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Imagine that you’ve had enough. Your substance use has almost won, but you are ready to start the road to recovery. It is 8:45 p.m. on a Tuesday night. If you don’t make a move now, you’re afraid that you never will. Help is the only thing that matters at this moment. Where do you go?
Caroline County Safe Station.
Since 2021, the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office has been designated as a Safe Station for individuals ready to take a step toward recovery from substance use. In partnership with Mid Shore Behavioral Health, Affiliated Sante Group, and the Caroline County States Attorney’s Office. Safe Station is not a shelter, rather it is a program located at the Sheriff’s Office that serves people who are ready to access recovery services. The program connects individuals with peers who has lived experiences in substance use and recovery, according to Ann Simpers Wellness and Recovery Behavioral Health Coordinator with Mid Shore Behavioral Health.
Safe Station operates as an in-person program 24 hours / 7 days. Individuals can also call 888-407-8018 to be connected with a peer 24 hours/ 7 days.
When an individual steps into the Safe Station, first they are checked for drugs or paraphernalia and checked against the system for outstanding warrants. They are provided comfort services, such as something to eat and something to drink, and then they are connected with a peer. The peer and the individual agree to meet at a location other than the Sheriff’s Office, to start the recovery process. If the individual seeking recovery services shows signs of eminent danger to self or others, Affiliated Sante Group dispatches a Mobile Crisis team to provide the next level of support. Peers are people who have lived experiences surrounding recovery. They share their stories and support individuals seeking recovery.
Safe Station is not a shelter. Many times, recovery and lack of basic living needs go hand in hand. The Safe Station is a program to help focus on the recovery and work with other organizations and programs on housing, food security, personal security, etc.
Caroline County Sheriff’s Deputy Cpl. Jacob Andrew is the Safe Station Liaison. For more information on the program visit https://midshorebehavioralhealth.org/programs/safe-stations/.
