The Georgia Recovery Community is working in communities across Georgia; making a difference and saving lives.
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and Recovery Community Organizations
The 38 existing and developing Recovery Community Organizations across Georgia serve critical and life-saving needs for individuals, families and communities in rural, suburban and urban areas of Georgia. In 2020 these organizations averaged over 22,000 recovery support services per month to 4000 unduplicated individuals. Several programs provided nearly 2,000 services per month. RCOs are home-grown organizations led by members of the local community who effectively respond to the needs of their neighbors and communities providing nonclinical recovery services and support. Georgia Council provides training and guidance so that these truly inspirational community based organizations can take seed and flourish. Considering their impact – the return on investment for RCO development is nothing short of amazing.
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and the Northeast Georgia Health System Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
In partnership with Northeast Georgia Health System the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse manages a peer recovery support program in the neonatal intensive care units of two NGHS campuses. This program has provided ongoing support to more than 300 new and expecting mothers at risk of giving birth to infants born with substances in their system. This program has reduced the length of stay for babies born with NAS from 19 days to 15 days, resulting in a savings of millions of dollars. The support mothers receive through this program assists them in finding and maintaining long term recovery from substance use disorder, this keeping families together.
The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse CARES Warm Line
The CARES Warm Line is a recovery support initiative connecting with those seeking or in recovery through calls and texts 365 days a year. We believe “Connection is the opposite of addiction.” The Warm Line is staffed with Certified Addition Recovery Specialist with lived experience and training to support peers, family members and allies in all pathways to recovery. The Warm Line values diversity and promotes inclusivity as they strive to promote recovery for individuals, families and communities. In 2019 the Warm Line Recovery Coaches made 8006 connection in 2020 they made 16,059. This is an increase of over 50%. This year the Warm line has averaged over 1600 calls per month. This increased volume can be attributed to the pandemic related challenges.
