JOLT Harm Reduction relaunches peer-support group

PEORIA (25 News Now) - JOLT Harm Reduction is relaunching its peer support group after it was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The peer group is meant to offer support and community for people suffering from substance abuse either directly or through someone else. Meetings began in the early months of 2020 but were quickly ended once COVID-19 began to spread and gatherings were severely restricted.

The group is open to recovering users, people who are still using, and loved ones of people suffering from substance abuse. It’s not a 12-step program, but rather a chance for people to have conversations and learn from the recovery process.

“Having a place like this where they can talk about their substance issues outside the parameters of that 12-step framework can be really beneficial to folks,” Program Director Christ Schaffner said

Meetings will start up again on February 9, at 6 p.m. at JOLT’s Peoria office location.

At the time, Schaffner said they weren’t sure how technology would evolve, so they never started virtual meetings. He considers it an option to supplement the relaunched group but believes “nothing compares” to the in-person discussion.

Copyright 2023 WEEK. All rights reserved.