We are all in recovery.

Maybe it’s a heartbreak. Maybe it’s losing a game. Maybe it’s a broken arm. Maybe it’s losing a loved one.

And sometimes, it’s recovery from an addiction.

This fall, the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Addiction Center will open a new medically monitored detox facility in Greene County – the first of its kind in the area. For 55 years, the Gaiser Center has provided individualized, compassionate care for those battling addiction. Now, with the support of Staunton Farm Foundation, we’re bringing our speciality to Greene County and its residents.

I first understood the help needed in Greene County when I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and went right into social work in the IU school system. It’s a rural, impoverished area filled with amazing families and individuals that I met with every day. I had nearly 80 kids  assigned to me – all in need of attention, resources, and, most importantly, mental health support. Some of their parents and family members were often battling addiction and the danger of them falling into the same patterns was imminent.

Residents currently travel 30 minutes or more for addiction treatment, with some needing to cross into West Virginia or Ohio. Many don’t have transportation, a support system at home that can get them there, or the motivation to travel to make a change. We’re bringing healing right to their doorstep.

At the Center, our mission is to focus on individualized and holistic care for those living with addiction. We take a non-judgmental approach to work to help each individual find a path to their own unique recovery because it isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Our team of medical professionals and therapists look into all aspects of a person, analyzing their physical symptoms, emotional barriers, and even their brain chemical pathways. This provides us with a well-rounded picture of someone’s mental health and how that works in tandem with their addiction.

Breaking the stigma around mental health and addiction is another way the Gaiser Center works to support our mission. Every year we host our Discovery Symposium where we team up with Butler County Community College and invite anyone and everyone to ask questions and learn about addiction and recovery. Providing a safe space for not only students, but their families, to learn about mental and behavioral health is something I’m increasingly proud of.

The education doesn’t stop there. The Gaiser Center sends our Medical Director, who specializes in neurophysiology of addiction, into schools across our region to talk to students. Having conversations about how addiction is similar to a disease opens the floor for young kids to expand their knowledge and be sympathetic, rather than scaring them.

And now, our most exciting endeavor is about to happen. The new 10-bed facility will serve adults 18 and older and will operate as a level 3.7 withdrawal management center, the only program of its kind in Greene County. The facility will provide round-the-clock medical care for patients. Nurses will be on-site and Dr. Charles Thomas Brophy will provide regular oversight. All care received by patients will follow evidence-based protocols for withdrawal from substances such as alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines.

The opening of this facility is more than just an expansion. It’s a chance to restore hope, dignity, and health to the people who need it most. With support from Staunton Farm Foundation, the Gaiser Center is making recovery more accessible, breaking down barriers, and reminding us that we are all human and everyone deserves the opportunity to heal.

Thank you, Staunton Farm Foundation for supporting us in creating stronger, more compassionate communities for all.