Man in recovery runs only drop-in recovery center in Woonsocket Rhode Island

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by ALISON BOLOGNA, NBC 10 NEWS

Wednesday, October 13th 2021

Serenity Center in Woonsocket. (WJAR)

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WJAR) — Reported drug overdose deaths have hit a new high in the United States.

There have been 96,779 fatal overdoses between March 2020 and March of 2021, an increase of over 30%.

Gary Zeman went from using to now running a recovery center in a part of the state that doesn't always get all the headlines.

"Serenity Center is a walk-in recovery center," said Zeman.

Zeman knows all too well two things: first, what it's like to be addicted to drugs and second, losing someone close to him to a substance abuse disorder.

Zeman's brother, Ryan, died in 2017. He was only 26 years old. A fentanyl overdose killed him.

"He had a little relapse and that was it and you know, it hurts. But now with myself having almost 7 years sober and I get to honor his life by what I do," he said.

• READ MORE: Center helps teenagers struggling with addiction

Zeman is now one of two supervisors at the Serenity Center, which has a forward-facing storefront presence in its city. Hope is not hidden here.

Alison Bologna: "So, this is very personal to you?"

Zeman: "Yeah."

Bologna: "Is that why you show up every day?"

Zeman: "Yes."

Bologna: "How serious is the opioid problem right now?"

Zeman: "It's bad. And it's been bad for a very long time."

In this series, that's what we've been hearing repeatedly. A record number of deaths in Rhode Island last year and often Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls dominate the headlines. But, it's in Woonsocket where Zeman and others are focused to build what they call "recovery capital."

"I kind of use an analogy. Recovery is like a car business. When you walk into a dealership, the salesperson is going to try to sell you a car because the chances of you coming back is slim to none," explained Zeman. "And it's the same thing with recovery. This is a now business. If somebody walks through those doors, we're going to see what their immediate needs are and what we can do to help them."

"Here at the Serenity Center, this is the only drop-in recovery center in the state of Rhode Island, north of Pawtucket. And right now, they see between 26 and 30 adults each and every day," he added.

"We know that we are consistently rated amongst the highest rates of fatal overdoses in the state and that's something that we work really hard. We hand out Narcan, we educate those who are using about the access of fentanyl test strips, other materials that they are in active use to stay alive because that's really the goal right now for people in our community," explained Christa Thomas-Swoers, who's a community outreach coordinator.

It really has become that desperate.

"I'm the oldest of three boys. I come from a great family in Cranston and being the oldest of three boys, I can say all three of us have all struggled with the same problem. So, I hold this close to my heart. I come in to work every day and I'm not going to lie, I don't feel like I'm working. I feel like I'm helping, like I'm making a difference," said Zeman.

Zeman's takeaway, he said, is that if you're struggling, you are not responsible for your addiction, but your are responsible for your recovery, so come here.

The Serenity Center is open Monday though Friday of every week.