“When I started my recovery, there weren’t very many resources in this area,” said Jamie Thibedeau, Rice Lake’s new substance misuse recovery coach. “I was having to travel to find meetings and connections, people I could be around other than t he people I had been around. What drew me to the program was the fact that it was people like me, helping people like me.”

New resources in the fight against substance use disorders are now available in our area. Jamie and other recovery coaches are available through Marshfield Clinic Health System and at Marshfield Medical Center-Rice Lake, in addition to recovery coach resources in Chippewa Falls, Beaver Dam, Wausau and Weston. This expansion is the result of a successful pilot project in Ladysmith.

The coaches support people who are facing substance misuse challenges, free-of-charge. They help by connecting people with community resources, offering sober friendship and tips for sober living, creating wellness plans and more. All recovery coaches have lived experience working through substance use issues of their own and are trained through the nationally-recognized Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery.

The Recovery Coach program is a partnership with AmeriCorps Recovery Corps. The Health System has worked with AmeriCorps since 2017, but now for the first time, is integrating recovery coaches into the primary care setting.

Any community member can utilize their services, not just Marshfield Clinic Health System patients. If someone is interested in learning more, they can talk to their primary care provider or call 715-221-8422.