanks to the support coming from federal funding. About two years ago, Ohio received a total of $26 million to implement measures that could curb the opioid epidemic from the 21st Century Cures Act.

https://www.drugaddictionnow.com/2018/08/24/youngstown-dr...