Bill Ellsworth, the Addiction Resource Center counselor at both the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Two Bridges Regional Jail, appeared at the Jan. 3 Commissioners’ meeting to describe his program and to introduce his new assistant, Angela Musto.

In addition to their work at the jail and in the sheriff’s office basement, the pair are also opening outreach centers in other towns. Currently, there is an outreach program in Boothbay Harbor, and plans are in the works to open one in Waldoboro this year.

“Drug treatment is in crisis,” Ellsworth said. “We don’t have many options for treatment in Lincoln County. Essentially, this program is it.”

Ellsworth’s program got a financial boost in December when Sheriff Todd Brackett asked for and received additional hours for Ellsworth and Musto. Brackett argued that the cost of diversion, through probation or Ellsworth’s program is far less than the cost of keeping inmates in jail, with all the other costs that may go along with it — job loss, leading to town or state support for the inmate’s family, the cost of putting children in foster care or other programs, and criminal acts that feed an inmate’s addiction, such as breaking into a house or car.

“We need to provide support for living outside of jail,” Ellsworth said. “That’s the part that’s missing.” Ellsworth said that his treatment program is based on respect and safety. “People need to know I respect them, and also that my office is a safe place for them to be to start working on their issues,” he said.

He said that too often, inmates are put into inpatient treatment facilities far from their homes, and have to learn a new sort of life when they get back. Because the treatment was outside of what they face on a daily basis, they might not be successful. “We can send someone to the farm in Presque Isle, or somewhere else, and they manage to kick the habit, but if they come back and face the same pressures they had before, they might relapse.”

Ellsworth said that there is no stigma in his program for people who relapse. “(Recovery is) a very hard thing to do, and if they come back for help, they’re going to get it,” he said. He recounted the story of a woman who had missed an appointment with him. A couple of hours later, a patrolman found her dead of an overdose at home. He called Ellsworth because the woman had his card with the appointment time on it, as well as a newspaper article about the program. “It took me months to close the file on that patient,” he said.

Both Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties have similar programs for jail inmates, but inmates from the far counties are largely on their own when they leave. “We have people in our jail from Oxford County, and Kennebec County, and Waldo County. None of these inmates is getting help in jail, and when they are released, there are no programs for them when they get home.” Ellsworth said that without treatment, 95 percent of drug -ddicted inmates will use drugs again, and about 80 percent of them will commit another crime, landing back in jail.

He then introduced Musto. She will be working on the educational program at the jail, and especially will work with the female inmates and patients in the program. “About 100 percent of women who become addicted have suffered some sort of trauma,” she said. “It is very difficult for them to trust, and they have many other issues in their lives that require attention.” Many women have children, or may be pregnant. They may have a bad domestic situation and need support getting out of it, or may need transitional housing, be homeless, or be a victim of some other sort of violence in their lives.

Musto said that for women, making sure their family’s needs are met is almost a prerequisite to getting treatment. “Women need to know that their children are safe, and not at risk of being taken into foster care. Women will hide an addiction until it’s too late if they are worried about DHHS involvement,” she said. “If they are in jail, they are already separated from their kids. Imagine how painful that has to be.”

Because of the trust issues, Musto said that a female counselor is important. She is looking forward to working with as many women as possible.

Commissioner Hamilton Meserve asked that if the program is in need of further assistance, Ellsworth and Musto should return. “It’s the one weapon in our arsenal,” he said. “We can provide funding.”

Commissioners Mary Trescot and William Blodgett concurred. “Don’t wait until it’s a crisis,” Blodgett urged. “Let us know how we can help.”