[ Press Release ] Ipswich YMCA launches a free drug treatment support center

News Release Date: September 25, 2017

Contact: Danlin Chen, 857-498-1631

Ipswich, MA--September 25--Starting from Oct. 17, Ipswich YMCA will initiate a free project offering treatment to opioid addicts and help to their families. The new project will be carried out on the second and fourth Thursday every month at the Ipswich Family YMCA, Powder House Village, 112 county Road and is free to all participants.

The establish of support center is the first move of YMCA on the north shore which focuses on overdose problems. Cooperating with Massachusetts General Hospital Substance Use Disorder Initiative, the project provides high quality treatment from experienced staff.

The new project also offers day care service for participants’ children and opens to people in the surrounding community free of charge.

In recent years, due to the surging use of prescription opioids and the common use of heroin, the phenomenon of opioid addiction becomes serious in America. The north shore region, including Ipswich, are hit by this problem too.

With a lower average income, the death of drug abuse in Ipswich is even worse. In 2014, the death toll here is two times of the surrounding area.

The serious problem of drug abuse needs the attention of Ipswich community and should take actions to tackle it.

According to NIH (National Institutes of Health), addiction can be defined as “a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.”

Scott Lukas, director of Behavioral research lab, said “Addiction as a disease can be cured by proper treatment.” The new Ipswich support group will offer an opportunity for participants to receive treatment that cure their chronic disease in brain.

A research published in JAMA shows 20% of those who have drug addiction are not receiving treatment.

Sarah Wakeman, a medical director from MGH Substance Use Disorder Initiative, said “We know that stigma is one of the main reasons that people don’t access treatment.

Many addicts are stigmatized by their community and people around them label them as loser and say hurtful words to them.”

Many addicts lack positive treatment which is what Ipswich YMCA offers them.

Ipswich YMCA aims to make contributions to the community, responding to the residents of different backgrounds and needs for nearly 160 years. This new project also tries to fulfill their core purpose of serving the local people.

Founded by George Williams in 1844, the YMCA is a nonprofit organization in over 10,000 neighborhoods across the U.S., aiming to build a better community for residents. YMCA takes responsibility of improving healthy lifestyles, promoting the development of youth and maintaining stability of society. For more information of YMCA, please call 1-312-977-0031 or visit http://www.ymca.net.