By STEVE FREKER
MALDEN — When someone struggling with opioid addiction checks out of a detox or rehabilitation facility, their options can be limited to, “what next?”
Many return to the situation they were in before they sought detox or rehab. The cycle often continues, according to Paul Hammersley, president of Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA).
That is why MOA is pushing for the creation of a recovery center that could potentially serve as a hub for recovering addicts in communities across the region.
“There’s a recovery center in South Boston and there’s another one in Lawrence; that’s it,” Hammersley said. “There is just nowhere else for people to go for guidance, counseling or assistance directly related to getting their lives back together.”
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MOA officials say there are many communities the Malden recovery center could assist, including Everett, Lynn, Medford, Melrose, Revere, Saugus, Somerville and others in Greater Boston and the North Shore.
Local and state officials strongly back the potential for a recovery center in Malden, Hammersley said. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson has been a steady supporter at every step so far, he said.
State Sen. Jason Lewis and the Malden House delegations of Reps. Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino and Paul Brodeur have also endorsed the proposal, Hammersley said.
Lewis has joined with the Malden legislative delegation to lobby for a state budget inclusion of $1.5 million to provide funding for several of these centers in the region. Funding would come from the state Department of Public Health.
“It is still very, very early in the process, but we are very excited with the strong support we have gotten initially,” Hammersley said, adding that a 5,000-square-foot site has already been identified in Malden. The recovery center would be named the Bridge Recovery Center.
“This would not be just a meeting place and would have no residential aspect,” Hammersley said. “It would be an active, multifaceted hub where people in recovery could get services that could help them in the process.”
Hammersley said he and other officials, including Christenson, Donato, and Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis toured the Devine Recovery Center in South Boston as part of the planning. They were impressed with the vibrant, upbeat atmosphere, Hammersley said.
“We got there at 11 o’clock in the morning and over 50 people had already signed in; that tells you the need for these types of services,” he said.
Hammersley also said the recovery center would be a natural base for the 30 recovery coaches MOA expects to have trained by the end of April. They would be on site and could be called in when needed, he said.
Hammersley also said that MOA has worked to establish support partnerships with local health and service agencies such as Cambridge Health Alliance, the Malden YMCA and others to serve as links to a future recovery center.
“It is still very early and too soon to tell if this can be a reality,” he said. “But we can really help people and save lives if this comes here.”