Rosie Boyce, community engagement and outreach coordinator Androscoggin County Peer Navigator for the Church of Safe Injection, speaks to the press Thursday before the grand opening of the church’s new peer-led recovery center The Sanctuary at 199 Main St. in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal LEWISTON — The Church of Safe Injection’s new peer-led recovery community center, The Sanctuary at 199 Main St.
, will provide a hub for all its services and make it easier for people to access harm reduction services, such as Narcan and clean needles. The space opened Thursday in conjunction with National Save a Life Day. The organization provided free Narcan and overdose recognition and response training Thursday morning.
It debuted a Narcan vending box, which will allow people access to the emergency medicine at any time of the day for those who need it. The space is a place where people can come for help, whether they are still in active use or if they are in recovery, according to Rosie Boyce, Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator Androscoggin County Peer Navigator. “As harm reductionists, we are firm in our belief that people are not disposable and we are here to meet (people using substances) on whatever phase of their journey they are in,” she said.
The organization serves about 450 different individuals on a monthly basis, according to Co-director Zoe Brokos. Last year the group served just over 1,200 different people total. There are two main areas in The Sanct.
