The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) today announced the opening of the new Voices Recovery and Community Outreach Center in Binghamton. The center is operated by Fairview Recovery Services, with a $1.75 million grant from OASAS. It will provide free support and services for people who are in recovery from a substance use disorder and for their families.

“Voices Recovery Center will help people in the Southern Tier who are in recovery, by giving them the tools and support they need to live healthy, substance-free lives,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, New York State is at the forefront of the movement to ensure that recovery supports are in place for people who need them.”

The Voices Recovery and Community Outreach center offers a safe, non-clinical, substance-free space to support people in recovery from a substance use disorder. One of the center’s goals is to reduce isolation and to provide a forum for positive social interactions, by helping people in recovery and their families connect with peers who are going through similar challenges. It will offer skill-building and employment-readiness programs, in addition to wellness and recreational activities, including yoga, music and art classes.

The center will also provide information to help people access addiction treatment and navigate insurance issues related to addiction. All services are offered free of charge and are developed with the input of the people who use the center.

Voices Recovery and Community Outreach Center is located at 340 Prospect Street in Binghamton. It is in the site of the former St. Ann’s Convent, which was purchased and renovated by Fairview Recovery Services. In addition to the recovery center, Fairview is hoping to expand to offer reintegration housing at the same facility in the future.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the new and improved NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the Access Treatment page on the NYS OASAS website. Visit the #CombatAddiction website at oasas.ny.gov/CombatAddiction to learn more about how you can help to #CombatAddiction in your community.

Visit www.combatheroin.ny.gov for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the State’s Talk2Prevent website.