CUMBERLAND — AHEC West’s Certified Peer Recovery Specialists will participate in Save A Life Day on Sept. 26 in conjunction with the Allegany County Health Department and the Garrett County Health Department.
Save A Life Day promotes the distribution of free naloxone, and more than 300 counties in 13 states have participating sites. AHEC West Peers will be at different sites in both counties, distributing naloxone and other harm-reduction supplies.
Peers will be present throughout the day at the Westernport, Frostburg and LaVale branches of the Allegany County Public Library, on Greene Street in Cumberland and in Garrett County. Allegany County Health Department staff will also be available in Lonaconing. AHEC West Peers will also be at the TPM Recovery Resource Center in Keyser, West Virginia.
Save A Life Day falls during National Recovery Month, observed annually in September. National Recovery Month recognizes and celebrates those recovering from substance use disorder and mental health conditions. It also serves as a platform to highlight new evidence-based treatment practices and honor the peers who play a crucial role in making recovery possible for millions.
“Gratitude in recovery is acknowledging the darkness you’ve walked through and appreciating the light you’ve found,” said Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Shalynn Cline. “Our Peers have walked that path personally and consider it a privilege to help others seeking to find the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“Peers are an amazing tool for showing that people who’ve dealt with SUD/OUD do recover. There are few examples more powerful than their lived experience,” said AHEC West Associate Director Melissa Clark. “We hope the community takes advantage of these opportunities to connect with them and that they take the time to learn more about what recovery looks like.”