CARIBOU — The Aroostook Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) recently published a comprehensive guide to substance abuse treatment resources available in Aroostook County.
“We hope that this resource is useful not only to our citizens, but to healthcare providers, law enforcement personnel, educators, counselors, and a host of community organizations in our area,” said Mark Shea, ASAP Project Director.
Last November Shea was part of a community forum that discussed substance abuse in Aroostook County. He realized that Aroostook County has not only a significant lack of substance abuse treatment options, but also a major deficiency in communicating the resources that are available, and how people can access them.
Shea was able to compile a directory of substance abuse support services, including emergency phone numbers, residential treatment facilities, substance abuse counselors, support group meetings, and crisis hotlines.
ASAP plans to distribute the guides to locations county-wide where someone might seek assistance, such as community centers, town offices, police departments, hospitals, healthcare practices, and so on, according to Shea.
The nine-page booklet features an image of a green highway sign that reads “Road To Recovery,” which Shea says points directly to the purpose of the directory, which is to raise awareness about the value of addiction treatment and recovery and to help the people of Aroostook County locate the substance abuse support and services they need.
“One of the biggest stigmas in our society today,” Shea said, “is that people who are dealing with substance abuse issues are often labeled as ‘druggies,’ ‘crackheads,’ ‘potheads,’ or even worse, ‘losers.’ The reality is that substance abuse affects our friends, neighbors, and family members.”
He added, “These folks need help getting clean. The information in this directory will help them take that first step of what is hopefully a journey to long term recovery.”
For more information, contact Shea at 498-9952 or via email at mshea@carymed.org.
