Empowering Communities: A Movement for Harm Reduction and Recovery in Ohio

Rise Above the Risk was founded in November of 2024 after I had completed inpatient treatment at Legends Recovery Center of Green Springs, Ohio. While there, I began to slowly realize that a niche group of individuals who were clients at this treatment center had been using substances known as Novel Psychoactive Substances (or NPS(s) for short) prior to their having entered treatment. I, myself, had entered treatment as a result of my use of NPSs which had gone from simple experimentation in my early 20s to full blown addiction by my early 30s. When I was younger, most of my use of NPSs was simply me being intellectually curious (though there were some that I did end up using habitually; namely, synthetic cannabinoids). In my early 30s however, things changed and I had discovered novel benzodiazepines which circumvented the current drug laws in both the USA as well as Ohio. While in inpatient treatment, I met another individual being detoxed off the exact same drug. I found it interesting that the medical staff was relatively unfamiliar with these substances, but that I was able to relatively accurately guide him through his withdrawals based on my own experience. So, after my mind cleared up a bit, I began to recall a source of information with which I had used a good decade or so prior to learn about the evolution of the world's drug markets. This source of information is none other than, what is now known as, the European Union Drugs Agency (aka EUDA). Their early warning system fascinated me, and I drew knowledge from it to sort of guide my research at one point long ago. But, now, the tables had turned. I now endeavored to use my knowledge that I had gained to help society stay on top of the threats posed by these NPSs, and as I would come to find, this was now also the primary focus of EUDA themselves. Additionally, I came across the work of Dr. Andrew Tatarsky whose work reminded me of that which Dr. Monica Barratt also takes part in. Their focus is in harm reduction and compassionate, innovative approaches toward addressing the world's drug use. It was at this point that I began to draw a lot of inspiration from both of these doctors' work as well as that of many others with similar views that I began to come across with increasing frequency. What I began to notice was that the work of doctors who take scientific, evidence based approaches to handling drug use and addiction tended to be suppressed. I sought to change this...

After having spent much time studying the most current information EUDA had to offer on the subject while still at Legends Recovery Center, I left treatment there and entered inpatient treatment at Oakview Behavioral Health in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. Initially, I was met with a psychologist who did my intake who literally had no clue what I was talking about when I spoke about the drug I had become addicted to which led me there. Again, another instance where those working in the treatment industry didn't have a clue about the current threats out there to drug users. I shrugged it off, and I began my first week of IOP there with a familiar face as the group facilitator. He, being quite conservative regarding his views on how drug use and drug addiction should be handled, was not the appropriate person to address my findings with and so I just gave a round about description of what had led me to that point in my recovery journey. However, things changed when our regular group facilitator had returned from maternity leave the following week. I began to feel free to share my findings, and she actually listened to me and learned from me rather than shooting me down. I was amazed! All these years in treatment and never once did I get this type of response from a person running a group when voicing my views on such matters. I wasn't sure what had changed, but I felt that all of my years of research were finally worth something. The same knowledge I used to get high was apparently something of use to those in recovery. Eventually, I figured out why I was being heard out finally: Harm reduction was finally becoming mainstream in my area. It was like a miracle to me!

I spent a total of about 5 months between IOP and aftercare there, during which I educated my peers as best I could while building this very website. I taught them about psychedelic assisted treatment, psychedelics in recovery, SMART Recovery, integrative harm reduction psychotherapy, internal family systems, and I even made sure to distribute Nitazene test strips and informational fliers about such since it has gained so much traction in recent years with the same (if not, worse), risk profile as fentanyl. Everyone loved it! Everyone expect for those who held more conservative views on these matters that is to say anyway. You can't win them all, but this was definitely a huge success for me. It gave me hope in the world which I had otherwise lost.

Today, I continue to keep this website updated as frequently as possible with fresh information and new resources. While I did have to take some time away to get myself together again, I managed to do so and am back at this with renewed vigor. Hopefully this message finds you well, and maybe you too may be inspired by my work. And, if so, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I recall like it was yesterday when I had my phone call with Dr. Tatarsky and how big of an honor it was to be able to just speak to someone so influential in this movement. And, while I will likely never touch quite as many lives as he, I do hope that my work does have some sort of impact in the world. So, if there is anything at all I can possibly help you with, I am just one phone call or message away. My availability is listed in the contact section of this page, and if you do not get a hold of me, then please leave a message!