Recovery advocates remind residents of local resources

By Editor | February 19, 2025 |

By Steven Spencer

While the holiday season is now behind us, those in recovery or those struggling with substance use may still be feeling the effects of the triggers that come with the holidays. According to the CDC relapse and overdose rates increase during the holidays, but there is plenty of support locally for those struggling with addiction.
Meagan McGlasson, Illinois Recovery Center Outreach Coordinator, said there are plenty of resources in the region to help residents on their path to recovery. From in-patient care to medically assisted care, Illinois Recovery Center is helping people find long-term sobriety.
“Over 80% of our staff is in recovery themselves including our doctor,” McGlasson said. “It’s super important because there is so much stigma that comes with addiction. If you’ve never been in that position you have no idea what you’re asking someone to do. Withdrawal is awful, especially for opioids, especially amphetamines, so having someone who’s been through that, who understands that, and who understands the goal is so important.”
McGlasson said the founders of Illinois Recovery Center started the organization because they had detoxed at state facilities, in jail, at home in bed and knew there had to be a better option for those who are ready to find long-term sobriety.
“They talk about it being lifelong and these people understand,” McGlasson said about Illinois Recovery Center.
Jersey, Calhoun, and Greene counties are known as a “blackhole” for addiction services and Illinois Recovery Center wants residents to know that help is available.
McGlasson encouraged anyone who is looking for long-term recovery and sobriety to reach out for help and utilize the resources available.
“If you want to get sober, you need help,” she said. “Stop pretending that on January first you’re going to make a resolution and stick to it. It doesn’t work for anything let alone substance abuse. Reach out to someone.”
Those looking for help can find resources available in the area at illinoisrecoverycenter.com, through the Greene and Scott County Recovery Council at greenecountyhd.org/recovery, and at jerseycountyhealth.org/resources.
“You just need connected with somebody. You need to figure out what program works for you and if you are not in a space to do that, call me and I’ll do it for you,” McGlasson said. “Call the health department and ask them what to do. Call somebody. Take that step. Say it out loud and the whole thing gets easier from there.”
Marianne Drainer, Chestnut Health Systems’ Community Health Specialist, is also working with the community to help reduce the amount of opioid overdoses. By providing free Narcan and Narcan training Drainer is working to help end the stigma surrounding substance use and prevent opioid deaths.
“My signal function is to lower the number of overdose deaths from opioids in Illinois,” Drainer said. “We train schools, churches, law enforcement, you name it.”
While there was some stigma surrounding the use of Narcan in previous years, it’s becoming more widely used and carried as it knocks the opioid molecules off the receptors in the brain that control breathing. Whether someone has intentionally used opioids or has accidentally ingested them, Drainer said the fact that it only targets the breathing receptors is what makes it so safe.
“You can give Narcan to a newborn,” she said. “Some mothers have used opioids while they’re in labor and delivery, so sometimes those newborns have to be Narcaned. Narcan has been around for decades and is still used in hospital recovery rooms, that’s how it got its start. It would bring people back out of anesthesia.”
Narcan is even safe enough to use on animals and has been used to help save the lives of search and research and k-9 unit police dogs, Drainer said.
“All it does is target opioid molecules on the opioid receptors,” she said. “If you have no opioid molecules on those receptors the body just excretes it. It only has one function. That’s what makes it so safe.”
Drainer said while Narcan has saved numerous lives, some people see it as a bandaid but it also serves as a stepping stone for those seeking long-term recovery.
“It’s slow, but that’s how meaningful change happens,” Drainer said. “There’s lots of good people that suffer from addiction, and we don’t have enough treatment facilities, we don’t have enough people treating them and we certainly haven’t got the information out.”
Drainer said an easy number to remember for those in need of help is 988, the suicide and crisis line.
Those interested in Narcan training can contact Drainer via email at [email protected].
“I can train one person or I can train 500. We do virtual or in person training. We do trains and churches or businesses. We’re doing a lot of training for construction groups.” Drainer said. “We do this in hospitals, we do this in schools, and we offer free virtual training on the third Thursday of the month.”
Sacred Spaces of Care is hosting a resource and film premiere on Saturday, Mar. 1, at the Lewis and Clark Hathaway Cultural Center. The resource fair will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. with the premiere of the film Finding Jacob beginning at 2 p.m. The film takes a look at the journey of addiction and recovery. More information on the resource fair can be found at sacredspacesofcare.org.