VIDEO – ASK FOR HELP –

Sept. 6, 2024 – After decades of struggling with alcohol use disorder, Larry Boganwright now describes every day as a gift. 

“Here I stand today happy,” Boganwright said. “Life is so good.” 

This summer, he celebrated one year of sobriety. Today, he is focused on his future and has no plans of turning back. 

He nearly lost everything – including his family and eventually, his life. 

One night in June of 2023 he called 911 for help. He was taken to OhioHealth Marion General Hospital’s Emergency Department. That’s where he met Katie Herdman, a substance use navigator with the hospital’s Addiction Medicine program. Herdman happened to pick up a shift she doesn’t normally work that night. 

“I just happened to be there,” Herdman said. “The pieces fell perfectly where they needed to be. And I am very grateful that I could be there for him.” 

A substance use navigator is a health care provider who assesses a patient’s needs and then links that patient to follow-up care and the resources necessary to address any barriers they may face on their journey to a successful recovery. They are part of an Addiction Medicine team working to support the patient. That team can include but is not limited to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and counselors.

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