The Courage Center in Lexington has launched Courage Over Stigma, an opioid and substance use disorder and stigma reducing campaign targeting six Lexington County drug overdose “hotspots.” (Feature Photo LCSD Deputy Robby Lint speaks about overdoses in Lexington County and ways to prevent them.)

The Courage Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that builds bridges between substance addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery by providing one-on-one recovery coaching and peer support services at no cost to participants.

The campaign will focus on Cayce-West Columbia, Gaston, Irmo, Red Bank, South Congaree, and Swansea, providing public education and sharing messages and stories of recovery. This campaign is possible through partnership and funding from SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS).

“The perception that addiction is a moral failing, versus the fact that it is a chronic brain disease, continues to be a huge barrier for individuals who know they need help to get well,” said Adrienne Bellinger, TCC Executive Director. “The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the isolation, fear, stress and grief experienced by all of us and especially by those with substance use disorder. We cannot stand by as overdoses spike to nearly 60 a month when no-cost resources are right here in Lexington County to help. We desperately want this campaign to remind individuals, families, and our community that they are not alone and that we are all, individually and as a community, so much greater than addiction.”

The campaign will feature real stories of recovery and hope, kicking off with a video premiere on TCC’s Facebook page on Friday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. The video will feature Lexington County residents sharing their experiences with addiction, about their recovery journeys, and how they have been affected by stigma. 

“Everything changed when we decided to stop hiding from the reality that our family was facing addiction,” said Lori Porter, TCC Recovery Coach and mother of a son in recovery. “It was time to stop being ashamed and afraid, and time to speak up and ask for help. That decision changed everything for us and put us on a path to recovery. We also realized there were more families just like us who were suffering in silence.”

To learn more about the campaign and The Courage Center, visit www.CourageCenterSC.org. 

This funding is being provided by DAODAS to The Courage Center under award number 1H79TI083300-01 from SAMHSA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Courage Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that builds bridges between substance addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery by providing one-on-one recovery coaching and peer support services at no cost to our participants. We are the only Recovery Community Organization (RCO) in South Carolina focusing specifically on adolescents ages 14-18, young adults ages 19-26, and families. We are located at 860 Park Road, Lexington, SC 29072. Reach us at (803) 369-3905 or at CourageCenterSC.org.