New Addiction Recovery Facility to Open This Spring in Jefferson Co.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (WATE) - Goals are being set in Jefferson County to try and end the opioid epidemic. This spring, a new transitional home for those recovering from addiction will be open in Jefferson City.

Drug coalitions say it's a two-fold, recovery and prevention.

Trec House will be a faith-based transitional home for men recovering from addiction. Director Rick Loy says men will be able to say one to two years at the home. Their days will be filled with Bible studies and meetings, along with job and life training skills. Currently, the building is being remodeled and it's not clear how many men Trec House will be able to facilitate. However, Loy says violent crime and sex offenders will not be admitted and background checks will be done, as well as random drug testing. "There's no doubt that God has lead us to do this," Loy said, "We want to take that stigma away from drug addiction. Show that they're just normal people." Rescue 180, a drug coalition in Jefferson County, helped Trec House happen. Reverend Debra Shultz, who runs Rescue 180, says fighting addiction is two-fold, recovery and prevention. "This is a crisis. This is an epidemic," she added. The coalition is wanting to focus on county-wide education and build another facility to break the cycle of addiction within families. "I guess you could call it a family crisis center for our families to provide some much-needed counseling that juvenile court has passed down to us. That's what we need for substance abuse, that we need for our families and children," added Reverend Shultz. She says more of their long-term goals include training and education programs for everyone from family members to medical professionals.

"It takes us. This is our problem. This is not just someone else's problem." While it may take months, even years to complete all these goals, Reverend Shultz and Loy say it will make the difference. "If we change one life, that's our goal," said Loy. Rescue 180 has worked to make sure all first responders in Jefferson County are equipped with Narcan, which they carry in their patrol units. Reverend Shultz says their next goal is to get Narcan for all the volunteer agencies in the county.

Narcan is a medication used to block the effects of opioids. The coalition will have a meeting on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Dandridge Police Department. Residents are invited to come listen, share and learn about the coalition's plans end the opioid epidemic.

http://www.wate.com/news/local-news/new-addiction-recovery-facility-to-open-this-spring-in-jefferson-co/932718474