An outpatient provide facility opened Monday in Phillipsburg to provide services to those suffering from addiction and mental illness.
Twenty-four years later, Stephen Ellis still vividly remembers the struggles of alcoholism. He remembers the way it sucked him in and served as his escape. And he remembers the way it turned on him. At his lowest point, he was 260 pounds and unrecognizable. His addiction was ripping his family apart.
Now, over 20 years later, he sees citizens of Phillipsburg - the town he has lived in all his life and now serves as mayor of - battling the same demons. The proof is in the seven deaths caused by opioids since January 1.
In sharing his story and allowing people to see the drastic turn that his life has taken, he hopes to be part of the solution.
"What was once something I was scared to talk about is now a strength (of mine) as mayor of a town facing the same battle," Ellis said. "We cannot arrest our way out of this problem."
Instead, support must be offered. This message echoed throughout the ribbon cutting ceremony of Freedom House Monday afternoon at 427-429 S. Main St. in Phillipsburg.
The new drug abuse and mental health outpatient facility, which received funding from Warren County, will offer intensive and standard outpatient services.
Although it specializes in substance abuse, it is expanding to provide mental health services, education services for the community and vocational rehabilitation services.
This is the second outpatient facility that Freedom House has opened in New Jersey. The first, located in Clinton, opened in October 2014.
"I struggle to find words to thank Freedom House for coming to Phillipsburg," Ellis said, emphasizing the tremendous need in the area and pointing out that there are no other facilities in the town that provide these services.
"Freedom House gives us hope that addicts will recover, reunite with families and build and maintain strong communities," he said.
The community also plays a large role in combatting this epidemic. Executive Director Glenn King spoke of the stigma attached to addiction and the ways in which it halts progress. If people are afraid to come forward and get help, the issue will never be solved, he said.
King, who is also a recovering addict and graduate of the Freedom House program, emphasized that addiction has many faces. No one is immune to its relentless grip or the suffering and turmoil it causes. But no one should have to go through it alone.
"We need to look at addiction as a disease," King said, noting that the American Medical Association recognizes it as such. "The label we put on a person ... is how we treat them."
To eliminate the stigma is to eliminate the fear that people have to seek help, and more progress can be made, he said.
The facility is working to diversify its funding, explained Compliance Coordinator Kristina Raymond, in hopes no one is turned away. Medicaid and private insurances will be accepted. Although officially serving Warren County, Freedom House anticipates and is receptive to aiding addicts from other areas of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Christie dedicates last year as governor to tackling addiction
Freedom House is one of many facilities opening across New Jersey as part of Gov. Chris Christie's vow to combat addiction in his last year in office.
As part of this initiative, Christie announced in February the addition of 900 treatment beds for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol and suffer from mental illnesses. This was a move to expand inpatient services across the state.
Christie planned on attending Monday's ceremony, but did not make it. His office could not be immediately reached for comment.
"We anticipated the enormous impact opioid addiction would have," said Freedom House Board Member Brian Regan. "Everyone is touched by addiction ... it's not hidden in corners or closets anymore."
Alyssa Mursch may be reached at amursch@lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.