By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

The Bridgton-based recovery center exists to address life or death situations stemming from addiction.

On Monday, the Lake Region Recovery Center (LRRC) cemented that objective by holding its ribbon-cutting ceremony in conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day.

LRRC has been in existence since 2018. In late October 2022, the center moved from the Bridgton Hospital campus to its new location in downtown Bridgton. It was a strategic move to wait until March 6 for the official open house. 

“The decision to have the ribbon-cutting on the same day as Black Balloon Day was an easy one,” according to LRRC Executive Director Tracey Martin. “It was important to celebrate our opening in our new location, which showed how much we have grown over the last 4-1/2 years and also to honor those lost due to overdose.”

“It was a time to bring support to family and friends who have loved ones on our black balloon banner. They know that we mourn with them and that we will never forget their loved ones,” she said.

“It was a way to bring people from the community inside the doors so they can see the faces of those lives lost. They may not have come to LRRC otherwise,” she said.

“The ribbon cutting was fantastic. We had a pretty great turnout,” Martin said. “It was about coming together as a community to support each other. There was so much laughter and meeting new friends. That is what a center is about.”

Martin talked about the advantages of the new location at 2 Elm St., where the center has been for four months.

“The benefits of being on Main Street now is that we are more accessible to people that are on foot. I feel that it takes some of the ‘stigma’ away from being right in our community. People who access our center are your neighbors, people you go to church with, people who may teach your kids. We are just people,” Martin said.

LRRC keeps track of the number of people who use the facility. Those numbers help when applying for grants.

“On an average, we have anywhere from 15 to 20 people a day. People come in who are curious about what we do here. They want to use our computer lab or they just want or need to have that connection with other people,” she said.  

LRRC’s calendar offers groups on dealing with grief and healing through the written word as well as a crafts time. There are also Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings during the week.

“Recovery is recovery. It can be anything, not just substances,” Martin said. “Please stop in. Take a look. See what we do here at LRRC. We are always looking for more volunteers and we are also hiring for a communications specialist.”

Lakes Region Recovery Center is located 2 Elm St. in Bridgton. The website is www.lrrcbridgton.org The center’s Facebook page has a daily listing of activities. The phone number is 207-803-8707.