MADISON COUNTY – The Partnership for a Drug-Free Community agency opened virtual meetings with its Recovery Resource Hub program on March 23. The online meetings are assisting individuals who need to attend support meetings but cannot violate the guidelines about public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Recovery Resource Hub’s virtual support meetings, which are free, can help people who suffer from substance abuse disorder or addiction. For most people in recovery, attending meetings with other people who share the same problems can benefit the recovery process.

Anyone who needs these support services can connect to a meeting at prescheduled times with a computer, tablet or Smartphone. Visit join.zoom.us, and type “336 810 9650” for the meeting ID.

Meetings will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, along with meetings on Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. During the coming weeks, officials may change the scheduled times for meetings, dependent on the participants’ level of interest and need.

“Partnership’s mission is as important as ever, and we will continue to do everything we can to provide prevention, education and awareness on substance use in our community,” Wendy Reeves, Partnership’s Acting Executive Director, said.

Anyone who is looking for recovery resources can contact Partnership’s Recovery Resource Hub at 256-539-7339 or the state’s 24/7 Helpline at 844-307-1760. In addition, individuals can call Patrick Laney, the Partnership’s support specialist for peer recovery at 256-572-2638.

In response to current public health concerns, the Partnership staff is now working remotely with a few exceptions.

“We are monitoring the processes at state treatment facilities to determine what types of (recovery) services will be available to those seeking treatment,” Reeves said. “We are also communicating with the State Department of Mental Health on all of the legal requirements to provide virtual assessments in the near future, if possible.”

“Meanwhile, we have come up with a plan to safely continue providing state assessments at our office — for as long as we can,” Reeves said. “Partnership’s mission is as important as ever, and we will continue to do everything we can to provide prevention and education on substance use to our community.”

Since the new program for recovery started on Feb. 3, the Hub has helped more than 25 people find and enter treatment in private and state-funded facilities, Reeves said.

The office address for Partnership for a Drug-Free Community is 2201 Clinton Ave. W. in Huntsville. For more information, visit partnershipforadrug-freecommunity.org.