Asheville, NC – November 23, 2022 –Real Recovery, Tapestry and October Road, all Pyramid Healthcare behavioral healthcare network providers, hosted legislative leaders from the North Carolina General Assembly, representatives of Benchmarks NC and the Addiction Professionals of North Carolina on September 21, 2022 in Asheville, North Carolina.

State Representative Caleb Rudow, D-Buncombe, toured the administrative and outpatient substance use and mental health treatment programs at October Road, Real Recovery, and Tapestry located at 119 Tunnel Road in Asheville. He also met with the team to discuss the work they are doing in his district and our efforts to help his constituents with treatment and recovery.

“Addiction and mental health challenges can affect everyone, regardless of race, socio-economic status, or background. To address these challenges, the government and communities need to increase investment and funding for treatment and support programs. These programs can provide the structure and material help for people facing addiction and mental health challenges, but I was also touched to hear personal stories about how acts of kindness and acceptance made the difference for many people on their roads to recovery,” said Representative Rudow.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to host State Representative Rudow today at our facilities. It was our pleasure to showcase the lifesaving mental health and substance use treatment available for the adult and adolescent residents of Asheville and surrounding communities, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the state of North Carolina in the future,” said Bridget Cain, LCSW-A, LCAS, CSI, Executive Director of October Road.

“Never has there been a greater need for quality substance use disorder and mental health treatment programs as overdoses in NC increased by 40% in 2020 and suicide rates grew by 73% for youth aged 10-17 in the last 10 years,” said Karen McLeod, President & CEO of Benchmarks. “It is very heartening that legislators and community leaders are taking time to learn more about the great work provided through October Road, Real Recovery, and Tapestry to effectively address the growing behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment needs of our children and families in this state.”

State Senator Chuck Edwards, R- Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania, visited Tapestry, located in Fletcher, to tour the outpatient and residential treatment offices providing primary mental health disorder treatment services, trauma therapy, and eating disorder treatment for adolescents and to meet with team members to discuss mental health challenges faced by teens and adolescents.

“We must come to grips that drug and alcohol addictions are tearing the seams that bind our family morals. I am impressed, and thankful for the structures, the caring individuals, and the variety of services provided by the members of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina. These remarkable people are making a marked difference in the lives of those affected by drugs and alcohol,” said Senator Edwards.

State Senator Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, Johnston, and Lee, Chairman of the Senate’s Health Care Committee visited the October Road program in Asheville to tour the programs and meet with the team to learn more about their work with state and publicly-funded programs such as the Substance Abuse Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment (SACOT), Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program (SAIOP), Assertive Community Treatment Teams (ACTT), Cross Area Service Program (CASP), and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT).

“I am extremely impressed by the work being done at October Road in Asheville. North Carolina needs more facilities like this in places where the need for addiction treatment is greatest. These dedicated people are taking the initiative by bringing their services out into the streets and under the bridges to people who would not be receiving the care they need otherwise. They are a shining example of what it will take to solve the issue of addiction and rehabilitation in our state,” said Senator Burgin.

“Pyramid provides high-quality services to every person in their care, no matter the severity or extent of their needs. In a time where substance use treatment services are needed more than ever, Pyramid Healthcare continues to leverage partnerships and create ways for more people to access the help they need. Seeing the October Road facility in person and meeting the incredible staff left me incredibly proud to call them an APNC member,” said Sara Howe, MBA, MS, CHES, CEO of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina.

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About Real Recovery
In addition to providing outpatient mental health and substance use treatment programs for adults in Asheville, NC, Real Recovery operates sober living residences and a structured transitional program at two additional locations in Buncombe County that offer an extended care recovery community inclusive of vocational and educational support, life skills instruction, sober outdoor activities and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for individuals with substance use and/or mental health disorders.

About October Road
October Road provides partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient mental health and substance use and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Medication Management for adults in Asheville, NC and surrounding areas. Visit octoberroadinc.net or call (888) 201-5086 to refer or learn more.

About Tapestry
Tapestry offers adult residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient primary mental health and eating disorders treatment and teen residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient mental health and co-occurring primary mental health and eating disorders treatment at four locations in Brevard, Fletcher, and Asheville, NC and in the Pocono Mountains of PA. Visit tapestryrecovery.com or call (828) 490-4032 to refer of learn more.

About Pyramid Healthcare
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Altoona, PA, Pyramid Healthcare provides a full continuum of high-quality, client-focused substance use, mental health and eating disorders treatment and autism education services across an integrated network of 16 affiliated behavioral healthcare organizations at 80+ locations in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia and Virginia.

About Benchmarks
Benchmarks is an alliance of nationally accredited agencies committed to providing quality care, leadership, and accountability in services to children, adults and families in North Carolina. Member agencies of Benchmarks deliver a broad continuum of behavioral health, child welfare, education, development disabilities and residential support services. Visit benchmarksnc.org or call (919) 828-1864 to learn more.

About Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC)
Addiction Professionals of North Carolina is our state’s only association that advocates solely on behalf of addiction professionals, providers, and the people they serve. Through grant programs, advocacy, and education, APNC supports the frontline behavioral health workforce’s best interests.