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There are more than 10,000 substance abuse recovery houses across the country. Few can offer additional medical treatment to patients, and until now, none in Connecticut could do so.
“We’ve heard from a lot of our partner agencies about the referrals they have to make to the program,” Stacey Lawton, CEO of Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, said. “It really is a universal need.”
Lawton and Ashland Hayes, SCADD’s director of nursing, have reviewed the blueprints for the organization’s newest initiative. SCADD operates substance abuse recovery houses and provides resources throughout New London County.
“I don’t think it’s any secret this portion of the state experiences an overrepresentation of opioid overdoses,” Lawton said. “It’s really a problem in our community in southeastern Connecticut, and it’s one we are trying to address at all turns.”
According to Connecticut Department of Public Health, people in Connecticut are more likely to die from a drug overdose than a motor vehicle crash. Although overdose deaths have declined statewide, New London County continued to record one of the highest fatal overdose rates in the state in 2024.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Hayes said there has been a sharp increase in people struggling with substance abuse while also managing chronic medical conditions.
“This is our new baseline,” Hayes said. “We’re seeing individuals who are really experiencing exacerbations of chronic medical conditions that have gone untreated for so long.”
Hayes said conditions including diabetes, hepatitis C, heart disease, COPD and autoimmune disorders can make sobriety even more difficult to maintain. SCADD leaders said they recognized a growing need for people seeking substance abuse treatment to also receive ongoing medical care.
“Maybe that individual needs more education about the dietary choices they make, or regularly monitoring their blood glucose levels,” Hayes said.
With funding from Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, SCADD launched Connecticut’s first recovery house offering 24/7 nursing care. The facility, named The Shoreline House of Hope, is also among the first of its kind in the nation.
The facility is now open and serving patients from across the state. Leaders said the program is designed to help people with complex medical conditions who may not have qualified for treatment elsewhere.
“That’s really what this program represents,” Lawton said. “It’s addressing a gap that had previously existed and trying to give folks every opportunity and accommodation to find their pathway to recovery.”
The Shoreline House of Hope is hiring across all departments, with a particular demand for nurses.
People seeking support can contact SCADD at 860-447-1717.
