The Portage Health Foundation is proud to present The Addiction Series. In this 13-part series we brought in local experts who work on the front lines of the battle against addiction in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

We talked about what addiction is, how it happens, the many effects it has on the person, their friends and family, and the community as a whole. We also talked about what’s being done to address addiction, offer solutions for those who are struggling or know someone who is, and we’ll help you better understand what you can do to help.

Resources to fight addiction in Michigan’s Copper Country

Below is a list of local resources available to help you or someone you know through addiction issues. Not sure where to start? We recommend contacting Dial Help. You can do that with a phone call, text message or simply chat live on their website. They are locally staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If this is a medical emergency, dial 911 immediately.

Dial Help

Our professional team of staff and volunteers know that a little support during a difficult time can go a long way. We empower individuals to find solutions and make healthy decisions. Dial Help is here to offer confidential, non-judgmental services for crisis support, mental health, and more. These services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Crisis Call: 800-562-7622 or 906-482-HELP
Crisis Text: 35NEEDS (906-356-3337)
• Crisis Online Chat: dialhelp.org/contact
• Learn more, dialhelp.org

Phoenix House

Phoenix House has been providing substance abuse treatment services in the Western U.P. since 1973. During this time, many men and women have participated in and found recovery from their addiction through our services. Our goal is to assist each individual with developing the appropriate recovery skills and concepts in order to achieve long-term abstinence and success.

• Get Started: (906) 337-0763
• Learn more, phoenixhouse.com

Copper Country Mental Health

It is the mission of Copper Country Mental Health to ensure that appropriate, cost-efficient, and quality behavioral health services are accessible to eligible persons in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon counties. Copper Country Mental Health Services provides an array of services intended to increase independence, improve quality of life, and support community integration and inclusion of the persons served.

• 24-hour emergency services, 1-800-526-5059
• Get started: (906) 482-9404 
• Learn more, cccmh.org

Great Lakes Recover Centers

Great Lakes Recovery Centers believes that chemical dependency – alcohol or other drug addiction – is a disease that affects individuals, family members, and the community. The treatment of this illness can best be addressed with an array of services provided by caring professionals involving the individual, family, and community. It is only through this comprehensive approach that long term recovery is strengthened.

• Get started: (906) 228-9696
• Learn more, greatlakesrecovery.org

PHF Addiction Series Thanks

Portage Health Foundation is proud to present this 13-part series, but it wouldn’t have been possible without immense help from partners near and dear to our hearts. Below are people we want to acknowledge for helping making this happen.

• Sarah Blakely, TV6 Morning Co-Host
• Nikki Collins
• Rebecca Crane, Dial Help
• John Donnelly, Houghton Police Department
• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System
• Chelsea Goodreau
• Mark Maggio, Phoenix House
• Mark Riutta, Defined Visuals
• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair

Donate to PHF

Portage Health Foundation is committed to doing everything in our power to curb addiction in our community. If you want to help this cause, please consider making a donation at phfgive.org/donate.

If a donation isn’t in the books from you, please contact us. We’d love to hear your thoughts, feelings and ideas on ways we can address this in our community.

Watch or Listen to The Addiction Series

We have made this series available in a number of places. All of the episodes are available below. 

Addiction Series Episodes

Episode 1 - “Addiction” - The Problem

Addiction is something we don’t often talk about, but as we find out in episode 1 of this series, the issue is a very real one in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. 

Episode 1 Guests

• Rebecca Crane, Dial Help
• Kevin Store, PHF Executive Director
• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair

Watch or Listen to Episode 1, published June 21, 2020

Episode 2 - The Brain and Addiction

In this episode we dive into the science of addiction by talking to a doctor who works in this field in our community every day. 

Episode 2 Guests

• Nikki Collins, a former addict and current business owner
• Mark Maggio, Executive Director of Phoenix House
• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

Watch or Listen to Episode 2, published June 28, 2020

Episode 3 - The Stigma of Addiction

In this episode we discuss why it's important that people stop the stigma associated with addiction to focus on helping people find solutions and a better tomorrow. 

Episode 3 Guests

• Rebecca Crane, Executive Director at Dial Help
• Kevin Store, Executive Director Portage Health Foundation
• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair
• Mark Maggio, Executive Director of Phoenix House
• Nikki Collins, a former addict and current business owner

Watch or Listen to Episode 3, published July 5, 2020

Episode 4 - Role of Law Enforcement

In this episode we hear about the vital role law enforcement plays in addiction. It’s eye opening, and will help you better understand what’s being done to help those in need, even if they don’t realize they are in need of that help.

Episode 4 Guests

• John Donnelly, Houghton Police Chief

Watch or Listen to Episode 4, published July 12, 2020

Episode 5 - Economic Impact of Addiction

In the fifth episode of the Portage Health Foundation Addiction Series, we dive into the impact addiction has on our community with the foundation’s executive director Kevin Store. 

Episode 5 Guests

• Kevin Store, Executive Director Portage Health Foundation

Watch or Listen to Episode 5, published July 19, 2020

Episode 6 - Addiction Never Sleeps

In this episode of the Portage Health Foundation Addiction Series we’ll talk with former addict Nikki Collins, Houghton’s Chief of Police John Donnelly and Dr. Adam Frimodig from UP Health System as we learn about the devastating cycle addiction can have.

Episode 6 Guests

• Nikki Collins, a former addict and current business owner
• John Donnelly, Houghton Police Chief
• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

Watch or Listen to Episode 6, published July 26, 2020

Episode 7 - Medical Treatment for Addiction

The medical community is consistently doing its best to serve those suffering from addiction. In this episode, we’ll talk to Dr. Adam Frimodig from UP Health System about current medical practices in helping those suffering from addiction.

Episode 7 Guests

• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

Watch or Listen to Episode 7, published August 2, 2020

Episode 8 - Addiction & Health

The range of effects addiction can have on a person are drastic, and often are deeper than those who are trying to help someone through addiction can ever realize. On this episode we’ll hear from Mark Maggio with the Phoenix House, Rebecca Crane from Dial Help and Dr. Adam Frimodig from UP Health System. The three of them will dive into the many negative health consequences addiction can have.

Episode 8 Guests

• Mark Maggio, Executive Director of Phoenix House
• Rebecca Crane, Executive Director at Dial Help
• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

Watch or Listen to Episode 8, published August 9, 2020

Episode 9 - The Solution to Addiction 

In this episode, we look optimistically at what our community can be, and is, doing to combat the effects of addiction in the Copper Country. The search for answers is still on, but this insight provides a vision into the future of how addiction is being addressed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Episode 9 Guests

• Rebecca Crane, Executive Director at Dial Help
• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair
• Kevin Store, Executive Director Portage Health Foundation
• Nikki Collins, a former addict and current business owner
• John Donnelly, Houghton Police Chief
• Mark Maggio, Executive Director of Phoenix House
• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

Watch or Listen to Episode 9, published August 16, 2020

Episode 10 - Impact on Our Community

When addiction is a main cause of huge problems in a community, it becomes vital that something is done about it. In today’s episode we’ll talk to Houghton’s Chief of Police John Donnelly and Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette and Kevin Store from the Portage Health Foundation. We’ll learn how addiction is impacting virtually all aspects of our community. 

Episode 10 Guests

• John Donnelly, Houghton Police Chief
• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair
• Kevin Store, Executive Director Portage Health Foundation

Watch or Listen to Episode 10, published August 23, 2020

Episode 11 - Mental Health and Addiction

As you’ll hear in Episode 11 of the Portage Health Foundation Addiction Series, the vast majority of those suffering from addiction also have some issues related to mental health. 

Episode 11 Guests

• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair
• Rebecca Crane, Executive Director at Dial Help
• Dr. Adam Frimodig, UP Health System

Watch or Listen to Episode 11, published August 31, 2020

Episode 12 - UPSET West Efforts

It’s amazing what can happen when a community comes together for a noble cause. That’s precisely what happened with the formation of UPSET West, which was formed in 2016 to increase the level of narcotics enforcement in the western Upper Peninsula. In episode 12 we’ll hear from the foundation’s executive director Kevin Store and Houghton Chief of Police John Donnelly about UPSET West.

Episode 12 Guests

• John Donnelly, Houghton Police Chief
• Kevin Store, Executive Director Portage Health Foundation

Watch or Listen to Episode 12, published September 6, 2020

Episode 13 - Portage Health Foundation Efforts

During the final episode of the Portage Health Foundation Addiction Series we hear from PHF Board Chair Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette on her vision for the foundation’s role in tackling the addiction crisis, Mark Maggio from Phoenix House and Rebecca Crane from Dial Help on projects they’ve completed to do their part, and finally we’ll hear from Kevin Store on how the resources within our community are amazing, but the best thing we as a community can do is tie them together for a brighter future.

Episode 11 Guests

• Bernadette Yeoman-Ouellette, PHF Board Chair
• Mark Maggio, Executive Director of Phoenix House
• Rebecca Crane, Executive Director at Dial Help
• Kevin Store, Executive Director Portage Health Foundation

Watch or Listen to Episode 13, published September 13, 2020