Huther Doyle honors two for work in fight against substance abuse

Two local residents active in the fight against substance abuse were honored this week with the first George Huther Jr. Memorial Awards presented by the Huther Doyle substance abuse program.

Receiving the awards were East House Chief Executive Officer Gregory Soehner and Monroe County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza.

Soehner "has dedicated his entire career — more than four decades — to those struggling with and seeking recovery from substance use disorder and helping them to not only achieve a sober life but to help them maintain it by also offering concrete continuing care support such as housing, education and employment services," said Huther Doyle CEO Kathy Reed.

East House provides residential and recovery substances for individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems. Soehner is retiring at the end of this year.

While earlier at the Mental Health Association Soehner "established an emergency shelter services program as well as a counseling program for jail inmates," Reed said.

About Mendoza, Reed said that "since the start of 2018 he has conducted 101 opioid awareness and Narcan trainings, distributing over 1,000 Narcan kits throughout our community at locations including nine school districts and dozens of local businesses."

The awards are named for George Huther Jr., a businessman who was a recovering alcoholic who founded the Huther Doyle program in 1977.

GCRAIG@Gannett.com