BETHLEHEM — The Friendship House, a residential addiction treatment center in Bethlehem, is honored to announce the appointment of Stacie Leclerc, CMHC, MA, MLADC, as the new clinical director.

Her interests in clinical psychology, academic study, addiction treatment, care and health, Leclerc is positioned to lead the Friendship House treatment team with individual treatment experiences for each client, and lends her expertise to the whole team at the Friendship House.

The focus on the assessment and treatment of substance misuse with complex co-occurring medical, past traumas and mental health disorders, needs effective and personal interventions. “I’m very excited and honored that I have been selected to join the treatment team at Friendship House,” notes Leclerc. “We know it is very critical to respect and nurture our clients, as they take the time to rediscover their place in society without using substances. The Friendship House’s natural environment sets the tone for a healing space and exploration of authentic work with
clients to help create transformations for the future.”

“We are very enthusiastic about Stacie joining our team. Her energy, expertise, and compassion for the population we serve will help guide the clinical team into the future. Her background in treating substance use disorders and especially her experience in mental health, puts us in an even stronger position to expand capacity,” says Kristy Letendre, Tri-County CAP’s director of Clinical Services.

New Hampshire has been ranked second to last in the country for access to substance abuse treatment. New Hampshire residents are dying at a rate of one person a day from opiate overdose and officials have declared the current situation surrounding substance misuse throughout New Hampshire a public health crisis. Letendre added that the crisis, “Clearly demonstrates why the sustainability of the services offered by Friendship House and the effort to double service capacity should be of high priority for all stakeholders.”

Tri-County CAP operates the only facility offering a comprehensive array of Substance Use Disorder treatment services within a 65-mile radius.

Friendship House will build a four million dollar center on the campus next to the existing facility. Tri-County Community Action has been seeking grants, loans and funding to support this project and is running a matching funds crowd funding campaign on GiveGab. It will include modern and updated layout, and medical detoxification services that will allow the team to treat more patients with addiction. In the recent years, New Hampshire has seen a sharp increase of addiction to opiates, and prescription pill addiction in general.

“Unfortunately substance abuse and its related challenges are increasing,” said Robert Boschen Jr., Tri-County Community Action Program CEO. “If we are to meet this challenge head-on with our skilled team, we need to be able to break ground on our planned new facility to respond to the lack of treatment options for the North Country.”

About Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc

The Friendship House Addiction Treatment Alcohol and Other Drugs Program provides treatment, prevention and education to help people live a life free of addiction and abuse. Their residential program in Bethlehem, outpatient treatment in various locations in the North Country, follow-up services for people in recovery, and their ongoing education programs touch thousands of lives all over New Hampshire. As the state and nation battle this terrible addiction crisis, Tri-County CAP’s AoD program is planning to continue to improve and expand their services and networks to broaden the impact of this life-saving service.

To donate to their crowdfunding campaign: GiveGab Future Friendship House at
https://www.givegab.com/nonprofits/tri-county-community-action-programs/campaigns/future-friendship-house-expansion

Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc is dedicated to improving the lives and well-being of New Hampshire’s people and communities. They provide opportunities and support for people to learn and grow in self-sufficiency and to get involved in helping their neighbors and improving the conditions in their communities.

Tri-County CAP is a nonprofit, multi-program agency with many projects and service locations. If you are unable to find the information
you need about TCCAP or any of its programs on their website tccap.org, or please call their Central Office in Berlin at (603) 752-7001, or call one of their community contact centers located throughout northern New Hampshire. www.tccap.org