Rhode Island Opioid Crisis: Bristol Recovery Center Opens

BRISTOL, RI — A new drug recovery center opened in Bristol Wednesday. The East Bay Recovery Center is located at the parish hall at St. Michael's Episcopal Church on Hope Street. The center is run by the East Bay Center.

"It offers peer-to-peer support services, health and wellness activities, employment assistance programs, community outreach, and recovery-oriented social events, connecting those in recovery to the people, supports, and activities that help make long-term recovery a reality," said Rhode Island Department of Health spokesman Joseph Wendelken in a statement. "The Recovery Center aims to personalize recovery by serving as a physical location where recovery allies can organize and provide support and care."

Governor Gina Raimondo attended the center's opening Wednesday.

"Let’s work together to end the negative perception around mental health," Raimondo tweeted Tuesday. "There is never anything wrong with seeking the help you need."

There has been some hope amid the state's opioid epidemic. There were 323 opioid overdose deaths in 2017, down from 336 in 2016, according to the state Department of Health.

Last month, Rhode Island's congressional delegation announced funding for 1,300 doses of Narcan, the overdose antidote.

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For more information on the recovery center and other programs, contact the East Bay Center’s program director, Tommy Joyce, at 401-302-6231.

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