LEWISTON — Providing “a sense of community” is the fundamental goal of addiction counselors at Grace Street Services, according to two representatives of the organization at a Great Falls Forum presentation Thursday at the Lewiston Public Library.

Michael Connors, a facilitator of an intensive outpatient program at Grace Street Services told the audience of about two dozen people that “words are important.” He said the substance abuse assistance offered by Grace Street Services aims to “restore” an individual to a drug-free life, rather than emphasizing recovery.

Grace Street Services operates three outpatient programs in Lewiston, Portland and Sanford. A residential program that had been operating in Lewiston closed two weeks ago.

Connors said drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death in the United States for people 50 years old and younger.

“The opioid epidemic is really a trauma epidemic,” said Jeremy Hiltz, Grace Street Services’ clinical director. “This epidemic has been developing for years and years, and now it’s catching up on us.” 

“We have to have a sense of community … a place to belong … in order to treat trauma,” he said.

The organization’s Lewiston program at 88 Oxford St. is that “place to belong,” Hiltz said, and that has been accomplished by hosting family dinners, rap concerts, and a number of other offerings there.

He said the local center’s look emphasizes art and music.

“It’s all about helping someone find the person they had never found before,” Hiltz said. “Drugs can hijack a person’s brain.” 

Hiltz also told the audience that trauma is a leading indicator for substance abuse.

He said domestic violence and a history of child abuse is seen frequently, and victims of such trauma “carry it with them all their lives.”

In a question-and-answer period following the presentations, a member of the audience asked how Grace Street interacts with local hospitals.

Hiltz said the hospitals have a very challenging role because “they see these people when they are at their very worst. We see them when they are trying to get better.”

Hiltz also said that law enforcement personnel who address substance abuse situations are likely to run into “a lot of red tape.”

He said the proper approach to treatment of a person with addictive substance abuse disorder is to look at what the person thinks and believes. Understanding a person’s interaction with social media can play a part in that treatment, he said.

“Look at where they come from and not where they are at,” Hiltz advised.

He encouraged members of the audience to become involved with the issues at a local and state government level, and urged people to volunteer as much as possible.

Even as early as elementary school, people need someone to talk to about issues in their lives, he said.

“We need to open all pathways to recovery,” Hiltz concluded.

Connors and Hiltz filled in for Marty O’Brien, president and founder of Grace Street Services, who was unable to make a scheduled presentation at the Great Falls Forum.

The Great Falls Forum is a monthly series featuring statewide and regional leaders in public policy, business, academia and the arts. The talks are co-sponsored by the Sun Journal, Bates College and the Lewiston Public Library.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect Grace Street Services closed its residential program in Lewiston in early November.

Jeremy Hiltz, clinical director at Grace Street Recovery Services, answers a question from the audience during the Great Falls Forum in Lewiston on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)

Michael Connors of Grace Street Recovery Services answers a question from the audience during the Great Falls Forum in Lewiston on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)