LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky is continuing to battle with the drug epidemic. The commonwealth ranks second worst for drug overdose deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The Recovery Café Lexington is a peer-led nonprofit that provides much-needed resources to people struggling with drug addiction and mental health concerns.

No light is being dimmed at the Recovery Café Lexington. It offers an array of resources for people struggling with substance abuse and mental health concerns.

Resources the community offers include basic needs, recovery coaching, recovery circles, support groups, school for recovery and computer lab. Representatives said the café invites all races, religions, countries of origin, sexual orientations and gender identities.

Just like the name, the café offers a bite to eat through community meals each day they’re open, which is Wednesday through Sunday. 

Jody Cain is just one of the many people thankful for her job at Recovery Café Lexington. Cain struggled most of her life with substance abuse. She detailed she was shy growing up and used substances in order to crawl out of her shell.

Lexington's Recovery Café is open Wednesday through Sunday. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

“I didn’t think there was a way that I could recover. I didn’t know anyone who had recovered without going to prison,” said Cain.

On January 13, 2017, Jody Cain achieved what she thought was impossible. She went into recovery after spending 20 years in active drug addiction.

“Sometimes there’s appointments, but a lot of times I’m meeting their needs as they arise,” Cain said of helping others.

Cain is working as a recovery coach at Recovery Café Lexington. It’s a job she’s done since December 2021. She’s often the first face people see when they need help.

She helps people at their rock bottom with goal setting and connects them to treatment facilities around the Commonwealth.

“That was the moment I knew why I did this,” Cain said. “Like I didn’t really recover until that happened to me. Until I got to witness and be a part of someone else recovering.”

Scot Mallon smilies as he grabs a bite to eat at Recovery Center Lexington. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

Aaron Guldenschuh-Gatten is another face you’ll see around the Recovery Café. He serves as the assistant executive director.

“Everyone who works here has experience with substance use disorder. I myself am in recovery with five years of recovery,” Guldenschuh-Gatten said. “We make space by providing radical hospitality for people who society otherwise may not want to make space for.”

Cain believes having gone through similar struggles as the people walking through the doors of Recovery Café Lexington eases people’s worries about getting treatment.

“Recovery Café is a good place for me to give back and meet people where I used to be and help them recover,” said Cain.

Recovery Café Lexington is just one of 20 locations around the United States trying to change the trajectory of the drug and mental health epidemic. The center operates Wednesday through Sunday. If you know someone in need of their services, you can walk in or call (859) 523-0590.