Thank you for taking the time to read our May recap. Each month, we are reminded that recovery is a community effort, and none of this work happens in isolation. We are grateful to our community partners, first responders, service providers, municipal partners, law enforcement collaborators, and the entire ECO team for their continued commitment to supporting individuals and families throughout Essex County.
The following recap highlights a snapshot of the work accomplished together during May and the collective impact of those partnerships.
If you know someone in Essex County who is seeking recovery services, or a family member looking for guidance in supporting a loved one, please contact ECO at 978-961-7388.
RESOURCES AND SERVICES DATA MAY 2026
Throughout May, ECO Recovery Coaches worked alongside local police departments, hospitals, treatment providers, behavioral health agencies, shelters, recovery centers, and numerous community partners to provide recovery-focused support throughout Essex County.
CIMS Follow-Ups: 96
During May, ECO Recovery Coaches completed 96 CIMS follow-ups. These follow-ups originate from referrals submitted directly by our law enforcement partners following incidents where substance use, mental health concerns, or other recovery-related needs were identified.
While ECO receives referrals from many sources, these referrals represent an especially important opportunity for early intervention. They allow our Recovery Coaches to quickly reach out to individuals following a crisis or significant event, helping ensure they do not fall through the cracks during a particularly vulnerable time.
New Individuals Engaged: 92
Recovery Coaches actively engaged with 92 new individuals during May through referrals, police departments, hospitals, partner agencies, and community outreach efforts.
Individuals Who Accepted Services: Approximately 75
Of the new individuals engaged during May, approximately 75 accepted recovery services. Accepted services included recovery coaching, resource navigation, detox and treatment admissions, transportation assistance, recovery housing, outpatient treatment referrals, mental health services, and harm reduction supplies.
As always, this number does not reflect individuals who initially decline services but later reconnect with ECO. Building trust takes time, and many individuals choose to seek support weeks or months after the first contact.
Active Individuals Supported: 150+
In addition to new referrals, ECO Recovery Coaches continued providing ongoing support to more than 150 active individuals already engaged in services. Recovery coaching often extends well beyond an initial referral, with many individuals receiving continued assistance through treatment transitions, housing needs, benefits navigation, recovery planning, and long-term recovery support.
Treatment Referrals
During May, ECO coordinated referrals across multiple levels of care, including:
- Detox: 32
- Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS): 2
- Residential Treatment: 1
- Sober Living: 5
- Outpatient/MAT: 3
Connecting individuals to the appropriate level of care continues to be one of ECO’s primary objectives, helping ensure people receive treatment that best matches their current needs.
Transportation
Transportation continues to be a critical barrier for many individuals seeking treatment and recovery support. ECO remains committed to coordinating transportation whenever possible. Please note that our transportation voucher program remains paused at this time, but we have community partners who can help.
Please note that not all regional data for May 2026 is reflected above. The figures provided are estimates intended to offer a general snapshot and may not capture every activity completed throughout the month.
PARTNER COLLABORATION HIGHLIGHTS
Throughout May, ECO collaborated with a broad network of community partners across Essex County and the Merrimack Valley, including:
- Local police departments, including Salem, Danvers, Marblehead, Beverly, Rockport, Amesbury, and Ipswich Police Departments
- Jail Diversion Clinicians (JDCs) at SPD, DPD, BPD, RPD
- Essex County Sheriff’s Department STAR Program
- Recovery Centers of America (RCA)
- New England Recovery Center (NERC)
- Washburn House
- Baldpate
- AdCare
- Gosnold
- SECAP in Brighton
- Mattapan CSS
- CORE Recovery Center
- Pyramid Recovery Center
- Danvers Detox (BILH)
- Washburn House
- Salem Hospital
- Beverly Hospital
- Anna Jaques Hospital
- Eliot Community Behavioral Health Center
- LifeBridge
- AgeSpan
- Element Care
- Redemption House
- The Will House
- Department of Children and Families (DCF)
- Department of Mental Health (DMH)
- Local courts and probation
- Mental health providers throughout the region
These partnerships remain essential in helping individuals successfully navigate treatment, housing, behavioral health services, and long-term recovery supports.
EMERGING TRENDS & CHALLENGES
ECO Recovery Coaches identified several notable trends during May. Several coaches reported an increase in individuals presenting with significant mental health needs alongside substance use disorders, requiring coordinated behavioral health and recovery support.
Another recurring challenge involved individuals who required Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS) but did not meet criteria for detox admission. Because some CSS programs require clients to step down directly from detox, identifying appropriate placement for these individuals continues to present challenges.
Coaches also noted an increase in relapse involving cocaine in parts of the Merrimack Valley, highlighting the continued importance of rapid treatment access, harm reduction education, and ongoing recovery support.
COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
We would like to recognize several organizations for their outstanding collaboration during May. Recovery Centers of America (RCA) in Danvers and New England Recovery Center (NERC)/Spectrum in Westborough were consistently highlighted in our data for their responsiveness and assistance connecting individuals to treatment.
Pyramid Detox in Concord was also recognized in our data collection for quickly admitting a client and maintaining excellent communication throughout the individual’s stay.
VENOC and Merrimack Valley First Responders were incredibly helpful in one of our coach’s efforts to connect multiple individuals to services.
The Essex County Sheriff’s Department STAR Program continues to be an important community partner by providing ongoing collaboration and coordinated support for individuals seeking recovery.
ECO would also like to recognize Moms Do Care for their continued partnership and willingness to support individuals and families facing complex challenges related to substance use, mental health, parenting, and family court involvement. Their specialized services have helped us bridge gaps in care. MDC provides valuable support during some of the most difficult periods in a family’s recovery journey. We appreciate their collaboration and commitment to keeping the families we work with connected to hope and resources.