Latest news with #addictionRecovery
CBS News
an hour ago
- Business
- CBS News
From recovery to opportunity: Dallas nonprofit expands with Trevor's Place
Helping people recover from addiction and build better lives is no easy task, but it's the mission of the Dallas 24 Hour Club. A new chapter: Trevor's Place under construction Dallas 24 Hour Club The nonprofit is currently constructing a new facility, Trevor's Place, designed to help individuals reenter the workforce and secure better-paying jobs. The project, in development since last year, is now becoming a reality. "This is going to be our development office," said CEO Tim Grigsby, as construction continues on the new site. Support beyond shelter: A holistic approach to recovery The Dallas 24 Hour Club provides transitional housing and support for people experiencing homelessness and addiction. Grigsby said the goal is to help individuals achieve permanent sobriety and avoid returning to homelessness, one way being through economic empowerment. "Our response to that is helping people increase their wages," Grigsby said. Meeting the cost of living: Economic empowerment through training According to an MIT study, a single adult must earn about $23 an hour to afford living in Dallas County. Trevor's Place aims to help residents reach that benchmark by offering wraparound services, including life skills classes, education, and 17-week certification programs. "Trevor's Place is also meant to increase outcomes," Grigsby added. A personal journey: From resident to CEO For Grigsby, the project is deeply personal. He once stayed at the 24 Hour Club himself. "I checked in to the 24 Hour Club on January 8, 2012, and it was the best decision I've ever made in my life," he said. "They didn't care what I'd done or where I'd been—they cared that I wanted to change my life." Now, as CEO, Grigsby calls it a full-circle moment. "Man, I'll remember those days for the rest of my life—staying at the 24 and building my life back," he said. Stories of strength: Messages of hope and recovery One wall at the facility is covered in heartfelt messages and signatures from those who've received help. Among them is project manager Josh Burnett, who is celebrating 11 years of sobriety. "It's cool—10 years ago I was sleeping on an air mattress and trying to find my way," Burnett said. "Now I get to work with the same people who helped me back then." Looking ahead: Opening soon and seeking support Behind every message is a story of recovery and resilience—stories that will continue, thanks to the mission of the Dallas 24 Hour Club. Trevor's Place is expected to open in September. The nonprofit is still fundraising for the project. To donate, visit:
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Brockville, Ont. residents oppose future homelessness and addiction treatment hub on King Street
The former Fulford Academy in Brockville, Ont. on King Street East. June 2, 2025 (Jack Richardson/CTV News Ottawa) Residents in Brockville, Ont. are unhappy with the future location of the city's Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. HART Hubs are healthcare facilities that provide mental health care, addiction treatment, supportive housing, social services and more for those in need from the community. They do not provide supervised consumption services, safe supply, or needle exchange services. Earlier this year, the provincial government announced $529 million in funding for 27 new HART hubs in Ontario, including one in Brockville. A source tells CTV News Ottawa the location of Brockville's HART Hub will be 280 King St. East, the former location of Fulford Academy, a private school which closed nearly one year ago. The sale of the property closed last month. Nearby residents are opposing the plan, however. In a post on Facebook, community members appear frustrated with the lack of communication from city of Brockville officials regarding the location. Brockville HART Hub poster A poster stating there will be a HART Hub at 280 King St. E. in Brockville, Ont., stating concerns about the proposed location. (What's going on in Brockville and area/Facebook) The HART Hub will be run by Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health (LLGAMH). It will be funded through the government of Ontario. When reached for comment, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark's office said the provincial government does not have a role in selecting the location of the HART Hub, and any questions should be directed to LLGAMH. Responding to CTV News Ottawa's subsequent request for comment, LLGAMH said, 'We do not have confirmed locations, signed leases (properties will not be purchased), or Ontario government funding approval at this time, so we can't speak to the location details yet.' More details to come.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local leaders and addiction recovery organization advocates for change
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Addiction recovery providers around Hampden County came together Thursday evening to share resources and advocate for change. The Western Mass Policy Forum held at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield filled an auditorium as advocates shared the value of recovery and what it often looks like. 'If you ask anybody who's an addict, they didn't want to be an addict, you know, they became addicted. They became addicted to a drug or to alcohol. Nobody wants to live in that cycle,' shares Noel Sierra, Executive Director, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery. Overdose prevention centers treat those in need and keep addicts alive across the country. However, in Massachusetts, there are currently no such facilities, and legislation is needed to put them in place. Since 2010, Massachusetts has seen 23,000 people die alone due to overdose. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a person has overdosed, there are five steps you can take to help them. First, you'll want to check their breathing and verify if they are experiencing any type of discoloration, such as blue or gray. Next, you'll want to call 911 immediately. During that time, you can also give the individual Narcan using a push pump in their nose. It's important you stay with the person overdosing until help gets there to assist. Policy makers were also in attendance at the forum, advocating for change. Others, like a local director and producer, are using her recent documentary to contribute to the movement. 'Recovery is possible, and also the stigma of recovery is real, and people recover when they are supported and not judged,' says Lisa Olivieri. If you're interested in viewing her documentary 'Recovery City', visit here for local screening dates and times. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
28-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Recovering addict offers support to teens on the same path he once took
Social Sharing To Tim Durling, the time spent in his shop in Saint-Antoine chiselling used pallets into play structures for children is more than just a way to pay the bills. It's what saved him from a life derailed by addiction. "I probably spend too much time here, but it's what was created as my safety blanket," he said, covered in a layer of sawdust and sitting in front of a wooden playhouse and plane. A little more than 10 years ago, Durling was in the throes of drug addiction, on the run from the police, and separated from his three children. What began as a hobby to keep him busy as he began his recovery became the turning point to a better life. He created Pallet Works NB, which is now busier than ever. A weekly support group he started for teens in Moncton has been going strong for nine years. And he has reconnected with his own children. Durling has told his story countless times to students in local schools and through his work as an addictions counsellor. "I keep my reality very close to me," he said. "I don't forget the people I hurt . … I don't want to go down that road again." Eva LeBlanc first met Durling when she started a six-month recovery program at Portage Atlantic, a drug rehabilitation centre for young people. She was 16 when she was at Portage, southwest of Sussex, and would meet with Durling at least once a week. She said he was introduced to her as "the funny one" who could bring levity to an otherwise tense process. "It was like one of the first times that I had a genuine laugh being in my program, which really stuck with me." WATCH | 'I am an addictions counsellor, loving father and 10 years sober': Meet an N.B. man who found his way out of addiction by helping others 4 hours ago Duration 5:01 Tim Durling's path to recovery has led to a woodworking business and a support group for teens, where he offers what was missing in his own life. LeBlanc, now 19, still contacts Durling whenever she feels overwhelmed with her recovery. "I felt accepted by him," she said. "To be able to talk about it with someone that has been through it and that understands it to the core, really means a lot." LeBlanc is going to be four years sober in November. She still attends the weekly support group Durling offers for teens in Moncton every Tuesday at the North End YMCA in collaboration with the Anglophone East School District. For nine years, Durling has dedicated his time to helping teens like LeBlanc who are battling addiction or at risk of it. He calls the support group the Chase. "That's an opium expression, where you're chasing that high," Durling explained. "You're always chasing that dragon and you never catch it." Durling not only supports teens after they get sober, he also works to prevent them from falling into addiction. He knows that, as with many who face addiction, his story could have ended another way. Abuse at heart of addiction Growing up in Sussex, Durling said, he "came from a good family," played competitive hockey and had many friends through the sport. When he was nine years old, he said, he was sexually abused. "I had that trauma in the back of my head that just ate me up," he said. "It made me an aggressive person and made me a violent person. It just changed me." Durling said he came to terms much later in life with the fact that the abuse was the underlying cause of his addictive behaviour. It's what led to an alcohol addiction in his early teens, and a cocaine addiction in his early 20s that lasted into his 30s and 40s. He and his former wife owned a bar in Moncton for 13 years, which he said enabled his lifestyle. "It just became a playground for me … drug dealers, that's where they hung out, that's what they did," he said. "It went from a recreation to a necessity real quick." In the early 2000s, Durling went to a rehabilitation centre for the first time. His sobriety lasted about a month or two, he said, and then the cycle started again. In 2014, when he was 44, Durling hit what he considers rock bottom. He refers to it as his "summer of insanity." He was unemployed, and while he didn't consider himself homeless, he didn't have a permanent place to call home. "I had dug myself in such a hole," he said. "I had burned every bridge. No one believed anything I said. No one wanted me around and I don't blame them." After a short stint in the Southeast Regional Correctional Centre in Shediac, he ended up on the run from police for 30 days because of another charge. He isolated himself from his family and remembers his young son asking him to be part of his life. "My son was at an age where he was like, 'Dad, where are you?'" he recalled. "There was a side of me, too, that really wanted to be with my kids and wanted to be a better person." Determined to turn his life around, he moved in with his parents in Sussex. That's where he watched hours of YouTube tutorials, teaching himself to turn old pallets into coffee tables in his parents' garage. For months, he sold rustic-style creations online and eventually launched Pallet Works NB. Even though his daily life was headed in a better direction, he said, his addiction still wasn't. Providing support, then finding it for himself In 2015, Durling began volunteering at Portage Atlantic. That's when everything changed. "I really felt at home," he said. "When you hear a kid share about their own trauma, you're like, 'I can relate to that.'" Durling said it made him think about his own journey and how he hadn't dealt with issues related to his addiction. He confided in staff there, bought into the programs at Portage himself and got clean. "If I hadn't got that first shot, I don't know where my life would be right now because that was a life-changer," said Durling, who now lives in Shediac Cape with his girlfriend of four years. His Pallet Works shop has been moved to Saint-Antoine, about 34 kilometres northwest of Moncton. Eva LeBlanc describes Durling's support as "a comfort blanket" and said his transformation has led to the transformation of many, including herself. "He dedicates his life to helping people, which is something that you can't say about a lot of people. He is a lot of people's saviour, in a way."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Jim Irsay's Cause of Death Unclear, But Health Issues Were Well-Known
The cause of death for Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was not released, although the team said he died peacefully in his sleep at age 65. However, Irsay's past health issues are well-known, including a possible previous "suspected overdose." That doesn't mean that those past issues had anything to do with his death, however. That's still unclear. On May 21, 2025, the Indianapolis Colts shared that the team's "beloved owner and ceo, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon.' The team did not release further details of how Irsay died, and no official cause of death has been released. He dealt with some serious health problems in recent years that received a lot of media attention. According to ESPN, Irsay was open about his "decades-long struggles with addiction." Irsay and his family championed and gave money to causes that championed addiction recovery and mental health, ESPN reported. He sparked fan concern in January 2025 when he was wheeled out in a chair at a game. According to DailyMail, he was using a StairSteady, which is "a device typically used in hospitals for patients without power in their legs." In 2023, Real Sports posted a video clip with Irsay, writing that he was "grateful to be alive after years of addiction nearly destroyed him He said in that interview that he overdosed "one time" and had gone to rehab "at least 15 times." In the overdose situation, Irsay said he had "mixed multiple drugs that I didn't know anything about," and he went "code blue" and stopped breathing that time, He was told by the doctor that he was "one lucky man" because the doctor had practically "signed the death certificate." In January 2024, emergency responders found the Indianapolis Colts owner "unresponsive and laboring to breathe when called to his home in what a police report logged as a suspected 'overdose,'" Fox59 reported, saying the incident had occurred the month before the January 2024 report. The television station reported then that police were called to 'assist fire with a male that was unresponsive, breathing, but turning blue," identifying that male as Irsay, then 64. 'Irsay was unconscious with abnormal breathing (agonal breathing), a weak pulse, and he was cold to the touch,' the report obtained by Fox59 said, but Irsay recovered. The team said at the time that Irsay was "being treated for a severe respiratory illness," according to Fox59. According to ESPN, after that situation, Irsay "had made a few public appearances in the year since those incidents, but he had not been seen much lately." It's believed he skipped the NFL draft last month, ESPN reported. Irsay had several surgeries that affected his mobility. "Irsay still is in rehab mode following a pair of recent surgeries," Fox59 reported in July 2024. "The first addressed a left leg/quadriceps/back issue that resulted from a fall in his bathroom, impacted the nerves, caused lingering numbness with the leg and weakened the quad. The second in mid-May was to deal with a subsequent, serious hematoma." According to ESPN, Irsay's dad was an alcoholic. He spoke about Alcoholics Anonymous's 12-step program. "Those 12 steps have literally saved hundreds of thousands or millions of lives," Irsay told ESPN. "My grandfather died in 1927, eight years before AA was founded. And there was no hope for him. They would just stick people in sanitariums back then." "Because of those 12 steps, I've been able to bridge the dam of generations and say, 'Stop! No more!' These families won't be broken apart and destroyed by all the strife that goes on," he added to ESPN. The Colts' statement focused on Irsay's passion for the Colts and the city. 'Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly his love for his family were unsurpassed," the Colts wrote in the statement posted to X. "Our deepest sympathies go to his daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, Kalen Jackson, and his entire family as we grieve with them.' The team said that "some of Jim's fondest memories came from his youth working training camps in Baltimore and growing relationships with players, coaches, and staff whom he considered his extended family. He worked in every department before he was named the youngest general manager in team history in 1984 when the Colts arrived in Indianapolis. After he took sole ownership in 1997, he led the Colts to a long series of division titles and brought the city its first Super Bowl championship.' The team praised Irsay's 'generosity,' saying it can 'be felt all over Indianapolis.'
