Community helpful in preventing substance abuse
Butler Eagle - March 16, 2026
Dr. C. Thomas Brophy discusses the neurological drives behind addiction and their impact during the Discover Recovery event at Butler County Community College on Wednesday, March 11. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Our Opinion - “Addiction and isolation always go hand in hand like recovery and community go hand in hand.” These words, spoken by Dr. C. Thomas Brophy, medical director of the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center, address a reason why people fall into substance use and the reason behind its annual recovery event. Community and support are at the center of recovery because a lack of either could lead a person deeper into feelings of anxiety, depression and reliance on unhealthy substances.