“Addiction and isolation always go hand in hand like recovery and community go hand in hand.”

These words, spoken by Dr. C. Thomas Brophy, medical director of the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center, address a reason why people fall into substance use and the reason behind its annual recovery event. Community and support are at the center of recovery because a lack of either could lead a person deeper into feelings of anxiety, depression and reliance on unhealthy substances.

The Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center had its fourth annual Discover Recovery symposium Wednesday, March 11, where Brophy and other staff and community members discussed substance addiction and ways to recover from it. It’s an important event to have for any city because people may not otherwise know where to turn when struggling with addiction.

And having a place to turn is imperative for people experiencing addiction. If left untreated, the effects get worse and worse. The Gaiser Center and other organizations like it are important for getting information out and for being places where treatment is delivered without judgment — another important aspect in getting people to take the first step toward treatment.

Because taking that first step is probably the hardest part. People going through addiction may fear judgment, but also legal consequences for possessing and using substances. Those are the opposite of what they need to recover.

Again, once a person gets into treatment, community and support is paramount, so if someone confides in you that they need help with addiction, be there for them.

— ET