U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

EAST LIVERPOOL - As the drug epidemic continues to affect Columbiana County, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson looks to see what more can be done to help those in need.

Johnson (R-Marietta) paid a visit to Second Chances Recovery on Wednesday, where he learned about the day-to-day operations of the recently-opened facility and how the center is able to help those in the community as well as some of the challenges that are currently being faced not only with recovering addicts but also facing the facility.

Accompanied by a representative from his Salem office, Johnson toured the facility and viewed some of the rooms that are being utilized by the doctors, counselor and staff in order to get a feel for what goes on daily.

Throughout the visit, Johnson spoke with the center's office manager, Amber Hancock, who pointed out some of the positive results from the facility since opening four months ago. The center accepts insurance as opposed to cash and also provides counseling and group therapy to help those looking to clean up.

Hancock said of the first 30 patients who sought treatment and counseling at the outpatient rehabilitation center on St. Clair Avenue, all 30 have been able to remain clean after a month.

"Some of them were prescription drugs that we knew they couldn't be on, and we gave them the option of either going off of them or not, coming here," Hancock said. "Those first initial 30 that were here are now clean and have been clean for past a month."

Hancock, however, mentioned that there have been problems that have been experienced as patients attempt to get better. One major problem brought up was the lack of suitable and available transportation. Hancock added that although residents without a ride can utilize the Columbiana Area Rural Transit Service (CARTS), the service requires at least three days notice before transporting a resident to his or her desired location.

"They can't remember what they did yesterday, let alone know to call four days ahead to get a ride, and we've had three no-shows," Hancock said. "They want to be here. It's not a matter that they don't, but now they have to reschedule for Monday because they have to call for that ride.

"That's hard for us because we only have a doctor here once a month. Their doctor is only here once a month, and that is our number one rule is you have to see a doctor. We don't call in prescriptions. We're not going to give you a week. If you miss it, you have to wait a month because we need to know that you're on the same page, that you're doing ok."

During the visit, meanwhile, Johnson brought up the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), a law signed by President Barack Obama last month which is the first major addiction legislation in 40 years on a federal level and serves as the most-comprehensive effort in order to address the opioid epidemic and focuses on prevention, treatment, recovery, law enforcement, criminal justice reform and overdose reversal.

Johnson also discussed about some conversations he had while in Washington, D.C. with fellow congressmen, which included an article regarding decriminalization the use of drugs in Portugal, in which money that had been used for incarceration was channeled into money tailored to long-term treatment programs, resulting in 50 percent decrease in drug abuse.

He said he has talked to his health care subcommittee colleagues, and believes that it could be a major change in America.

"I come from a military culture," Johnson said. "You get popped for using drugs, you're going to lose a stripe. You're going to lose your career. Chances are, you're going to be kicked out of the military for non-conformance because you're a high risk. On the outside in America today, if you're arrested, you're not going to pass a background check, you're going to lose your license."

Johnson said he would look to other matters to help with the clinic regarding grants that may be available, but added that the fight against drug abuse will need to take more than just government officials.

"The federal government is not going to be able to solve this problem alone," Johnson said. "It's going to take communities, it's going to take local government, it's going to take elected officials, families, churches. We got to have a cultural shift in addressing this problem to provide the resources to you guys."