Insights: In the Fight Against Drug Addiction, What Is the Next Step After Detox?

After Detox: Why Recovery Support Must Go Further

When Loran Owens was incarcerated, his brother was behind bars too. Owens recalls those painful months clearly:

“He was in there about four months… He was shooting up heroin, mostly OxyContin and stuff. While he was inside, he wanted help. He asked to go to rehab when he got out.”

But that help never came. Owens says his brother was denied access to a treatment facility. Two days after his release, he died of an overdose behind a tire shop.

“People are dying left and right,” Owens said.

Getting Clean Is Just the First Step

Owens spent 20 years cycling in and out of prison due to his own addiction. Now clean, he sees the same cycle playing out for others—fueled by a lack of accessible treatment, community support, and long-term care.

He regularly receives calls from people asking for help.

“People are looking for help all the time. I can’t help ’em. The first step is stopping the drug use—but that’s just the beginning.”

Opioid withdrawal can last up to a month, and detox is difficult to access without immediate placement. Owens once contacted his probation officer for rehab support, only to be told it would take four months to secure a spot. He was arrested again before he ever got in.

The Recovery Gap in Southern Illinois

Owens, who lives in Southern Illinois, points to the lack of local recovery services and opportunities. With few jobs, limited social resources, and an abundance of drug use, the risk of relapse is constant, even for those who want to stay clean.

Even now, nine months into sobriety, Owens says friends continue to reach out with offers to get high.

“It’s the people, places, and stuff,” says Sherry Gibbens, a substance abuse counselor with Centerstone, a behavioral health provider. “They have to retrain their minds and stay away from everything that pulled them down in the first place.”

Gibbens works on the front lines of Illinois' worsening opioid crisis. According to the CDC, the state saw a 66% increase in opioid-related ER visits in 2017 alone. Provisional data from the Illinois Department of Public Health reported over 2,199 opioid overdose deaths last year.

Why Long-Term Treatment Matters

Gibbens compares addiction to a tornado:

“It destroys everything—your home, your things, your life. And when it’s over, you don’t even know where to start.”

Yet only 43 state-licensed facilities in Illinois offer long-term residential treatment—and many counties don’t have even one. Long-term care is critical because opioids alter brain function, impairing judgment, memory, and problem-solving. Detox alone isn’t enough; recovery requires learning how to live again.

In some communities, organizations like Herrin House of Hope are stepping in to fill the gap. They offer hot meals served restaurant-style, as well as GED programs, job training, a food pantry, and a thrift store.

“We didn’t want to just put a Band-Aid on the problem,” says director John Steve. “We wanted to use peroxide and really help someone get well.”

Steve founded the program after serving time for gang violence and drug trafficking. Knowing the risks of returning to his old neighborhood in Chicago, he moved to Herrin to start over.

“Even with the right intentions, the odds were against me. I had to leave,” he said.

Building a Better Future: Operation Archangel Army

In places like Franklin County, resources like these are rare. Owens wants to change that.

His vision is called Operation Archangel Army, a local initiative that would offer a community recovery hub with job training, classes, childcare, meals, and a sober space to gather.

He’s currently working with local organizations to raise funds and build support.

“The most important part of staying clean is having support,” Owens says. “People who’ve been through it. People who stay with you. People who care.”

Gibbens agrees:

“They can’t do it alone. If the community doesn’t rally behind them, they’ll go right back. If you want them to change, you have to show them what change looks like.”

Creating Safe, Supportive Housing for Recovery

Just like John Steve and Loran Owens, Vanderburgh Sober Living believes in building real, long-term support systems for people in recovery, especially after detox.

Our recovery homes across Illinois and New England offer safe, stable environments where residents can focus on rebuilding their lives free from drugs and alcohol. Each home is led by a caring House Manager and run by self-employed Operators committed to their community’s recovery success.

If you’ve ever thought about opening your own sober home, now’s the time. We can help you make it happen.

👉 Searching for a recovery residence that’s right for you? Visit Vanderburgh Sober Living to explore structured, supportive sober living options tailored to your journey.
And if none of our homes are the right fit, this Sober House Directory is a great tool to find sober living anywhere in the U.S.—with detailed photos, locations, and everything you need to make an informed choice.