In February, WTAJ News gave you an inside look at how the Twin Lakes Rehabilitation Center in Somerset County is working to save lives.
“Sometimes I think general public gets idea that a drug addict is this certain type of person and this couldn’t be me. Really we are you.”
Counselor Eric Millinder is among those trying to change the stigma that surrounds drug use.
Wednesday night, counselor and people who made it through the 28-day residential treatment program will be holding a public forum to raise awareness about treatment and recovery options that are currently available.
We Will Recover will be held at Johnstown High School. The event starts at 6:30 p.m.
Counselors at Twin Lakes say miracles happen in their facility every day.
COUNSELORS AT TWIN LAKES IN SOMERSET COUNTY SAY MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERYDAY.
“It’s remarkable to me. I recognize this everyday that a patient that comes to Twin Lakes and within first two days of residential treatment that individual knows by name every counselor in the building and every counselor in building knows that individual. That is huge,” said Paul Moreau.
Moreau is one of the counselors who will be speaking at Wednesday’s event. He spent many years in the military and said winning the war against opioids needs to be an all hands on deck approach.
On February 3, ten people in Pennsylvania died from an overdose. That same day, Twin Lakes treated 27 peple than had an overdose reversed by Narcan.
“You may not know it, but the people you deal with everyday could be in recovery. It’s everywhere,” said Moreau.
In 2016, Cambria County had 94 overdose death. If the current rates continue the county could have 200 overdose deaths this year. That is more than one person every two days.
Millinder says attitudes around the drug problem in our region must change.
“If we start looking at these things as a community and say it’s any everybody problem,instead of saying the person that is addicted it’s there problem.”
During Wednesday’s public forum families can learn more about treatment options to help their loved ones. There will also be workshop for Narcan training and distribution.
If you cannot attend this event, Twin Lakes will be holding the same forum March 14 at Somerset Area High School.