Author: communications

Ryan S. grew up in Wayne County, Michigan, and at age 15 was “dabbling in pot and alcohol.” At 16, after having oral surgery, he was prescribed Vicodin for pain. He immediately liked the drug, and wanted more. Ryan’s use slowly escalated until, by his senior year in high school, he was a daily user of Oxycontin. Ryan worked hard and had money, but even so, his habit was costly: $40-$50 for a single Oxycontin pill! Like many people addicted to pills, eventually it just cost too much, and Ryan switched to heroin.  His life took a turn for the worse. Overwhelmed by his addiction, Ryan lost the trust and support of his family,…

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You might walk past them on the street and never know Robert Johnson and Sundae Maas are modern-day heroes. Quiet and unassuming, Robert could be a college professor, with his close-cropped gray hair, the button-down collar shirt and narrow, black-framed glasses. Sundae has the “rock star,” personality, with her blonde hair, big smile and fashionable tastes. But, different as they are, Robert and Sundae share their passion and love in fighting the opioid epidemic, while tirelessly helping others. In long-term recovery themselves, both are Recovery Coaches with HNV’s Project ASSERT, Sundae stationed in the emergency room at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, and Robert at the Psychiatric…

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