Members of Liberation Programs stand along side the Mobile Wellness Van at the Greenwich YMCA It is no secret that the United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic which is resulting in an increase in fatal drug overdoses. In 2020, Connecticut saw a 14.5% increase in the number of fatal overdoses over 2019.
Seeing a need for more engagement, support and harm reduction, Liberation Programs, a leading behavioral health provider of substance use treatment services, launched a Mobile Wellness Van Program in the fall of 2019 with funding from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS).
Liberation’s Mobile Wellness Vans provides outreach services to help those struggling with opiates in their recovery. Our vans travel throughout Lower Fairfield County Monday through Friday providing recovery support services. The vans have Prescribers and Recovery Coaches on board to provide referrals for treatment, prescriptions for Buprenorphine/Suboxone*, Narcan†, harm reduction syringe exchange and educational resources. No insurance or appointment is needed. Services are available to adults 18 years and older.
The van will begin operating in Greenwich beginning Tuesday, September 14 . You can visit the van on Tuesdays from 10am – 12pm in the Horseneck Commuter Lot.
Liberation Programs, along with Greenwich Department of Social Services and Greenwich Together, will be hosting a Meet the Van kickoff in front of Greenwich Town Hall on Monday, August 30 from 12:00 – 2:00pm.
Individuals are encouraged to stop by to see the van, learn more about its presence in Greenwich, and enjoy free food and giveaways.
In its most recent Fiscal Year, the Mobile Wellness Van Program saw 2,321 individuals in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford. Nearly 2,000 Harm Reduction Supplies were distributed and 51 referrals to care were made. The presence of Liberation Programs’ Mobile Wellness Vans is vital in keeping those with Substance Use Disorders out of the criminal justice system and getting them the mental health care and treatment they need to begin a pathway to recovery.
“The overall goal is really just us getting out there and letting people know that we are available,” said Maggie Young, Chief Recovery Officer for Liberation Programs. Van employees often wear identical tie-dyed t-shirts that match the outward appearance of the vehicle. When team members approach potential clients, they’re calm and conversational and they stick to describing the services they offer without assuming the person uses drugs or is needing treatment.
To learn more about Liberation Programs, or about Substance Use Disorder Treatment, please visit www.liberationprograms.org, email [email protected] or call 855-LIB-PROG (855-548-7764).
*Suboxone is a medication used both to reduce withdrawal symptoms and to help people recover from opiate use.
†NARCAN is a medication used to reverse an opiate overdose.
Liberation Programs is one of Fairfield County’s leading behavioral health organizations specializing in treatment for all types of substance use disorders including alcohol, opiates, depressants and stimulants.
Our goal is to help individuals and families overcome addiction in order to restore their lives and ultimately strengthen our communities. Liberation provides services for youth, adults and families that include two inpatient treatment programs, outpatient and intensive outpatient services, health education for older adults and people living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses, treatment and resources for adolescents and their families, education and prevention efforts in the community, and permanent supportive housing for families. In operation since 1971, the agency has sites in Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport and served more than 2,400 individuals in our last fiscal year.