Whitman Recovery Community Center: Why in downtown Pullman?

Commentary by Megan Guido | FāVS News

On May 31, a new chapter in recovery support began with the official grand opening of Whitman Recovery Community Center (WRCC) at 226 E. Main St in Pullman. 

Why recovery center located downtown?  

Its location is a strategic choice made by those with experience operating a recovery center, those with lived experience in substance use and behavioral health challenges and dedicated volunteers who serve on the WRCC Advisory Committee.  

Before explaining the strategy regarding the location of the new WRCC, let me explain that the WRCC is not a drug rehabilitation center, which it’s been called mistakenly.  

Although Pullman and the Palouse are in desperate need of a drug rehab center, WRCC is for individuals who are seeking recovery or have overcome their addictions and are now living a life of sobriety. They may be struggling to maintain a clean and vastly different lifestyle from their previous lives or they may be clean for years and need ongoing support. It’s peers helping peers. 

What is a peer-recovery community center? 

Recovery peers are people who have “lived experience” with addiction and mental health issues. Peers drive the activities of the WRCC, and all services are free and everyone welcome. It’s truly a community center with no religious agenda. 

Traditional 12-step and support groups will hold meetings at the WRCC. Certified peer counselors and volunteers in recovery will be available for peer coaching. Community volunteers will provide educational and recreational offerings to participants like trauma-informed yoga, gardening, building/construction skills, sound baths, guided meditation and nature walks. 

A key part of successful recovery is finding new ways to fill your time that you previously filled using drugs and alcohol. Recovery, among other things, is a lifestyle change and it takes many forms. 

Who is in recovery?

People in recovery are your friends, family and neighbors. They are people who are struggling to remain sober, hold a job, battle loneliness or find a new sober friend group. Who among us nowadays has not been personally touched by addiction, recovery or mental health challenges?

You may not know the folks in your community who are in active recovery from these challenges, but you see and work with them every day. We need to work at destigmatizing not stigmatizing people in recovery. They are to be admired for overcoming or working to overcome one of the most powerful forces in a lifetime.   

The need

The 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment for Whitman County shows a need for these services. The number one priority identified by the Whitman County Public Health Department was mental and behavioral health, which encompasses substance misuse and recovery.   

Twenty percent of people in Whitman County reported increased use of drugs and alcohol over the last 12 months and 55% of Whitman County residents felt lonely or isolated over the past 12 months. Heroin cases are decreasing in urban counties compared to a relative increase in rural areas. Whitman County opioid cases increased by over 250% between 2002-2004 and 2021-2023 (ADAI UW, n.d.).

Pullman is not immune to the opioid epidemic nor are we insulated against availability of illicit drugs or the uncertainty of this world and its effects on people’s psyches. 

Why downtown? 

Sure, folks would like to see more retail in downtown Pullman, but an occupied building is better than an empty building. WRCC is primarily funded by the state, and WRCC has used some of this money to make improvements on the building itself. Thanks to a grant from the Downtown Pullman Association to offset some costs, the outside of our building will get a facelift too.  

Folks in recovery are consumers and will buy or seek services when they are downtown. Just as the Latah Recovery Center (LRC) in downtown Moscow had their vocal detractors, WRCC will have the same. 

What I find fascinating though is some of the folks who spoke out against LRC operating out of downtown Moscow more than 10 years ago are now some of the biggest fans of the LRC. There wasn’t an outcry when the blood plasma center located in downtown Pullman or when medical providers rent downtown sites. Why should a location to help people with mental health be any different? 

The key is respect and communication. WRCC will work to be a good neighbor. Stop by anytime to learn more about our services, resources and say hello.  

Community is built on openness and compassion. Normalizing support starts with making a location for it in an accessible spot.