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The Next Chapter

Residential drug/alcohol rehab to open in Whitley City

By Eugenia Jones

McCreary County will take a big step forward in tackling the scourge of local drug and alcohol abuse when Next Chapter LLP, a residential rehabilitation center, opens on July 18, 2022 in Whitley City.  The rehabilitation center will be established via a partnership between McCreary County native Cindy Hamby, Anthony Carter of Corbin, and a third unnamed partner who is also from Corbin.  Next Chapter will be located in the former McCreary County Primary Care (blue roof medical building) adjacent to the South Kentucky RECC office.

According to Hamby, Next Chapter is a faith-based business.  It is not a non-profit.  The residential center’s initial capacity will serve eight men for up to six months.  The three partners eventually hope to provide additional follow-up support in the forms of a step down program and intensive out-patient treatment.  One day, they also hope to provide rehabilitation services to women.  

Next Chapter will provide peer support, counseling, medical services, and will accept both court-ordered and voluntary referrals.  Detox services will be provided through the hospital at Corbin.  Next Chapter will accept Medicaid, drug vouchers, and private insurance if it provides coverage.

“This is my home county, and I will be moving back here to be close to the Center,” Hamby said.  “I want to bring something back to McCreary County and watch it grow.  I am excited that one goal of Next Chapter is to provide a lot of love and make those in rehab feel like human beings-not like they are just a number in the system.”

Another native of McCreary County, thirty-seven year old Jeremy Garland, will provide peer support with an emphasis on the Celebrate Recovery program.  At the same time, he will also be fulfilling his personal dream of providing peer support to others.

“My vision was to do peer support in my hometown where everyone knows my background and are aware of the train wreck I was for a big part of my life,” Garland said.  “I spent twenty-six years in active addiction.  Before my twelfth birthday, I already had a needle in my arm.”

Garland credits his current drug-free life style to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“It all changed one night when the Lord spoke to me and told me to straighten up,” Garland recalled.  “I am two years sober now.  I went through a faith-based rehabilitation program, got my GED and peer support certification.”

Garland is eager to establish a prayer war room at Next Chapter.

“I’m in love with the Lord,” Garland said passionately.  

Cliff Bass, originally from Lawrenceburg, KY, will be the full-time director at Next Chapter.

Bass said his turning point came after he was jailed for trafficking.

“I looked at a guy who was probably 65 or 70 years old and in jail,” Bass recalled.  “I realized I didn’t want to become that.”

A jail chaplain brought Bass a Bible and made sure it was read.  From there, Bass was able to go to Crossroads in Corbin for recovery.

“When I was at Crossroads, I heard the three most important things I had ever heard,” Bass explained.  “Sit still, be quite, and open your ears.  It’s hard for an addict to be still, so I had to learn that.  Then I had to be quite because I didn’t know it all, and I had to open my ears to take suggestions from other people who knew what they were talking about.”

Bass, who is now 3 ½ years clean, takes life one day at a time.

“We must live life for today,” Bass reflected.  “We are not promised tomorrow.  I’ve let God do what I couldn’t.”

Bass’s mother suggested he obtain his peer support certification.

“I took the training for peer support,” Bass said.  “I’ve always wanted to be a Director because I know the things I got from Crossroads that worked.  I want to bring that here.”

Those working with Next Chapter say the program will provide structure and approved curriculum.  

“We will be faith-based and show a lot of love and grace,” Bass added.  “At some point, we also hope to provide a step down (second phase) program and intensive out-patient treatment to help individuals as they reenter their communities with a new way of living.”

Realistically, those associated with Next Chapter know they will not always be 100% successful.  However, Garland says if one life is changed there is victory.

“God will see to our success,” he noted.

“I learned that when your pain is greater than your fear, you will make the commitment to change,” Bass elaborated.  “When that happens, we will be here to help.”

Photo by Eugenia Jones

Director Cliff Bass, Peer Support Jeremy Garland, and Case Manager Cindy Hamby will be thrilled to see the July 18, 2022 opening  of Next Chapter, a residential drug/alcohol rehabilitation center for men in Whitley City.

Photos by Eugenia Jones

Peer Support Specialist Jeremy Garland (left) is shown in the dining area and Director Cliff Bass (right) is pictured in one of the residential bed rooms of Next Chapter.  Initially, the center will provide residential drug/alcohol rehabilitation for eight men.  Next Chapter hopes to expand in the near future.

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