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

Congressman Bill Johnson visited an addiction treatment facility Friday in Carroll County after Congress passed a number of bills on addiction treatment.

The Bluffs addiction treatment facility in Sherrodsville is on the cusp of celebrating its one-year anniversary, using that publicity to give a tour to Johnson to show what success stories look like.

"Prior to coming here, I had tried AA meetings, I had sought counseling through the VA,” said BJ Marraccini, who is seven months sober.

Marraccini, a mother, wife and veteran, kept falling into a cycle of alcohol addiction.

"It just got progressively worse and worse until I just knew I couldn't do it by myself,” she said.

The Bluffs in-patient treatment center was what broke the cycle.

"This is our eleventh month of operation. We've treated over 500 individuals so far,” said CEO Dr. Richard Foster.

The remote, isolated campus concentrates on getting an addict clean and ready to re-integrate with family, friends and society.

"We look for the best therapies and the best activities for patients to help them start their journey of recovery,” Foster said.

"Where are the areas that federal grants can be targeted so we can expand successful programs?” Johnson said.

The congressman is looking to further federal dollars after 58 opioid-related bills passed last month. Johnson said validation and vetting of similar facilities for federal funding should have a holistic approach to treatment.

"Once you get a person physically clean, if you get them mentally and spiritually on the right track so that they know they are not there alone,” Johnson said,

"They teach you how to live. They don't treat you like a prisoner or an addict or an alcoholic. They teach you how to live once you're outside of these walls, this bubble of comfort, and I think that makes all the difference,” Marraccini said.

She stayed at The Bluffs 33 days. Stepping outside on day 34, she said she was anxious, but confident she was going home to a family showing support.

"Just don't be embarrassed to get help. If you need it, go and get it; reach out. You won't regret it,” she said.