Henry Brigham of Devin’s Reckroom is located near the fitness equipment at the new gym on the North Side of Syracuse to help people maintain recovery from addiction.Douglas Doughty
Syracuse, NY – A new gym will open on Monday on the north side of Syracuse with a brand new treadmill, waytrack, fitness ball, yoga mat and even an arcade console with 8,000 free games.
However, it takes a special commitment to get 48 hours of alcohol from the destruction of opioids and other drugs.
Devin’s REC Room, which has been hosting limited fitness and recovery classes since November, will open its doors at 511 Butternut Street from 8am to 8pm next Monday to Saturday.
The nonprofit’s goal is to help people everywhere on their journey to recovery from drug addiction, according to founder Henry Brigham, who has been recovering for decades.
He called the recovering people “the strongest people I know.”
For now, people are mostly hearing about gyms through word of mouth. The website promotes classes Announces its presence as a potential donor.
“This is and the people in recovery,” said Brigham, who lost his son Devin in 2001 after an overdose on his son Devin.
A photo of Devin Ernest Brigham hangs from the wall. The soccer and lacrosse player died shortly after his 18th birthday, during the first wave of the opioid epidemic that continues to infuriate more than 20 years later.
A portrait of Devin Brigham in Devin’s rec room.Douglas Doughty
County executive Ryan McMahon announced Thursday that Devin’s REC room had received $200,000 in county funds from a legal settlement with the pharmaceutical company that caused the opioid outbreak.
In addition to the gym, McMahon has announced around $2 million for many other causes. HelioHealth is a Catholic charity that provides mental health services to homeless shelters to psychiatric fellows with Catholic charities.
After spending more than a year of fundraising, Brigham said investment in long-term recovery is a key part of the fight against addiction.
“We help people win the battle and stay calm, but it’s not war. That’s the rest of their lives,” Brigham said.
Brigham, a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, said physical activity could have a major impact on helping people maintain their recovery.
The Game Room includes a customized arcade console with 8,000 video games.Douglas Doughty
He watches the county’s money. After a major renovation, he said there is plenty of remaining $200,000 left to add programming once normal operations begin.
Other sponsors include the Central New York Community Foundation and Onondaga Community College.
The gym is located on the ground floor of an affordable residential complex developed by the vision of a residential, on the former Otoscaville property, near St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Centre. The space previously housed a YWCA gym for women.
“Recovery is beautiful,” said Brigham, a former National Grid Manager. “I don’t have a wife. If it’s not for recovery, there’s no life.”
Staff writer Douglas Douutey has access to ddowty@syracuse.com Or (315) 470-6070.
