Annual Speaker Jam recovery event focuses on community support, lifting up others
BUTLER TWP — Steve Bergmann is nearing 20 years of sobriety. A recovering alcoholic, he knows how lonely the road to recovery can be — and the huge difference a supportive community makes.
“I know that any type of addiction, it can be isolating. I’m from upstate New York and there wasn’t much in the community for that,” Bergmann said. “Mental health and addiction, they were kind of kept under wraps; where now, it’s very important because there’s a lot of people (who) go through treatment and don’t want others to get into that. People want to help others understand.”
Bergmann was one of a handful who shared their experiences of recovery at Speaker Jam, an annual event put on by various county agents and nonprofits.
The event also serves to connect residents with resources for health struggles like addiction, mental health, grieving and more.
“When we have events like this, it brings about a sense of community and a sense that people are not alone. It shows people care about them and that people support them, regardless of what their struggles are,” said Donna Jenereski, director of drug and alcohol programs for Butler County.
Tyrone Smith, another speaker sharing his recovery journey at Monday’s event, talked about how in his experience, having others speak about what they’ve been through can leave an impact.
“I know a lot of people that struggle with addiction. It stems from loneliness. That’s one reason. When you’re with other people who have the same struggles as you, you feel like you have more in common,” Smith said.
Groups sharing resources and connecting with residents at Speaker Jam included the Grapevine Center, the Butler County Opioid Overdose Coalition, NAMI Butler County and others offering services related to traumatic injuries, mental health disorders, recovery from physical and sexual violence, addiction and more.
“The stories are powerful. We had one guy who was talking about how he lost his father at a young age and how he started doing dangerous things and became a drug addict and drug dealer. Since then, he’s come into his own and accepted help from others and gotten sober and he’s become a good father,” said Dee Fields of the Grapevine Center. “It’s important for people to see that there is hope.”
Bergmann and Smith, along with others in recovery, answered questions from community members about tips for avoiding relapsing, where to find help, how to keep peace of mind and other advice.
“We all have our own struggles and you don’t always seem them, but everyone has something going on. And it’s important to feel like you’re not alone,” Marcie Friel, of the Butler County Community Support Program, said.
When interacting with family, friends and neighbors in some type of recovery, Smith said the most important thing is to pay attention to the “why” — why they ended up in a bad situation and why they want to get better — and not squarely on the “what” they are struggling with.
“I grew up in an abusive environment. No father, single mother, addiction, crime and police were around — abuse and also being neglected. I spent a lot of my life in foster care,” Smith said. “Other than providers and caseworkers, I always wanted someone solid and concrete, not just to hold me to the rules on the book but see me as the child and the person.”
