Facility that helps with addiction recovery launches new after-hours program

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Struggling with an addiction is a 24/7 battle, and the resources people need to get help mostly run on business hours. Now, one facility in Cincinnati is trying to change that.

Whether it’s drug addiction or alcoholism, it’s an around-the-clock fight to stay alive. Addiction Services Council is filling a gap they’ve been seeing in an effort to save lives.

“When we go into the hospitals on Fridays, and when we go into the hospitals on Mondays, that’s when we see the most clients,” said Sara Seiter, supervisor for client services and mobile engagement at Addiction Services Council. “I know between that Friday and that Monday, we have a lot of people that are lost."

The addiction services council is launching a new program the first week in February called AIME, After Hours Individual Mobile Engagement. The program is aimed to reach people at their darkest and most vulnerable times. They will be making peer supporters available after 8 p.m. on weekdays and all hours of the weekend. They will travel as teams of two to meet anyone who calls the number. More than that, they guarantee to show up within two hours of someone calling them.

"Just because we work business hours, addiction doesn’t work business hours,” said Seiter.

The people that show up to help you are people with experience: other recovering addicts.

"I did drugs my whole life. Twenty-six years active addiction. When I was in active addiction, I tried to call treatment facilities, and my moments of willingness just weren’t captured and I could have died,” said Cody Kincer, a peer specialist for AIME.

Kincer said willingness is key. Time is of the essence to act quickly because the time between when an addict asks for help and when they give up and get their next fix is a tight window. Kincer is the liaison between meeting people where they are and getting them their next resource as seamlessly as possible.

“If these guys show me a little bit of willingness, I am coming for them,” said Kincer.

It’s a door-to-door service unlike no other because what shows up at your door is a person genuinely looking to save a life.

The program is funded by a grant, that will last a full year, and they fully expect to keep the program going after that time frame. The number to call when the program begins in the first week of February is 513-620-RING.