Lenawee FAN was established in early 2023 by a group of individuals who recognized the need to create a FAN chapter. They wanted to form an organization that could address gaps in available addiction services, educate community members about substance use disorders, and reduce stigma, while providing resources and support for families. For a number of members, forming this chapter was deeply personal, because they had lost loved ones to addiction or knew of someone whose life had been directly impacted by the disease.

Our board and advisory board members span the professional landscape: from medical and legal professionals, to educators and emergency responders, to social service workers. Members also consist of those in recovery from addiction, as well as family members who have been affected by a loved one’s addiction. Many of Lenawee FAN’s members are also working in, or interacting with, the field of substance use disorder.

Part of the education effort of FAN is offering a clear picture concerning the realities of addiction, while being data-driven and community-focused. This not only includes communicating what works to reduce substance abuse and build recovery supports, but also understanding and considering what has not worked in the past and why it failed. FAN seeks to offer alternatives to the criminal justice approach that labels individuals struggling with addiction as criminals. These alternatives build a network of support that helps to avoid stigmatizing outcomes.

​Through FAN, we’re able to implement harm reduction strategies that have been shown to save lives and drive engagement with those battling addiction. We want to offer a network of support for families, so they have somewhere to turn to when seeking resources to help their loved ones. With these goals in mind, our mission is to begin healing the community, become allies with our community partners in an effort to work toward better solutions, and offer hope to the individuals, families, friends, and community facing the adversity of addiction.