February 25, 2016 – A small seed planted over a year ago has grown to fruition with the opening of an outpatient drug rehabilitation facility in Cumberland County. The latest effort to address the rising addiction epidemic is the result of a cooperative effort involving many community agencies and leaders.
Cabin in the Woods: Cumberland Heights opens outpatient facility in Crossville, TN
Tuesday an open house was held at Cumberland Good Samaritans (CGS) located off Tenth St. with an overflow crowd gathered to get a first glimpse of “the cabin in the woods” that will serve as Cumberland Heights’ outpatient facility.
“There is a big need to address drug and alcohol addiction issues in our community,” CGS Director Mickey Eldridge told the gathering that included persons from law enforcement, social action agencies, citizen volunteer groups and professionals in the field who deal with the issue.
“Folks within the community need services and assistances and it became a goal to grow some intervention services,” Eldridge said.
CGS board member Steve Stone first brought the need for an outpatient facility to discussion, asking Eldridge what CGS could do to see this happen. He contacted Cumberland Heights whose representatives were receptive to the idea of opening a facility in Crossville.
The CGS board then decided to donate use of a cabin it had purchased when it became available and after renovations were done, Cumberland Heights appointed Jerry Baryer to oversee the Cumberland County facility.
Cumberland Heights has a long and respected national reputation in the field of alcohol and drug addiction. It was founded by Robert Crichton Sr. and Dr. Thomas Frist Sr. with the mission to “transform lives, giving hope and healing to those affected by alcohol and drug addiction.”
That mission incorporates the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous with the therapeutic tools necessary to live productive, sober lives.
