PETERSBURG, Va. — Petersburg Community Corrections (PCC) hosted it’s first “Community Recovery” event Wednesday for city residents and those living in nearby jurisdictions, aimed to get feedback from and provide resources to those in recovery from substance use disorder or actively seeking support.
PCC Director Nicole Loving said the event is one of the few offered in the area that gives those recovering from substance use disorder direct contact with different services, like recovery housing programs, drug treatment specialists, Narcan, and Social Security representatives.
“Sometimes there are agencies or providers that have different motives — sometimes just finances — so I want to make sure that while people are getting connected, they’re getting connected to agencies that are providing good work,” Loving said.
The program included testimonials from people who have gone through treatment programs themselves and are now peer recovery specialists.
Chrissy Moore, a Peer Navigator for George Mason’s Empowering Communities project, felt the power of hearing directly from peers through her own sobriety journey, which started while she was incarcerated.