TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) — Indiana leaders want to make sure those struggling with substance abuse aren't forgotten in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. They issued a grant allowing Tippecanoe County's opioid quick response team to expand its services.

"What would recovery look like for you and how can we help you get there," asked Jason Padgett, Addiction Services Programs Director.

This is a question Padgett is happy his Phoenix Recovery Solutions' team can continue asking people struggling with addiction even in the midst of a pandemic.

"We want to make sure that during this outbreak and during the pandemic that everybody in the state has access to at least some type of help and services," said Padgett.

Through a grant from the Indiana Recovery Network, Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition, and The Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions, Phoenix Recovery Solutions is now able to expand its services to Benton, Newton, Pulaski, Fulton, Cass, and Carroll County. Before, it only serviced residents in Tippecanoe, Jasper, and White County. Right now, this expansion grant is set to last for six months.

"We're using our 24-hour hot-line, we do try to do most of our services over the phone or virtually because of the pandemic," said Padgett. "We've just been trying to connect with people as much as we can through social-distancing." 

Phoenix Recovery Solutions is an outreach program that helps people struggling with addiction find recovery. The organization offers a peer-to-peer recovery approach. Under this pandemic, Padgett said their services have become even more crucial.

"The uptick in alcohol went up by like 75% when this hit," said Padgett. "I don't think that we know statistically what the uptick in illicit substances is but I know that it's a very seclusive population anyway."

"Drug addiction is not just in Carroll County, it's just not in Tippecanoe County, it's nationwide," said Les Field, a person in recovery at Home with Hope in Lafayette.

Field knows first hand how these times can be tough.

"It's very important to get this help because a lot of people can use this time of isolation to use drugs and just make their addiction just that much worse," said Field.

Field is a Carroll County resident. He got into Home with Hope's recovery program just before Phoenix Recovery Solutions was awarded its grant. Although he did not receive services through Phoenix, he sees it helping lots of people moving forward.

"I know where I was at, I was in a very dark place and today I can say that I feel great, I really feel great," said Field.

Phoenix Recovery Solutions currently serves at least 300 people a month in just Tippecanoe County alone. The organization is hosting a training for new Community Health Workers and Certified Recovery Specialists. It will be held on Jul. 13 - 17 at Valley Oaks Health Medical Arts Building, 415 N 26th St. You can register here. They're hoping to get more helpers on board as they anticipate an increase of calls during this pandemic. 

You can reach Phoenix Recovery Solutions' 24-hour peer support hotline at (756) 490-0381.