Salem Reporter series looks closely at recovery and treatment
Addiction and treatment have been major focuses in Salem and Oregon in recent years. Reporting on those issues often focuses on policy and the resources available for people in need of them, such as local nonprofits, government programs and housing.
The stories of people in recovery can easily get passed over while looking at the issue broadly, so Salem Reporter spoke with three people to learn and share their journeys.
They spoke about the resources they needed, from detox to long-term counseling and medication. They showed how recovery is often a series of ups and downs, not a linear journey. Many touched on the importance of a supportive community to find and maintain sobriety. Some started recovery through encountering the criminal justice system, while others made their own decision.
Salem Reporter’s Profiles in Recovery series shares a deeper look at what treating addiction looks like. Here is the series in order of publication.
PART 1: Brianna Hatchell started her recovery from heroin after Josh Lair, a director at Ideal Option, stepped in front of the car she was in after getting out of jail for selling heroin and methamphetamine. Hatchell is now a recovery mentor at Soaring Heights Recovery Homes.
PART 2: Mark Parrish did three stints in addiction treatment over two decades to stop using. He spoke about the ups and downs of his journey through the music scene, parenthood and supporting others in recovery.
PART 3: Throughout his life, Billy Sly ran from the law, whether he was in elementary school, foster care or a homeless camp in northeast Salem. While in jail in 2022, Sly decided to stop using drugs and stop running. Now he is a board member at the Pathfinder Network and helps guide the nonprofit in supporting people involved in the criminal justice system.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She covers addiction and recovery, transportation and infrastructure.
