In the year 2000 the American Psychiatric Association began recommending referral to 12 step groups, specifically Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, to facilitate treatment of patients with substance abuse disorders. A multitude of studies have concluded that 12 step
groups “improve the likelihood of achieving and maintaining remission and reduce the need for professional care.” Al-Anon and Al-Ateen enable families to cope, heal and end the cycle of destruction caused by chemical dependency. The evidence is overwhelming that a strong recovery network enables people to recover and families to thrive. Alcohol abuse results in 1,646 deaths and 50,042 years of potential life lost each year in Indiana and costs the state an estimated $4.2 billion in lost workplace production, healthcare expenses and crime. According to the CDC, in 2021 alone there were 2,755 drug overdose deaths in Indiana. An involuntary test of the value of regular meetings was imposed by the Covid closures. The New York Times recently reported that the rate of relapse of recovering alcoholics and people who use drugs during the pandemic when in person meetings and contacts with sponsors was unavailable was alarmingly high.
The 2013 bridge expansion claimed the property of the Jeffersonville Token Club. That facility had served as the lone dedicated building for recovery meetings in our area for decades and its 34 weekly recovery groups were displaced. A massive void in recovery resources was created.
The established groups were forced to re-locate to less than ideal locations and many of the groups simply dissolved. A once strong, connected recovery community was dissipated and weakened.
The Serenity House, a highly effective recovery house for men since 1974, recognized the gaping hole in resources and agreed to accept a number of the meetings into the House. But the facility is not designed for this purpose and cannot approach meeting the need.
