MANSFIELD — Richard Marshall said the Brightview Health addiction treatment center team is led by the mantra of treating its patients like people, and addiction like a disease.
“Our patients are dedicated and enthusiastic about their recovery goals, which motivates our team to do everything we can to help them succeed,” the community outreach coordinator said. “We believe there should not be any barriers to quality addiction treatment.”
BrightView’s Mansfield team celebrated three years of addiction treatment this week. To date, the Mansfield team has provided more than 12,000 hours of medical treatment and nearly 9,500 hours of counseling to more than 960 unique patients.
BrightView offers medical stabilization for opiates, alcohol and other drug use disorders. The organization offers medication-assisted treatment, individual and group counseling, case management and peer support.
Clinicians and counselors provide care and ongoing support to serve patients six days a week. The outpatient addiction treatment facility aims to provide biological, sociological and psychological resources to lead to lasting recovery.
The treatment center was founded in Cincinnati hoping to provide patients with holistic care and social support. Its social service connections help patients to find housing, insurance, food stamps, employment and resolve any court issues.
Marshall said new patients walking into the Park Avenue West center can expect to be greeted by a receptionist and have their vitals checked, complete their first counseling session and receive stabilizing medication.
Patients can schedule appointments online, or walk in for their first comprehensive treatment up to 3 p.m. on weekdays. Marshall said it can take four hours for a same-day appointment, but follow-up care is usually shorter depending on a patient’s needs.
“Opiates definitely draw a lot of the headlines, but there are substance use issues all over in Richland County,” he said. “So much of our patient population struggles with both substance use and mental health, so there’s definitely a need for recovery services here.”
Facts from the Ohio Department of Health
There were a recorded 4,915 unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio in 2022. This was a 5% decrease from 2021, which was Ohio’s highest year for unintentional drug overdose deaths. Fentanyl was involved in 81% of overdose deaths in 2022, often in combination with other drugs.
Naloxone, such as Narcan, can help save people from an opioid overdose. It will not harm anyone if they are administered naloxone when they are not overdosing. Anyone living in Ohio can receive free overdose response education through Project DAWN.
Richland Public Health provides free Narcan kits to residents who watch a 15-minute training video and complete a short quiz.
BrightView patients will meet a provider on their first day to be prescribed safe withdrawal medication. They will work together to help manage the patient’s physical cravings and treatment progress.
The treatment team will meet with the patient as needed to address additional medication needs. A mental health counselor will help patients identify goals and build a plan for recovery on an individual and group basis.
“Based off your screens, how you’re feeling and what you’re sharing, you’ll get a personalized plan,” Marshall said.
“We offer medication-assisted treatment, so that allows our doctors to truly find what’s right for you. Based on your symptoms and what you tell our doctors, we hope to find the best, personalized recovery plan for you.”
Data from BrightView
BrightView measures results to make sure its programs work for each patient. Patients decrease illicit substance use by an average of 70% within the first 90 days of treatment, with many patients achieving long-term recovery.
Patients also see a decrease in unemployment, arrests, time spent in jail, alcohol consumption and emergency room visits. BrightView patients also report nearly a 50% increase in engagement with regular medical providers after 90 days in treatment.
The organization’s more than 85 centers provide a practical treatment approach that includes medication assisted treatment (MAT), individual counseling, group therapy, and wraparound social services, as well as work on co-occurring disorders. Locations are generally able to dispense medication on-site, which makes treatment comfortable and convenient for patients.
The Mansfield office has 11 staff members. Marshall said it serves mostly Richland County residents but also covers about a 30-mile radius including Crawford, Huron, Ashland and Knox counties.
Team members offer free lunches every third Monday at the Bowman Street pavilion, which Marshall said also helps with BrightView’s engagement goals.
“That’s a great opportunity to see some patients and how they’re improving,” he said.
“It’s great for people to know us by our first names and put them at ease if they come here. So if they already know who you are, they’re going to be more honest and open with the whole process.”
Marshall said his goal for the next year is to be more involved with the community and referral partners such as local hospitals, primary care physicians and state highway patrol officers.
“We’re looking to better market ourselves so that everybody we work with has a better understanding of BrightView and what we represent,” he said. “We want to build on what we’ve made and continue to grow in 2024.”
Those interested can learn more information about BritghView’s resources at brightviewhealth.com or by calling the 24/7 helpline at 833-510-4357. Office hours at the 580 Park Ave. West location are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday.
