Change in governor could spell change for Springfield recovery center

The director of the Springfield Turning Point said he’s worried Vermont’s next governor will not support drug and alcohol recovery as vehemently as Gov. Peter Shumlin.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150615/NEWS01/706159925

Change in governor could spell change for Springfield recovery center By Dan Colton Staff Writer | June 15,2015 The director of the Springfield Turning Point said he’s worried Vermont’s next governor will not support drug and alcohol recovery as vehemently as Gov. Peter Shumlin. In 2014, Shumlin spoke about drug addiction for the entirety of his State of the State address. Since then, he’s championed a shift from law enforcement and drug arrests to addiction recovery. But last week, Shumlin announced he would not seek re-election. “It’s pretty scary,” said Springfield Turning Point director Mike Johnson. He said the possibility of decreased State Recovery Center grants — which accounted for over 37 percent of funding in 2014 — could change the way the Springfield community deals with drug and alcohol addiction. Johnson said that this comes as — “between maintaining the two buildings, paying for the two employees and myself,” — the Springfield center’s finances are already stretched thin. Johnson himself said he struggled with drug addiction in the past, but hasn’t had a drink since 2009. And his first-hand experiences have armed him with the skills to support the average 900 to 1,200 visitors every month. That tally includes many returning visitors, Johnson said. He reported most visitors need help with heroin and opioid addiction. Turning Point offers a safe retreat for anybody, not only people in recovery. Johnson said that from school-based youth programs to adult employment assistance to a safe place to relax, Turning Point offers a new start. Johnson said the youth program steers kids away from the wrong path before they’ve gone too far. Johnson’s personal mission is keeping kids in school, he said — but Turning Point recognizes the need for adult services as well. For instance, there is a crisis line for people returning from prison or jail to call. And the director said he’s more than happy to hang out and shoot pool with visitors. It gives him the opening to start the recovery process, he said. “It’s about getting people in to show them there is a way back,” he said. “You can get a job, you can get a car. You can get your family back. There is a way to get there.” “We focus on what the future will hold,” Johnson said. Seven full-time residents live at the Turning Point house; four men and three women. Each of the seven guests are expected to partake in daily chores like dusting, doing dishes, and helping out in the vegetable garden. On top of that, Johnson said, every member of Turning Point has to attend at least four weekly meetings to discuss their recovery progress. But unlike other recovery programs like Alcohol Anonymous, Johnson said, the Turning Point program doesn’t offer sponsors. Instead, Turning Point has trained recovery coaches. He said an AA sponsor helps an addict deal with his or her past — a Turning Point recovery coach helps an addict plan for the future. Larry Beach is one of those coaches. Like Johnson, Beach said he’s in recovery, but has been sober for years. He’s gone back to school, gained a degree, and is now working as a recovery coach and house manager to help other addicts overcome their dependencies. “Ten years ago, if someone told me I would be doing this to put money in my pocket, I would’ve thought they were crazy,” Beach said. “I thought maybe I would’ve needed to come to this place for recovery.” Johnson also mentioned a uniqe approach Turning Point takes toward addiction called “harm reduction.” “If someone comes in and says,’I’m drinking two beers a night to self-medicate,’ I say, ‘We’ll get to that, but let’s make sure you don’t start doing other drugs.’” Beach said that by 2 p.m. on Wednesday, he’d already taken one Turning Point resident to the hospital. Another guest was taken to the Brattleboro Retreat earlier in the day, he said. It was mid-afternoon and the remaining Turning Point guests were busy into their chores. Sarah Manning said she has been a guest at the recovery house since October and has been sober for nearly two years. Manning pays rent to Turning Point, she said, and picks up extra volunteer shifts to stay busy. “It’s a good support for someone who wants to start their life over,” she said. Manning seconded Johnson’s fear that a change in governors could spell a change for Turning Point. “If it wasn’t here, it would leave people without a place to go for people who need support in their recovery,” Manning said. And if Turning Point hadn’t been around for Manning, she said she would’ve had no place to go — because along with assisting her recovery from drug addiction, the Turning Point gave her a roof overhead when her other options had dried up. She said she’s moving forward and getting her life back in order. “I’m a lot more stable in my recovery and my mental, emotional state. I feel more comfortable being a productive member of society,” she said.