APPLETON, Wis. (WISS) – September was National Recovery Month, which transitions nicely into October, designated as Mental Health Awareness Month.

Mental health issues can and do sometimes translate into substance use and abuse disorders. Here in northeast Wisconsin, Apricity Services helps people find recovery, support, and, at times, employment.

Apricity Services, based in Appleton, is a non-profit organization that offers recovery services for every person, every family, and every community. They offer everything from residential treatment for addiction, peer-based recovery, transitional housing, sober living, and employment services.

Dan Haak is the President of Contract Packaging and Recovery Support at Apricity.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all for recovery. People need different help with all different kinds of things,” Haak said. “Once people complete treatment, they’re looking for what’s next. And so Apricity provides employment opportunities. Once they’re done (with rehab or recovery) and ready to move on to the next thing, we have job opportunities. So they’re working in our building. We provide supported employment, teach them how to be better employees and get ready for the next job, school, or whatever they might try to pursue.

Misconceptions

Jolie VerVoort, Apricity’s President of Residential Treatment, said there are many misconceptions about substance use, addiction, and recovery.

“ First of all, help is there, and it’s not too far out of reach. I think a lot of people think they’re in this disease alone and that there’s nobody to help. And there is. Another misconception is “I’m not sick enough, or I haven’t used long enough, or I haven’t been in enough trouble, or I haven’t had enough negative consequences,’” VerVoort explained. “If you’re thinking about using to the point of, ‘Hmm, I wonder if I have a problem?’ It might be time to take a peek at what’s really happening.”

Haak said in addition to recovery and treatment, Apricity continues to support with sober living and transitional housing.

“We also have some transitional housing options. So we have sober living in Neenah. We have some transitional houses in Appleton for people to work through the process of getting back on their feet,” said Haak. “There’s a lot of places that aren’t ready to rent to them right out of the gate. So this creates a little bit of time and stability for them to sort things out and be more successful.”

VerVoort emphasized that Apricity wants to help and offers programs for individuals who are currently sober and those seeking sobriety.

“ If they would like to work at Apricity Contract Packaging, they just need to be sober. That is all that they need to be. If they wanna live in one of Apricity’s sober living houses, they just need to be sober,” VerVoort said. “When they come to Apricity residential treatment, typically, they have struggled. And they don’t have any clean time behind them.”

To learn more about recovery and Apricity, visit their website.

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