WS Chronicle

Last week Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA), a Durham-based nonprofit residential recovery program, took a step closer to expanding services to the Triad when they broke ground for their new facility on Union Cross Road. 

TROSA has been serving the Triangle area since 1994 when founder Kevin McDonald set out to help addicts in the area lead healthy, productive lives. Since its inception, TROSA has helped more than 9,000 people from across the state become productive citizens by providing comprehensive treatment and vocational training. Many of the participants in the program work with TROSA’s moving crew or lawn care crew while they complete the program.

Keith Artin, president and CEO, said the program has a 90% success rate and almost everyone who finishes the program finds employment. “Almost 100% find jobs upon completion of our program. Over 90% stay sober and avoid any kind of criminal convictions in the years following,” said Ardin during the groundbreaking ceremony. 

TROSA began talks about expansion in 2018, when it was reported they were looking to open a facility in the Triad. Artin said at a place in time when the opioid epidemic is getting worse and more people than ever are in need, there needs to be more recovery options. “People used to always say we need more programs like TROSA and we agreed,” he continued.

“Our state and our nation has been struggling with this epidemic and we need more options for recovery … We know the need is out there and the need is here in Forsyth County and throughout the state. We’re very fortunate to be able to expand our work so that we can empower even more North Carolinians who are trying to rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and reclaim their futures.” 

Initially, TROSA planned to move its facility to 16 acres of land off Old Greensboro Road. They intended to convert The Commons of Forsyth County, which is located on Felicity Circle and Felicity Lane, into a facility that would serve 250 people. But during a meeting in 2019, the Winston-Salem City Council voted 7-1 to deny rezoning in favor of TROSA. Before voting, several council members encouraged TROSA officials to consider opening the facility in a location with the zoning they needed already in place.

TROSA’s new campus will be located at 1931 Union Cross Road and it is expected to be up and running by 2022. The facility will begin with 100 beds and expand to 200 in the future. TROSA’s expansion is made possible by the North Carolina General Assembly, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and Peter J. and Prudence F. Meehan. Additional generous support is provided by the following foundations: Golden LEAF Foundation, Truist Charitable Fund, Hanley Family Foundation, and The Winston-Salem Foundation. 

During the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 30, several elected officials spoke in support of TROSA’s move to Forsyth County. Senator Joyce Krawiec said the groundbreaking ceremony was a culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of different people who were all focused on one goal: helping citizens in need rebuild their lives. 

“I know the City Council, the Commission, the Forsyth delegation, all my colleagues in the House and Senate, we are ready and able to do all that we can to make sure that this becomes a complete reality.” 

When asked about TROSA’s move to the area, Winston-Salem City Councilmember James Taylor, who is publisher of The Chronicle, said, “There are citizens in our city that have had to deal with the drug epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic all at the same time. We’re excited to have a program like TROSA in the Southeast Ward to provide more recovery options for residents in our community. I’m thankful that TROSA didn’t give up on Winston-Salem; because we are better as a city by having them as our new neighbors.” 

N.C. House Representative Donny Lambeth said, “TROSA Triad will be a great addition to the community.” Lambeth, who represents District 75, said independent research shows TROSA saves taxpayers millions of dollars in court costs, incarceration, emergency medical care, and other services.  

“We know that when people with substance use disorder enter and stay in recovery, lots of good things happen. Individuals throw off the burden of addiction and rejoin society as productive, healthy citizens,” Lambeth continued. ”But it’s not just the residents and their families that benefit when someone receives treatment and stays in recovery; in fact, our entire community and our state benefits. … As public officials, we have a responsibility to ensure that the taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and with TROSA Triad, we know the return on investment will be substantial.”

For more information about TROSA and the nonprofit’s expansion, visit www.trosainc.org.