With heroin use at epidemic proportions and substance misuse in our community at a critical state, an anonymous Boothbay resident has jumpstarted a financial aid fund for uninsured residents of the Boothbay Region (Edgecomb to Southport) to help defray the costs of substance misuse treatment at the EasterSeals Farnum Center in Manchester, New Hampshire or Farnum North in Franklin, New Hampshire.

Farnum programs provide individual and group counseling, 30-day residential programs for men and women, a co-occurring disorders program for clients who also have a psychiatric diagnosis, and a non-hospital medical detox program.

The Farnum Center uses a proven recovery model with low recidivism that is based on a philosophy known as Health Realization or the Three Principles. Using this approach, Farnum helps people rediscover their own innate health. It teaches that everyone has resiliency and the ability to bounce back and overcome adversity when they gain perspective of what gets in the way -- their thoughts. This program does not treat substance abuse as a disease, nor label people as addicts. At Farnum, people learn how to harness their innate capacity for health, insight, and contentment. Once you master how to be happy and in control of your feelings no matter what's going on, the need to escape by abusing alcohol or drugs naturally dissipates.

This Farnum Center Boothbay Region Financial Aid Fund was started with a donation of $50,000 after the donor interviewed graduates of the program and studied the effectiveness of this Health Realization approach being used at several rehab facilities across the country. The goal of the financial aid fund is that those seeking residential recovery services, who are uninsured or under-insured will be able to participate in this nearby program, which has proven to be so effective. One local resident has recently completed the 30-day program.

Recipients of assistance from the Boothbay Region Financial Aid Fund will also be informed about the newly formed Recovery & Resilience Support Group, based on the Three Principles/Health Realization philosophy in Boothbay Harbor when they leave Farnum. This Recovery & Resilience support group meets every Tuesday at 6 pm at the Community Center in the Meadow Mall in Boothbay Harbor, and is open to all. For more information about this program, contact Patty Seybold at pseybold@customers.com or 633-4368.