ANNOUNCER: BACKSTORY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF KEYBANK AND BY A GENEROUS GIFT PROVIDED BY DR DOUGLASS AND SUZANNE NECKERS WHO BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON AN INFORMED PUBLIC WHICH NEEDS HONEST DEPENDS ON AN INFORMED PUBLIC WHICH NEEDS HONEST AND TRUTHFUL JOURNALSIM THAT INFORMS AND EXPLAINS.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) JASON HIBBS : THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN OR WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND APPARENTLY LIKE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THE COVID 19 CRISIS HAS MADE MATTERS WORSE.

I'M JASON HIBBS FILLING IN FOR JUSTICE LANDZINGER AND TODAY ON BACKSTORY WE ARE DISSCUSSING OPIOIDS AND ADDICTION IN NORTHWEST OHIO.

OUR GUESTS MATT BELL, A RECOVERING HEROIN ADDICT SOBER FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS NOW, HE TOOK HIS MESSAGE TO RECOVERY TO THE STREET.

FOUNDED RECOVERY CENTERS ACCROSS OUR AREA AND IS NOW THE CEO OF 4 DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN OUR AREA AND AND LIEUTENANT STEVE ROGERS WITH THE LUCAS COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE DRUG ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM ALSO KNOWN AS DART.

THE LIEUTENANT OVERSEES DART'S DAILY OPERATIONS.

IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US TODAY.

MATT I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ADDICTION ENDED WITH HEROIN BUT STARTED WITH A PRESCRIPTION, A LEGITIMATE PRESCRIPTION FROM YOUR DOCTOR.

TELL US YOUR STORY.

MATT: SURE, GOOD MORNING GUYS AND YES THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

MY STORY IS VERY SIMILAR TO I THINK MOST PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE TYPE OF ADDICTION I STRUGGLED WITH IN THEE PAST AND GOOD UPBRINGING GOOD SCHOOLS, GOOD FAMILY, NEVER UMM STRUGGLED WITH ANY SORT OF TRAUMA OR ABUSE OR ANY SIGNIFICANT THINGS PEOPLE THINK THAT AN ADDICT WOULD STRUGGLE WITH OR AN ALCOHOLIC AND UMM WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE I PLAYED BASEBAL, HAD A FULL SCHOLARSHIP THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO AND I HURT MY SHOULDER AND HAD A MINOR OUTPATIENT SURGURY AND LEFT THAT SURGERY WITH 90 PERCOCETS AND WHEN I EXPERIENCED THOSE PILLS FOR THE FIRST TIME I ENJOYED THE FEELING THEY GAVE ME LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO AND I HAD NO EDUCATION ON THEM, I HAD NO CLUE HOW QUICKLY YOU COULD BECOME PHYSICALLY DEPENDENT ON THEM EVEN IF YOU ARE A COMPLETELY PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL AND A LOT OF THAT LED TO DENIAL AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING AS I STARTED TO TAKE THEM AND AS I TRULY NEEDED THEM IN ORDER TO FUNCTION ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS BUT IT GOT STRONGER AND STRONGER AND UMM BEFORE I KNEW IT THE PILLS WERE GONE AND I HAD TO START BUYING PILLS AND YOU KNOW THOSE PILLS, THIS WAS BACK IN 2007.

PILLS WERE VERY EXPENSIVE, IT WAS HARD TO SURVIVE PENDING $200-$300 A DAY ON ILLEGAL PILLS.

SO I SWITCHED TO HEROIN AND UMM I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO, I HAD NO CLUE.

IT WAS THE WORST DECISION I HAD EVER MADE.

BUT 9 YEARS ESSENTIALLY WAS WHAT HAPPENED OF HEROIN ADDICTION AFTER I MADE THAT SWITCH AND I NEVER WENT BACK TO ANY SORT OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL AFTER THAT OTHER THAN IF I WAS TRRUELY COULD NOT GET HEROIN AND THE ONLY TIME I STOPPED WAS IF I WAS IN A TREATMENT CENTER OR IF I WAS IN JAIL AND THAT HAPPENED OFTEN IN THOSE 9 YEAR.

IN FACT IT WAS 13 ARRESTS IN 4 STATES, 28 REHAB CENTERS AND A HANDFULL OF OVERDOSES AND VERY CLOSE TO LOSING MY LIFE HOMELESSNESS, JUST EVERYBODY IN MY LIFE WAS AWAY FROM ME, WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH ME BECAUSE OF HOW I TREATED THEM.

DURING MY ADDICTION, THEY NEEDED TO SEPERATE THEMSELF FROM ME SO IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I ENDED UP REACHING OUT TO DART IN 2015, THEY WERE THERE UMM WHEN THEY LIKELY COULD HAVE JUST SAID THIS GUY IS A LOST CAUSE WE HAVE TRIED TO HELP HIM TOO MANY TIMES, HE HAS GONE TO TREATMENT TOO MANY TIMES HE HAS GOT FELONY WARRANTS ALL OVER THE PLACE WE SHOULD YOU KNOW, BY EVERY STANDARD LOCK THIS PERSON UP BECAUSE THATS WHAT HE DESERVES BUT THEY GAVE ME A SHOT, TOOK ME TO TREATMENT AND I WAS ABLE TO GET CLEAN OCTOBER 15TH 2015.

JASON: CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT!

LIEUTENANT, HOW COMMON IS THAT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO JUST STARTED WITH A PRESCRIPTION.

STEVE: NO UHH JASON GOOD MORNING AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT DART AND ADDICTION.

IT IS VERY COMMON.

IT IS VERY COMMON WITH CLIENTS OUR OFFICERS ARE WORKING WITH DAY IN AND DAY OUT, HAVE SIMILAR STORIES WITH MATTS STORY AND YOU KNOW UMM SINCE THE INCEPTION OF DART WE WORKED WITH OVER 5000 INDIVIDUALS WITHIN LUCAS COUNTY AND IT IS JUST AN UNFORTUNATE STORY THATS ALL TOO COMMON BUT YOU KNOW PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY POLICING IS VERY MUCH NEEDED SUCH AS DART AND YOU KNOW SHERRIFF THARPE IMPLEMENTED DART IN JULY OF 2015 AND NOW WE CAN SEE 5000 INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED WE ARE GETTING THEM TREATMENT WE ARE NOT GIVING UP ON INDIVIDUALS JUST BECAUSE THEY DO RELAPSE AND THIS IS AS SHERIFF THARPE HAD SAID THIS IS COMMUNITY POLICING AT ITS BEST.

SO YOU KNOW EACH MONTH I RECIEVE INFORMATION FROM OUR LUCAS COUNTY 911 ADMINATRATORS OVER THERE AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY ARE KEEPING TRACK OF 911 OVERDISE CALLS PLACED TO THEM THE CALL CENTER.

AND IN 2017, THERE WAS 2084 OVEROSE CALLS PLACED TO 911.

2018 THERE WAS 2004.

2019 THERE WAS 1933 AND IN 2020 THERE WAS 1909.

SO THATS A PLUS WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE.

OBVIOUSLY WISH THE NUMBERS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASING BUT ANY DECREASE IS A POSITIVE AND WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND YOU KNOW OVER THE YEARS IT HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE TEAM EFFORT NOT ONLY FROM DART BUT SUCH AS TREATMENT CENTERS LIKE MIDWEST AND ZEPF CENTER AND UNISON AND YOU KNOW LUCAS COUNTY IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES WE TRULY DO AND THE RELATIONSHIPS WE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS WITH THESE TREATMENT CENTERS HAS REALLY MADE LUCAS COUNTY A STEP AHEAD OF OTHER COUNTIES ACCROSS THE COUNTRY.

JASON: IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN EMPHASIS NOW ON DOCTORS TO PRESCRIBE FEWER OPIODS.

MATT, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO DO NEED SOME TYPE OF PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICINE FOR A LEGITAMATE PAIN OR WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE PERSON WH IS AFFRAID OF THEIR PRESCRIPTION MAYBE TURNING INTO AN ADDICTION?

MATT: I REALIZE WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY AND TIME NOW WHERE WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE.

WE ALWAYS WANT IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

NOBODY WANTS TO BE IN PAIN.

BUT TRY TO SEE OUT ALTERNATIVES AND TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THAT.

I THINK THAT EDUCATION IS KEY.

JUST TO KNOW THAT THE POTENTIAL OF THIS HAPPENING COULD BE THERE AND IF YOU START TO EXPERIENCE THESE SIGNS, YOU NEED TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, LEARN ABOUT YOU KNOW MAYBE TRYING SOMETHING THAT IS A NON-NARCOTIC ALTERNATIVE FIRST OR IF YOU ARE GOING TO, THOSE FIRST COUPLE DAYS ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST PAINFUL AFTER THE SURGERY THEN UTILIZE THE PRESCRIPTION THE NARCOTIC MEDICATION MAYBE FOR THOSE 2 DAYS OR TAKE HALF OF THE AMOUNT, IF IT SAYS TO TAKE IT ONCE EVERY 6 HOURS TAKE IT ONCE EVERY 8 HOURS OR WHATEVER IT IS BUT JUST TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF THOSE MEDICATIONS THAT ARE GOING INTO YOUR BODY.

I AM CERTAINLY NOT A DOCTOR AN CAN'T GIVE MEDICAL RECOMMENDATIONS BUT TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND BE AWARE IT COULD HAPPEN AND IF YOU START TO FEEL LIKE YOU LIKE IT TOO MUCH GET ON IT NOW BECAUSE IT COULD LITERLLY BE THE DIFFERENCE OF A DAY OR 2 DAYS YOU WAIT TOO LONG AND THAT PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE BECOMES SO STRONG, SO MUCH STRONGER THAN ANY OF US HAVE ANY SORT OF UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

IT IS REALLY HARD TO GET OUT OF SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES, YOU KNOW TAKINg IBUPROFEN AND TYLENOL TOGETHER CAN BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE IF NOT MORE EFFECTIVE THAN TAKING A PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLER BECAUSE PRESCRIPTION PAIN KILLERS DON'T KILL THE PAIN, THEY JUST GIVE YOU A ILLUSION THAT IT IS NOT THERE.

IBUPROFEN AND TYLENOL ACTUALLY TREAT THE SYMPTOMS OF SELLING AND INFLAMMATION AND CAN ACTUALLY MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER SO TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEN USE THAT AS A LAST RESORT BUT JUST BE AWARE, BE VERY IN TUNE WITH WHATS HAPPENING WITH YOUR BODY AND BE HONEST.

LIEUTENANT, WHAT TYPES OF DRUGS ARE CLASSIFIED AS OPIOIDS AND HOW MUCH OF THAT DID YOU SEE COMPARED TO OTHER SUBSTANCES IN LUCAS COUNTY?

STEVE: WELL FOR US AT DART YOU KNOW WE SEE, ALL WE FOCUS PRIMARILY ON OUR OPIOIDS, WETHER ITS SYNTHEIC OPIOIDS SUCH AS FENTANOL CAR FENTYNAL, OR YOU HAVE YOUR HEROIN, UMMM UNFORTUNATLY, THOSE ARE BING LACED WITH OTHER DRUGS SO A LOT OF TIMES WHAT OUR OFFICERS ARE EXPERIENCEING IS ANYTIME WE RESPOND TO IT, SO WHAT WE DO AT DART, WE RESPOND Immaculacy ONCE AN OVERDOSE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT OFFICER WILL THEN ENGAGE THE PATIENT AT THE EMERGECY ROOM AND THEN THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE PATIENT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS FIND OUT HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN USING DRUGS, WHAT THEIR DRUG OF CHOICE IS, HAVE THEY EVER BEEN TO TREATMENT, WHAT THEIR EXPEREICE WAS LIKE IN TREATMENT, CONVERSATION IS VERY CASUAL AND WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON IS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAD THE OVERDOSE WE ARE NOT THERE TO OBTAIN DRUG RELATED INFORMATION, WE ARE NOT THERE TO ARREST THEM, ALTHOUGH ARRESTS DO HAPPEN AT TIMES UMM WHEN SOMEONE DOES HAVE A WARRENT THATS NOT SALVAGEABLE UNFORTUNATLY WE HAVE NO CHOISE IN THAT BUT PRIMARILY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS GET THEM LENGTHLY TREATMENT SERVICES AND UNFORTUNATLY MANY TIMES WHERE INDIVIDUALS SAY I HAVE NO ADDICTION TO OPIOIDS WHATSOEVER.

I USED COCAINE YOU KNOW COCAINE BEING LACED WITH FENTINAL IS BIG IN OUR COMMUNITY HERE.

THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE WOKEN UP AFTER SMOKING MARAJUANA AND NEXT THING THEY KNOW, THEY ARE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT THERE WHELL UNFORTUNATLY THAT WAS PROBABLY LACED WITH FENTYNAL CAR FENTYNAL, THOSE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS THAT ARE MAKING THERE PRESENCE VERY KNOWN ON THE STREETS HERE IN LUCAS COUNTY SO YOU KNOW WE PRIMARILY FOCUS ON OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSES BUT THATS NOT TO SAY IF SOMEONE CALLED THE OFFICE AND SAID HEY I HAVE AN ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL CAN YOU HELP ME GET INTO TREATMENT, YOU KNOW WE ARE HERE FOR ANYBODY WHO TRULY IS BATTLING ANY KIND OF ADDICTION BUT AS FAR AS TRACKING AND OUR DATABASE GOES ITS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON OPIOID RELATED OVERDOSES.

JASON: SO MATT IT SEEMS LIKE IN LUCAS COUNTY AT LEAST THE NUMBERS OF OVERDOSES ARE TRENDING DOWNWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WHICH IS GOOD.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF ARTICLES ABOUT HOW CORONAVIRUS AND LOCKDOWNS, AND ISOLATION HAVE IMPACTED ADDICTION.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT IN YOUR TREATMENT CENTERS?

MATT: PRE-COVID WE ALWAYS STAYED AT AROUND 90% CAPACITY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 320 BEDS.

MOST OF OUR BEDS WERE FULL ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

SINCE COVID, WE HAVE BEEN ABOVE THAT SO WE WERE VERY FEARFUL WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, IF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE SEEKING TREATMENT OR SO AFFRAID OF THE VIRUS THEY WOULD STAY AT HOME AND CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE THE CYCLE OF ADDICTION BUT UMM WE HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND I THINK A LOF OF AGENCIES HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB O MAKING SURE THAT LEVELS OF CARE ARE STILL OPEN, SERVICES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FACILITIES ARE STILL SAFE AND CLEAN.

STAFF IS PROTECTED, INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL SEAKING TREATMENT BUT THERE IS ONE NOTE I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT SINCE COVID WE HAVE SEEN A SINCE WE STARTED MOST INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TREATMENT, THE MAIN PRECIPITATING DIAGNOSIS IS OPIOID DEPENDENCE.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OPIOID DEPENDENCE.

AND SINCE COVID HAS STARTED WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE OF INDIVIDUALS SEEKING TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY SO IT HAS ACTUALLY ALMOST IT IS CLOSE TO BEING EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE SEEKING TREATMENT FO OPIOIDS SO ITS NEVER BEEN THAT WAY ITS ALWAYS BEEN A ABOUT 50% OPIOID 30% ALCOHOL, AND THEN THE OTHER 20% HAS BEEN OTHER STIMULANTS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES BUT IT IS REALLY CLOSER TO ABOUT 40% AND 40% NOW OF OPIOIDS AND ALCOHOL.

SO WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A DECREASE IN OPIOID AND A BIT OF AN INCREASE IN ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY.

JASON: OK AND WE HAVE SOME RESOURCES WE ARE ABOUT TO SHOW ON THE SCREEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS DEALING WITH THIS, SO GRAB YOUR CELL PHONE, OPEN UP THE CAMERA APP AND GET READY TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THESE WEBSITES, WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT SHOW YOU THAT, AND HAVE MORE DISSCUSSION WHEN BACKSTORY RETURNS.

(MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) (MUSIC) JASON: WELCOME BACK TO BACKSTORY WE ARE SPEAKING WITH MATT BELL, A RECOVERING HEROIN ADDICT WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE NOW TO HELPING OTHERS WHO ARE DEALING WITH ADDICTION AND LIEUTENANT STEVE ROGERS WITH THE LUCAS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE THIS DRUG ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM ALSO KNOWN AS DART LIEUTENANT, THERE IS ROWING RECOGNITION THAT ADDICTION IS MORE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAN A CRIME YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WHEN DART RESPONDS TO SOMEONE WHO HAS OVERDOSED AT A HOSPITAL, THE EMPHASIS IS LESS ON ENCARCERATION AND MORE ON TRYING TO GET THEM INTO REHAB BUT LET ME FLIP THAT.

WHEN DO IS JAIL PERHAPS MORE APPROPRIATE THEN REHAB IF EVER?

LIEUTENANT ROGERS: YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE INCARCERATION IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BEST ROUTE AN OPTION FOR SOMEBODY WHO ABSOLUTLY REFUSES TO TRY TREATMENT SO WHAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A VERY SRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH LUCAS COUNTY DRUG COURT AND WE HAVE A DART OFFICER ASSIGNED TO OUR LUCAS COUNTY DRUG COURT WITH JUDGE ENGLISH OVER THERE AND WHAT THAT OFFICERS ROLE IS VERY UNIQUE COMPARED TO WHAT OUR TYPICAL DART OFFICERS DO HERE OVER IN OUR OFFICE AND WHAT THAT DART OFFICER IS DOING HE IS THE ONE ENGAGING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEEMED HIGH RISK, USUALLY THEY HAVE 4 5, 6 PLUS OVERDOSES AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TREATMENT EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED BY DART OR YOU KNOW VOLUNTARILY SEEKING TREATMENT ON THEIR OWN.

AND WHAT HE IS DOING IN COURT YOU KNOW LIKE I SAID THERE ARE TIMES WHERE INCARCERATION IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BEST OPTION FR THEM.

HE HAS INTERN WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS AND DRAWING UP SOME PEOPLE AND SEARCH WARRANTS AND UMM GETTING HIM IN, FILING CHARGES AND INTERN THEY ARE HOPFULLY GETTING ENROLLED IN THE DRUG COURT.

NOW A DRUG COURT, AS LONG AS THEY PARTICIPATE AND FOLLOW THE GUIDLIES IMPLEMENTED THROUGH DRUG COURT THEY CN, WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO IS WORK ON GETING THAT CHARGE EVENTUALLY EXPUNGED OFF THE RECORD ND GETTING THEM OUT OF PRISON BY FOLLOWING THE GUIDLINES THAT ARE SET SO THERE ARE TIMES LIKE I SAID WHERE SOMEONE ABSOLUTLYREFUSES ANY HELP WHATSOEVER.

OUR OFFICERS OVER HERE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF THAT ALONG WITH SEVERAL, I KNOW TOLEDO POLICE KEEPS TRACK OF THAT AS WELL.

THOSE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS ARE THEN FORDED OVER FROM DART OVER TO OUR DRUG COURT OFFICER.

AND THEN THEY LET THE COURT DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND HOPEFULLY WITH THE SAME GOAL IN MAKING SURE THEY ARE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY GETTING THEM INTO TREATMENT AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE GETTING BACK OUT INTO ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY WORKPLACES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

JASON: LIEUTENANT DO YOU SEE A LOT OF INSTANCES WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE CONCERNED AND THEY CALL THE AUTHORITIES BUT THEY HESITATE BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT THAT FAMILY MEMBER GOING TO JAIL AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE?

STEVE: ABSOLUTLY, WE GET CALLS ALMOST DAILY THROUGH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THAT ARE CONCERNED AT THE SAME TIME LIKE YOU HAD MENTIONED, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE THEIR LOVED ONE GOING INTO JAIL.

UMM.... AND THATS WHERE THE UNIQUNESS OF DART COMES INTO PLAY.

THERE, MOST OR YOU KNOW, DURING THIS PANDEMIC, COVID, IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO ENTER HOUSES AS FREQUENTLY AS WE WERE.

BUT PRE-COVID WE GOT THESE CALLS ALL THE TIME.

WE WOULD GO OUT THERE, WE WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, THAT IS BATTLING THE ADDICTION WITH THE EMPHASIS THAT WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

WE ARE NOT HERE TO TAKE YOU TO JAIL.

GIVE US A TRY.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF IT AND WE CONTACT FACILITIES SUCH AS MATT'S AND WE HAVE THE WE ARE HAVING DAILY COMMUNICATION IF THEY DO ACCEPT OUR OFFER TOGET THEM INTO TREATMENT SERVICES AND WITH, LIKE I SAID WITH MMIDWEST AND THE ZEPF CENTER AND UNISON.

ITS A WELL OILED MACHINE AND WE JUST LIKE I SAID IT TOOK A WHILE TO BREAK THE STIGMA OF WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL BATTLING ADDICTION'S VIEWPOINT WAS ON A POLICE OFFICER'S ROLE AND WHAT WE ARE BIG ON IS MAKING SURE WE ARE NOT ENTERING SOMEBODIES HOUSE WE ARE NOT ENTERING HOSPITALS WEARING YOUR TYPICAL STREET OFFICER'S UNIFORM.

IT IS ALL BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE WE WEAR AT DART SO HOPEFULLY WE MAKE THE CONVERSATION BE A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE ITS ALL ABOUT BUILDING TRUST AND I CAN SEE OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND SINCE I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED IN JANUARY OF 2018 WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO PARTICIPATE WITH DART IF THEY DO RELAPSE, THEY ARE REACHING BACK OUT ON THEIR OWN TO THEIR DART OFFICER SAYING HEY YOU KNOW DEPUTY WHALEY, I OVERDOSED OVER THE WEEKEND I AM EMBARESSED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND YOU KNOW, THATS WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR.

WE ARE HERE TO GET THEM RELINKED BACK INTO TREATMENT AND HOPEFULLY CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY INTO RECOVER.

JASON: MATT, YOU SAID YOU WENT TO REHAB 28 TIMES AND THAT 28TH TIME SOMETHING CLICKED AND YOU, IT LED YOU ON THE STREETS.

YOU HELD UP SIGNS I BELIEVE WITH A FRIEND OF YOURS AND THEN FOUNDED RECOVERY CENTER.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PART OF THE STORY.

MATT: NORMALLY NUMBERS AND STATISTICS I SHARE WITH PEOPLE IM RELATIVELY PROUD OF.

THATS ONE OF THE NUMBERS I CANT SAY I AM PROUD OF IS 28 TIMES IN TREATMENT BUT IT ALL HAPPENED FOR A REASON AND YOU KNOW I KNEW WHEN I GOT CLEAN AND SOBER THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE IT FOR ME.

IT WAS EITHER THIS OR I WAS GOING TO END UP AT, WHETHER THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE LIFESTYLE THAT CAME ALONG WITH ADDICTIONS AND THE THINGS I WAS DOING OR BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO OVERDOSE.

THATS ALL THATS WHAT HAPPENS WITH PEOLE THAT ARE UTILIZING DRUGS I WAS USING BACK THEN.

UMM THERE ARE NO PEOPLE THAT RETIRE AS ADDICTS.

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN.

I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT I KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO HAVE A LIFE THAT WAS AS COMFORTABLE AS I WANTED IT TO BE BECAUSE OF ALL THE WRECKAGE THAT I HAD CAUSED IN THE PAST AND I KNEW THAT IF I WAS GOING TO CREATE A LIFE FOR MYSELF AND HOPEFULLY A FAMILY ONE DAY THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN THIS ARENA BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH YES I WENT TO TREATMENT A LOT OF TIMES AND GOT ARRESTED AND EXPERIENCED ALMOST A DECADE OF A LOT OF NEGATIVE STUFF THAT I COULD TURN THAT AROUND WITH THE RIGHT PERCEPTION ATTITUDE AND USE THAT AS TOOLS AND AS AN ASSET INSTEAD OF A LIABILITY AND I WAS DETERMIDED TO DO THAT AND REMEMBER BEING IN DETOX AND WRITING ALL THESE THINGS I WANTED TO DO WITH TEAM RECOVERY AND STARTING A TREATMENT CENTER AND I MADE A LIST AND I HAVE THAT LIST STILL TODAY AND I LITERALLY JUST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE THINGS I SAID I WANTED TO DO I MADE THEM HAPPEN AND I WAS DETERMINED AND UM I ASKED FOR HELP, THATS THE BIGGEST THING.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING.

I MEAN HONESTLY THE ONLY THING I KNEW HOW TO DO AT THAT POINT IN MY LIFE WAS HOW TO GET HIGH AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF I WAS EVEN GOING TO KNOW HOW TO STAY CLEAN.

I WASN'T SURE IF I WANTED TO AT THAT POINT.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS, IF I FAILED SO MANY TIMES THAT I WAS SORT OF IN THIS MENTALITY AND THIS STATE OF MIND THAT WHEN AM I GOING TO FAIL?

BECAUSE THATS ALL I HAD KNOWN SO FAR UMMM BUT ASKING FOR HELP EVERY SINGLE DAY, TURNING IT OVER TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN ME AND LEANING ON OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE IT BEFORE ME AND SAYING HOW DO YOU START ABUSINESS, HOW DO YOU LEGITAMITLY DO IT?

HOW DO YOU FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN DO ACCOUNTING?

HOW DO YOU FIND LEGAL REPRESENTATION, HOW DO YOU LEARN HOW TO MANAGE MONEY?

HOW DO YOU DO ALL THESE THINGS?

AND THATS ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU ASK FOR HELP, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE THERE IN THIS WORLD OF RECOVERY WHETHER THAT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR IF IT IS PEOPLE IN THE ROOMS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONOMOUS OR NARCOTICS ANONOMUS BUT I HAD SOME GREAT MENTORS THAT TAUGHT ME HOW TO DO IT AND UMM AND WE JUST HAD FUN THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND MADE SURE THAT WOULD STAY AT THE EPICENTER AND I THINK THAT THATS SOMETHING WE DO REALLY WELL IS UMM WE BUILT THE TREATMENT I WISH I COULD HAVE HAD YOU KNOW THERE WAS TREATMENT THAT DID THINGS PRETTY WELL AND THERE WAS TREATMENT CENTERS THAT ALSO DID THINGS VERY POORLY.

AND IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO THINGS POORLY AND THE WAY I PERCIEVE THINGS AND YES ITS A BUSINESS BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE IT ABOUT PEOLE FIRST AND I RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE I NEVER FELT THAT WHEN I WAS IN TREATMENT SO I SAID IT IF WE ARE GOING TO START A TREATMENT CENTER, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT FUN, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT DEEP IN CLINICALY INVASIVE AND IT WILL BE LONG TERM WITH ALL LEVELS OF CARE AND WE WILL MAKE SURE ITS AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE YOU DO OR DON'T HAVE.

IT HAS BEEN A JOURNEY BYT REALLY UTILIZING THOSE LIABILITIES AND TURNING IT INTO ASSETS IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION.

THATS HOW WE DID IT AND CONTINUE TO ASK FOR HELP AND I STILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR HELP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO YOU KNOW AND I KNOW WE CAN GET BETTER AND THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING SO WE NEED TO GROW AND OPEN UP MORE LOCATIONS AND THAT IS ON THE HORIZON IN THE NEAR FUTURE HERE.

JASON: DO YOU OFTEN ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT COST AND DURATION OF STAY?

YOU KNOW I DON'T WANT TO GO TO A RECOVERY CENTER FOR 30 DAYS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR I AM AFFRAID I CAN'T AFFORD IT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT?

MATT: IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUST GIVE A FLAT OUT ANSWER BECAUSE EVERYONE'S NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT.

SOMBODY THATS USING METHAMPHETAMINES MIGHT NOT NEED A DETOX 3.7 OR HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE WHERE SOMEONE USING ALCOHOL OR BENZODIAZAPINES OR OPIOIDS MIGHT NEED A HIGH LEVEL OF CARE AND BE IN A HOSPITAL ZONED FACILITY FOR A WHILE MONITORED BY DOCTORS AND NURSES SO EVERYONE'S SITUATION IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT BUT I THINK AGAIN MY GOAL SINCE DAY ONE AND WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO IS HOW DO WE TURN NO'S INTO YES.

IF WE COULDN'T FORMALLY TREAT SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF A,B, AND C REASONS THEN WE NEED TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE REASONS AND MAKE SURE WE CAN FIND CARE FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER THATS STARTING A WHOLE NEW BUILDING OR STARTING A NEW PROGRAM OR NEW MODALITY, UMM IF ITS GOING IN NETWORK WITH A DIFFERENT PAIR OF INSURANCE COMPANY, THEN WE WORK ON THAT AND WE HAVE REVENUE MANAGEMENT AND THE BILLING TEAM WORK ON THAT SO REALLY TRYING TO ELIMINATE ANY BARRIER TO TREATMENT UMM YOU KNOW, THE LENGTH OF STAY IS ALWAYS A QUESTION.

SOME PEOPLE THEY CAN'T STAY IN TREATMENT AS LONG AS I DID.

I STAYED IN 9 MONTHES AND THAT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE HOMES THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE JOBS AND CAREERS THEY NEED TO GET BACK TO AND THATS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE.

STATISTICALLY THE LONGER YOU STAY IN TREATMENT, THE HIGHER YOUR CHANCES ARE OF STAYING LONG TERM, SO WE ALWAYS TRY TO LENGTHEN THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

WE WORK WITH EMPLOYERS AND TRY TO GET FMLA APPROVED AND WORK WITH THE FAMILIES TO GET THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SHOULDN'T LET YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER, HUSBAND OR WIFE COME BACK TOO SOON.

PUT UP THOSE BOUNDARIES AND STICK TO THEM, LET THEM GET HEALTHY HERE AND THE GOAL IS TO COME HOME ONE DAY.

THATS EVERYBODY'S GOAL IS TO BE DONE WITH TREATMENT AND NEVER COME BACK.

JASON: SO MATT I AM SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF ON THAT NOTE, WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE WATCHING THIS OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION?

MATT: GET HELP.

GET HELP NOW!

IT IS AVAILABLE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF TREATMENT CENTERS OUT THERE, THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT WILL ANSWER YOUR CALL, DAY AND NIGHT, LIGHT, DARK MIDWEST.

CALL FOR HELP, YOU CANNOT DO THIS ALONE, YOU CAN'T DO IT AT HOME.

PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY SINGLE DAY AND UMM EVERYBODY CAN RECOVER.

IT IS POSSIBLE AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IS THERE FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE.

JASON: THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU SO MUCH.

LIEUTENANT STEVE ROGERS WITH THE LUCAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DRUG ABUSE RESPONSE TEAM AND MATT BELL WITH UMM THE MIDWEST RECOVERY.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR WATCHING BACKSTORY.

I'M JASON HIBBS.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

ANNOUNCER: BACKSTORY IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF KEYBANK, AND BY A GENEROUS GIFT PROVIDED BY DR. DOUGLASS AND SUZANNE NECKERS, WHO BELIEVE THAT DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON AN INFORMED PUBLIC WHICH NEEDS HONEST AND TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM THAT INFORMS AND EXPLAINS.

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