The City of Springfield has allocated $500,000 for the development of a map that will outline substance use and mental health resources available throughout the city. Crystal and Jeremy Box, operators of Road to Damascus Sober Living, emphasized the importance of accessibility, stating that despite the variety of available help, many individuals struggle to locate these resources.
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Crystal Box remarked, "It’s life or death. All the resources in the world are useless if they can’t find them." According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Springfield experienced 82 overdose deaths in 2024.
Over the past four years, Road to Damascus has successfully graduated 208 individuals from its sober living program. Jeremy Box expressed hope that the mapping initiative will include policies that facilitate collaboration among local organizations working toward community improvement.
Kyler Dennis, a survivor of a 2023 overdose, highlighted the necessity of the funding, noting, "I see people lost, needing help, don’t know where to go, what to do; they’re out on the sidewalk sleeping, and it’s a problem." He has since graduated from the program and now serves as a minister there.
As of now, KY3 has reached out to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department for further details on the mapping project but has not received a response. For those struggling with addiction and mental health, resources are available, including the following contacts:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) helpline at 1-800-662-4357
- Burrell Behavioral Health: 417-761-5000
- Road to Damascus: 417-685-9103
- Springfield Recovery Community Center: 417-368-0852
- Synergy Recovery Center: 417-812-4440.