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58 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2023 THE TURNING POINT Dr. Harry Strothers, chief of Family Medicine at Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care West Macon, said that though there is no cure for addiction, there is possibility of remission. "A combination of a physician trained in substance use disorders and a support group like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), NA (Narcotics Anonymous), or other 12-step groups have the best record of long-term remission," he said. There are options for turning things around. Two local resources are Next Step Recovery Ministries and River Edge Macon Recovers. Next Step Recovery Executive Director Todd Robinson started his platform to assist men in need of an on-site platform of restoration. His holistic approach to defeating addiction includes mentoring, instilling a new mindset, and spiritual development. Robinson said addiction is rooted in things like broken homes, the introduction of drugs by friends and family members, depression, and a lack of direction and purpose. He observed that if a dollar figure could be attached to the opioid crisis, it would be in the tens of thousands per person. At Next Step, turning things around begins with structure and the acceptance of responsibility paired with tough love and plenty of support. "If you want your life to be exciting and successful, you must have rules," Robinson said. Men at Next Step also participate in counseling, readings, and meetings. "These guys are good guys. Most just made bad decisions along the way," he continued. For people living with substance abuse disorder desirous of an offsite means of recovery, consider Macon Recovers. Tripp Talley is the center's recovery support supervisor and, as a person living in long-term recovery since 2017, relates to drug users seeking out help. Originally from Columbus, he started out as a recovery coach and has seen the fatal destruction addiction causes. As a resource center for people dealing with addiction, Macon Recovers is where they can hang out and connect through conversation, art, journaling, and other recreational activities or get assistance with job placement or transportation. These tools have become invaluable in Talley's agency's efforts to positively impact drug addiction. "We help them rely on their prior resiliency. When people become addicted, they tend to forget about their strengths. Once they can identify their former positive traits, they can use them to correct their course," Talley said. MOVING FORWARD Brawley, Spivey, and Tripp all concluded that opioid addicts must take their own steps. Being tired of being sick and tired must take place first. Acknowledging the addiction and its cost is next. Last is finding a means of permanently offsetting addiction. All three in closing remarked that drugs are not a respecter of persons. Addiction can happen to the rich, poor, educated, illiterate, male, female, young, old, professional, street, and church-going. If someone you love is dealing with drug addiction or in recovery, Strothers advised, "Find a behavioral health professional or a support group like AL-Anon or Nar-Anon that helps you understand the disease and will help you avoid behaviors that enable a loved one to continue to abuse substances and increase the risk of death from that use." Glenn has been sober since May 1996 thanks to the nationally-renowned 12-Step Program he attended daily with Spivey. The program is spiritually-based and challenges addicts to acknowledge their problem and heal. "Living the life of an addict was a living hell," Glenn admitted. "But it is possible to overcome addiction. Any addict can." "It's a blessing to be an active participant in my life now," Spivey said. "If I overcame addiction, others can, too." Tripp, an onsite recovering addict at Next Step Recovery Ministry who insisted on surrendering as the key to recovery, ended on this note: "I feel free and happy again. Being here allows me to be around like-minded people with the same goal. Being clean is great. I wish I had done it years ago." MACON RECOVERY RESOURCES NEXT STEP RECOVERY MINISTRY 6751 Houston Rd. Macon, GA 31216 478-284-1422 www.nextstepmin.org MACON RECOVERS 595 Wimbish Rd Macon, GA 31210 478-803-7661 https://www.river-edge.org/addiction-recovery/ maconrecovers.cms RIVER EDGE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 175 Emery Highway Macon, GA 31217 478-803-7600 www.river-edge.org RESCUE MISSION OF MIDDLE GEORGIA 6601 Zebulon Rd. Macon, GA 31220 478-743-5445 www.rescuemissionga.com GEORGIA TREATMENT SERVICES MACON 6132 Hawkinsville Rd. Macon, GA 31216 478-788-0066 www.georgia-treatment.com