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TOP STORY OF THE DAY - Inside Out: ‘The silence must be broken’
One person’s passion to help those affected by substance abuse is going international.
Michael R. Hadley with Inside Out Recovery has taken the steps to base International Overdose Awareness in Brazil with the hopes of spreading awareness outward.
“My goal is to spread nationwide and then eventually spread worldwide,” said Hadley. “Because, I mean, it doesn’t matter if you change somebody’s life around the world, it’s gonna somehow trickle back down to, you know, back to our society.”
Hadley believes raising awareness and making change is possible.
“The silence must be broken,” said Hadley, who urges people to begin the honest discussion of understanding, compassion, and change needed for the future to improve. “This involves our children, the most critical piece of the puzzle.”
Hadley is a resident and the project coordinator at Inside Out, 1408 East Hendrix Street, Brazil.
Over the weekend, the parking lot was bursting with activity with a yardsale and a food truck fundraiser during the 2022 Covered Bridge Festival.
“It’s the largest fundraiser of the year for us,” said Hadley. “The community provides donations throughout the year for this sale.”
It’s not only a fundraiser, it’s a fun time to meet the public and share what Inside Out is all about with others.
The building used to be a nursing home facility, which offers a lot of potential for future endeavors but has a lot of renovations to complete. Only 50% of the building is used now, and the estimated cost to complete the other half is $250,000.
“We’re looking for grants for the remodeling, but need a grant writer to help out,” said Hadley. “We would like to look out what all we need to do, and be able to get things open up and going.”
Hadley says there is there’s a whole world of horizons that can be opened up once the facility is fully functional, for example:
A rehabilitation center,
A homeless shelter,
A detoxification center,
A sober living facility,
A mental health facility, and
A training center for life and job skills that would help people in need to return to their families and their productive lives.
“That is what this place is for,” said Hadley. “A return to life.”
Hadley’s story is a tough one, but he honestly shares it with others.
“I obviously came from, you know, drug-stricken lifestyle. From the time I was 12 years old till I got clean on my, on my 38th birthday. This year is my 39th birthday on October 10th was my one year in recovery from drugs and alcohol,” said Hadley. “I mean, to look at what I’ve done since I’ve especially since I got out of prison this year. It’s simply amazing. A true blessing.”
In August, Hadley stood with local politicians and community members of local law enforcement during Overdose Awareness Day at Forest Park. Hadley says it was a very humbling moment for him.
“I have lost so many people that I knew, about 40 now, to drug abuse and overdose,” Hadley said. “It’s not just something that happens to someone who’s poor or someone you don’t know, I mean, some of the wealthiest people in the world have been lost to, or are fighting addiction as well, and it just shows that it’s everywhere.”
On Thursday, Oct. 28, 6-9 p.m., at the Brazilian Lanes Bowling Alley, “Strike Out Overdose” will be another fun family event that raises awareness and hopefully ends some of the stigmas and start honest discussions and support of those struggling with addiction.
Then on Sunday, Oct. 30th, and Monday, Oct 31st from 6-9 p.m. there will be a FREE Fall Festival in the Inside Out parking lot with food, drinks, and fellowship.
“There’s no charge for anything,” said Hadley, who urges people to stop by. “It’s just amazing to see the change that recovery brings to a family, to a person, to society. I mean, it’s awesome, and we need it everywhere, more than ever.”