Sober Support Unit Opens in Oakland County

A collaborative effort with Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN), Common Ground, and local law enforcement for a new Sober Support Unit (SSU) in Oakland County is announced today. The Unit assists with immediate substance use needs of the community to enhance jail diversion efforts and reduce non-emergency visits to the hospital.

The Unit began with a soft launch last month and is now open to the community. The goal of the new sobering and monitoring program is to provide a supportive environment for people experiencing side effects of drug and alcohol intoxication and to serve as a gateway to further treatment for substance use disorders.

“The program provides a safe place for individuals who request to receive substance use assistance and begin their journey toward recovery,” states Christina Nicholas, administrator of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services at OCHN. “This option is available to anyone in Oakland County with a substance use disorder.”

Law enforcement partners can transport individuals from local jurisdictions and/or Sheriff substations to the SSU who:

• Agree to go to the Unit in preparation for substance abuse services and recovery

• Are willing to participate in a mental health/substance abuse assessment

“Partnerships are key in addressing the opioid epidemic in the county and nation,” says Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “Our Rides for Recovery Program is an integral part of the ongoing relationship with OCHN and demonstrates our commitment to families whose lives are impacted by substance use disorders.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports significant increases in drug overdose death rates in many states, including Michigan. The number of drug-related deaths has risen in Michigan in the last decade, with over 2,000 statewide in 2016.

Common Ground will manage the non-medical unit, which is staffed by trained recovery coaches and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), who offer twenty-hour monitoring and observation as a first step toward long-term substance use treatment services. The new program will accommodate ten individuals at any given time, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

“This program fills an important need in our community and provides a safe alternative to jail or an emergency room,” says Heather Rae, President & Chief Executive Officer at Common Ground.

The Sober Support Unit is housed at the Resource and Crisis Center (RCC) on the Oakland County government campus in Pontiac at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 32 East, Pontiac, MI 48341.

Individuals who do not wish to engage law enforcement support can still seek substance use services through OCHN’s access point, which is also located at the RCC. Service access information is available online at www.oaklandchn.org or by calling 248-464-6363.

About OCHN

Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,800 Oakland County residents, including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals have Medicaid.

OCHN’s current network of service providers includes Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easterseals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete list of substance use service providers is available on OCHN’s website. For more information about OCHN call 800- 341-2003 or visit www.oaklandchn.org.