MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The ACTION Recovery Resource Center (ARRC) in Mountain City cut the ribbon on its new location Friday. The center has been in Johnson County for the past three years, but ARRC Executive Director Trish Burchette told News Channel 11 it was time for a bigger space.
“We quickly realized that we needed more space to be able to help more people, to be able to provide more recovery classes, more recovery meetings, 12-step meetings, faith-based meetings, parenting classes,” said Burchette. “We do all of that, so in order to be able to do that, we needed a little more space. We went from 650 square feet to about 2,200 square feet.”
The center works to help people struggling with addiction in Johnson County, providing the resources they need to take the steps toward recovery.
“We also have a workforce development coordinator and a computer lab for those who need recovery support along the lines of getting a job,” said Burchette. “And working with employers to help them understand what recovery can look like in our community and how they can support people in our community as an employer.”
The ARRC has changed the lives of over 100 people since opening three years ago. One of those people is Stephen Dunn, who said he found hope through programs at the center.
“I lost my son due to drug abuse, and when I lost him, I got clean and walked through the steps to get him back, and I have been in recovery ever since,” said Dunn.
Dunn told News Channel 11 that he found hope at the center and encourages anyone else who is struggling to stop in and find the help they need.
“I’d like to get more people coming here because it’s such a blessing to me,” said Dunn. “I know there’s a lot of people out there that need help that don’t reach out for it.”
Johnson County Sheriff Clifton Worley said the center helps combat drug issues law enforcement sees in the county.
“It’s a big issue out in the county,” said Worley. “We’ve had an increase in methamphetamine and now the fentanyl. We’ve been seeing a little bit of that, not a lot, but we do see it is here.”
The ARRC also works with inmates at the local county jail, helping them find resources for recovery.
“This program here has been wonderful with our inmates in the county jail,” said Worley. “We have state inmates also that participate in this program, and then we’ve had several that’s been released from our custody into the community and they’re still involved with this program.”
