Help for those battling addiction in Monroe County is shifting into high gear. As News13’s Nicole Walters shows us a van is now available to provide access to treatment.
It’s only been about a week but this so-called "billboard on wheels" is already turning heads.
LETI Representative and Certified Recovery Specialist Stan Lewandowski says, " I’ve had a few people waving at me. We’ve had one person walk up to us and ask us for Narcan."
And for a very good reason.
Monroe County Detective Kim Lippincott says, "People are dying and this van is going to help save lives."
The Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative or LETI Program helps low level drug-offenders instead of putting them into the criminal justice system.
Lippincott says, "There’s so many people in our community struggling with drug addiction and we’re finding this revolving door at our jail. And we’re thinking how can we think outside the box, how can we change things and how can we help people get into treatment."
Now officials are able to further break down the barrier to getting that treatment thanks to the county using opioid settlement funding to purchase the van.
Lewandowski says, "In this area they have some public transportation but it’s not, it’s a very big area so it doesn’t really reach the whole county."
But the road to recovery is more than just transportation. The program is driven by certified recovery specialist.
LETI Nicole VanBlarcom says, "Having somebody there who understands you, you’re more open to listening."
Nicole VanBlarcom was one of the first success stories of the LETI Program and knows first-hand what those car conversations can mean.
VanBlarcom, "Recovery has afforded me a lot of beautiful things in my life and that’s why I continue in this process and I’m really grateful every day that I’m clean."
It’s another way Monroe County is working to put addiction in the rear-view mirror for as many residents as possible.
