Recovery resources available for those suffering from opioid addiction in Massachusetts

now fentanyl is helping to drive the opioid crisis across the country it's the most common drug involved in overdose deaths 22 News anchor Taylor night shows us some of the resources that are available to help people who are struggling with addiction the CDC reports that 224 people died each day from an opioid overdose in 2022 one local organization is trying to help people who are suffering from addiction before they become part of that statistic fentol is in a very big issue it's in almost all of the drugs um that are here in the area fentanyl has saturated the illegal drug Supply in Western Massachusetts drug dealers have been mixing fentanyl with other drugs like heroin meth and cocaine because of its low cost and high potency that high potency is what makes it addictive we provide services and we also work to break the stigma the Gonda Center is one of the many local organizations working to help people who are struggling with addiction the programs that Ganda offers are safe programs that people can come to us our staff are nonjudgmental uh many of our staff have lived experience so have walked in the shoes of many of the people that we serve they have residential recovery homes for people transitioning from a detox program back into the community that helps connect those in recovery to therapy permanent housing and employment they also have peer recovery support centers treatment programs recovery coach coing and more Jos Rivera is one of the recovery coaches he's part of the Holio police Community Center a team that searches the streets of hoolio every day looking for people who need help cuz a lot of individuals that are out there because of the lifestyle their living may not be fully aware of all the services that are available for them the gandera center also distributes a medication design to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose a lot of our residential programs uh we give Naran even when they're being discharged so we ensure that they continue to be safe officers with the Springfield Police Department have been carrying Narcan for 6 years now spokesperson Ryan Walsh says that officers have administered 617 life-saving doses of the medication in that time members of the Holy o police Community Center also use Naran we think it's very very important because that's um saves lives you know people shouldn't be afraid to use the Naran you're not going to get in trouble if you use it you're not going to get in trouble and it's not harmful so if you use Naran on someone and let's just say they're not suffering from an overdose it's not going to hurt them the gandera center CEO Lois nesi told 22 News their programs help people no matter where they are in their recovery Journey we don't give up on people we give them a chance and so for those who are listening it's important to know if you know somebody who's struggling with addiction say something invite them to get some help there's always there's always a way there's always an opportunity there's always somebody who cares 22 News will be airing a special about the Nationwide opioid crisis the Next Generation breaking fentanyl's grip you can watch that right here Sunday night at 7 working for you Taylor Knight 22 News