Summit Pointe opening drug abuse recovery center

Summit Pointe is opening a community recovery center to address the area's substance abuse issues.

According to a Wednesday news release from the mental health agency, property has been purchased at 215 E. Roosevelt St.

Summit Pointe is planning on a fall opening.

The Battle Creek Community Foundation, Bronson Battle Creek, the Battle Creek Police Department and Southwest Michigan Behavioral Health are partners with Summit Pointe in creating the center.

In the release, Calhoun County's opiate problem was specifically mentioned as one of the factors leading to the decision to open such a center.

The release said there have been 51 overdoses and seven deaths from opiate use in the county since January. BCPD Chief Jim Blocker, a Summit Pointe board vice chairman, said those numbers were unacceptable.

"This alliance of community providers is focused on addressing the issue holistically through medical and mental health needs assessments and linking people to the recovery resources they need to be successful," Blocker said in the release.

For more on mental health services at Summit Pointe, go to www.summitpointe.org or call 966-1460.

Contact Andy Fitzpatrick at 269-966-0697 or afitzpatrick@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @am_fitzpatrick.