'Connect' provides resources to those struggling with mental health or drug addiction

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ohio (WKEF) -- Haven Behavioral Hospital is teaming up with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to help with the opioid crisis throughout the Dayton area.

Their “Connect” event on Friday was to help connect people with resources that they need.

The event featured 30 vendors including Families of Addicts, Women Recovery Center, and the Montgomery County Public Defender.

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However, the event’s main goal was to highlight mental health and substance abuse with the Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition.

The Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition is an initiative from Montgomery County Sheriff Streck and his office to invite treatment providers, residents, active addicts, and people in recovery to come together and focus on treatment for addiction and mental health issues.

"Haven has been a wonderful partner of the Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition for several years. So, if you're not familiar with the Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition, it's an initiative from Sheriff Streck and throughout the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to invite treatment providers, residents, people in active addiction, people in recovery, just basically everybody in Montgomery County who's invested in what's going on to get together," said Theresa Russell, Director of Criminal Justice and Outreach Services for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Event organizers say that stopping the crisis from happening is just as important as treating it.

“Prevention is so important before the crisis happens because it’s so much harder to recover from the crisis and go on and get the support service,” said Bill Hoying, Community Liaison with Haven Behavioral Hospital of Dayton.

If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health or drug addiction, you can go to the Montgomery County Drug-Free Coalition website for resources that they have available.