Center to help fight addiction

A new resource for the growing number of Bartholomew County residents addicted to narcotics has opened on the city’s southeast side.

Recovery Engagement Center, 1951 McKinley Ave., is primarily intended to serve as a community center and resource location for people seeking recovery, a promotional flyer about the new center says.

It opened last week, representatives of Centerstone Behavioral Health said.

Recovery Engagement is intended to provide a warm, welcoming and non-threatening environment that allows individuals to get off the streets or away from negative influences, Centerstone Adult and Family Services manager Anna Hilycord said.

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“Eventually, we can develop relationships and help them engage themselves in treatment,” Hilycord said.

Although the facility is staffed by Centerstone employees now, volunteers also will be eventually be staffing the center, she said.

The walk-in location, located in a former Mexican restaurant across from the Cummins Technical Center, “will be staffed by people who give hope that recovery is possible right now,” according to the promotional materials about the new facility.

While there will be no pressure, addicted individuals seeking recovery will be given an overview of support and resources upon their request, Hilycord said.

The engagement center is a partnership between Centerstone and Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson. The township provided the building at 421 S. Mapleton St. where the Brighter Days emergency shelter opened last fall.

Since the two facilities are eight blocks apart, people staying at Brighter Days will be encouraged to utilize the new building as a drop-in center, Hilycord said.

“There is a natural overlap between homelessness, addiction and serious mental illness,” she said. “There’s not a whole lot of layers of safety for any of them.”

Recovery Engagement, which is available without appointment for adults 18 years and older, is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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Recovery Engagement Center

Purpose: Low-barrier community center for adults seeking addiction recovery/drop-in center for homeless.

Location: 1951 McKinley Ave., near the intersection of McKinley and McShane Street

Open to: Adults 18 years and over on a drop-in basis.

Cost: Free

Hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sponsors: Centerstone Behavioral Health and the office of Columbus Township Trustee Ben Jackson

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