TRAVERSE CITY--A Northern Michigan non-profit is now the recipient of $100,000 to support drug addiction recovery.
In a ‘5 to 2 vote’ -- Traverse City commissioners approved the money for addiction treatment services for their integrated and engaged care program' -- also known as ‘pier’.
Last year, Addiction Treatment Services treated 1300 people wanting to remove the grip addiction has on them.
“It’s definitely because substance use disorder exists anywhere, the disease does not discriminate, it is in our rural communities, it’s local,” said Addiction Treatment Services CEO Paula Lipinski.
The burden of addiction is far reaching. According to methadone.org there were more than 3,000 drug overdose deaths in Michigan in 2023.
“It really has a significant impact not only on individuals, but on families as well as the community. We are a disease that really has been around for as long as time can tell,” said Lipinski. “And it really is something that is often stigmatized and overlooked. Treatment is extremely important to the health of an overall community.”
The $100,000 for Addiction Treatment Services is paid for by the taxes Traverse City collects on cannabis. Addiction treatment is costly at $400 per day with an average stay of 5 to 7 days. This money will be used to increase the number of beds.
“So, there might be a 5-to-7-day gap that we can provide a safe place to go. Another example would be, I’m leaving incarceration, and I have three days before I can enter into another treatment level of care.” said Lipinski. “These beds are provided for that, a population to give them a safe place so they don’t have to return to an unsafe environment that may cause them to relapse or just be unsafe overall.”
Addiction Treatment Services has 10 facilities in Northern Michigan that include withdrawal management, residential facilities for men and women, recovery homes and a mobile unit to serve those seeking treatment in rural communities.