Staff of Live Rite in Roseville helps people recover from addiction

ROSEVILLE — Sarah Matthews never shies away from telling others about her recovery from drug addiction.

“If it helps anybody, I am all for it,” the 44-year-old Warren resident said. “If someone else can see it’s possible, I hope it brings others into recovery.”

Matthews, whose mother died of an overdose, marked four years of sobriety in October 2022.

“Substance abuse was in my family,” she said. As was trauma, abuse and what she described as “poor coping skills.”

Matthews is a peer recovery mentor at Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp. in Roseville. The nonprofit organization offers several services for individuals recovering from substance and/or alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, grief, and depression.

“My journey with Live Rite began in 2017. I got out of treatment, and a counselor suggested I try a recovery home,” Matthews said. “I stayed for a year and then relapsed.”

Matthews then returned to the recovery home and worked hard to become sober. Not only is she employed at Live Rite, but she now owns a home and is a student at Macomb Community College on her path toward becoming a social worker. It was Live Rite founder and President Brenda Maks who encouraged Matthews to enroll in college.

“That was the push I needed,” Matthews said. “We, as addicts, tend to get stagnant when we’re comfortable.”

Matthews said she had been someone “who was just smoking weed and going to the bar.”

In 2005, her world was torn apart when her son died of sudden infant death syndrome; she turned to heroin and crack cocaine to cope.

“I didn’t think that I would become an addict,” Matthews said. “The disease is cunning and baffling.”

While using drugs, Matthews lost custody of her two older sons. She also has a 6-year-old daughter who was adopted by a foster family.

“I was the consequences of my own actions,” Matthews said. “You crave the chaos of that run, run, go, go. That will take you back to the drugs.”

Matthews finally quit using drugs and continues on her road to recovery.

“I had to change everything,” Matthews said. “The blessing is, I am here and present. Narcotics Anonymous taught me coping skills and a lot of tools. When you are aware of your feelings, you can get to the core of the problem.”

Matthews’ sons are now 18 and 27, and they are a part of her life again with regular visits and time spent together. She has contact with her daughter, and she’s also a mom to her 2 1/2-year-old son.

 

‘Miracles happen’
Maks is the founder and president of Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp., a nonprofit organization located at 27700 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville. She is also a real estate agent and a person in recovery from addiction during “the crack era.”

“It’s a disease. I’m 25 years in recovery. You have to show people the way. Miracles happen,” Maks said. “How do you stay clean? Stay involved. We know people can change. Sometimes we have more hope for (those with addiction) than they have for themselves.”

Live Rite provides resources for long-term recovery for those recovering from substance and alcohol abuse, gambling, shopping addiction, eating disorders, and grief. Live Rite’s mission is to reduce the stigma of addiction and provide resources for housing, education, therapy and after-care for those in recovery. Meetings are held throughout the week, along with events and peer recovery coaching. Programs are open to the public.

There are 23 staff members, including marketing coordinator Megan Deshaj, administrative assistant Amanda Wills and outreach coordinator Colleen LaFleur. Not only does Live Rite assist people in recovery — it also is there for their loved ones.

“This resource center, it’s a family center,” Maks said. “We also want to help the families. We drain them dry when we are using. It was about me, me, me. Let’s give back.”

The resale shop, where everything costs $2 or less, is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Items for sale include women’s, men’s and children’s clothing; jewelry; greeting cards; shoes; coats; and more. Donations are accepted as well. To make a donation, call (586) 217-5899 in advance to set up a time.

“We get a lot of nice stuff,” LaFleur said. “The community definitely helps us a lot.”

Assisted outpatient treatment is available at Live Rite. Funding for the program comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. AOT, also known as Kevin’s Law, involves court-ordered mental health services for individuals with serious mental illness who have difficulty recognizing their need for treatment.

“We try to offer different coping skills. It’s needed,” LaFleur said. “We’re learning so much in AOT. We can help individuals take baby steps … brushing their teeth, washing their clothes.”

Live Rite also offers a resource library where computers are available to update resumes and fill out job applications. Community members, too, can obtain free Narcan, a user-friendly medication that is proven to reverse an opioid overdose.

“We offer Narcan training once a month. It’s open to the public,” marketing coordinator Kim Oakes said. “Groups of 30 or more get a private training.”

There is a yoga room and a place to create art. Many of the artwork throughout the building was created by individuals in recovery. Live Rite also has a food pantry on its premises. Nonperishable food items are always welcome.

 

‘When using, I was numb. Nothing mattered.’
LaFleur’s recovery journey began 10 years ago. LaFleur, 32, lost her dad at a young age. In high school, a classmate offered her heroin but she turned him down several times.

“I will never do heroin,” LaFleur thought. “He kept offering it to my group of friends.”

But the teen who was mourning the loss of her father eventually took the student up on his offer.

“I did heroin. That was my drug of choice,” the Troy resident said. “I learned how to self-medicate and ran with it. When using, I was numb. Nothing mattered. When you’re not using, you’re sick.”

She distanced herself from family members, including her mom. It was her mom who found Live Rite when she began donating baked goods for different events. That opened the door for LaFleur’s recovery.

“I started my recovery journey in 2013. I was in and out of rehabs. It finally stuck in 2016,” LaFleur said. “I was ready to live a different life. I disconnected from people that didn’t have my best interests. I chased my recovery like I chased heroin.”

And now instead of numbing herself, she faces her feelings head on.

“I can feel my feelings,” LaFleur said. “I can learn how to navigate those feelings. I don’t have to be self-medicating. When feelings happen, I feel them rather than run from them.”

Now clean, LaFleur has found her calling as Live Rite outreach coordinator. In her role, LaFleur helps spread awareness about addiction and recovery.

For more information on Live Rite, visit www.liveritestructuredcorp.com or call (586) 217-5899.

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Spring Spectacular
Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp. will hold its third annual Spring Spectacular fundraiser from 5 to 9 p.m. March 21 at the Italian American Cultural Society, 43843 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township.

The keynote speaker will be Tony Hoffman, and Libby Alexander will be the guest speaker. Comedian Jay Armstrong also will perform, and stay tuned for a performance from Nicky T and the Snake Charmers.

The evening will include a cash bar, dinner and raffles. The last day to purchase tickets is March 7. Sponsorships also are available. For more information, call (586) 217-5899 or visit www.liveritestructuredcorp.com.