[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Edward Cutcher is the Executive Director of Outpatient Services at Midwest Recovery Center in Toledo, Ohio. With more than 14 years of sobriety under his belt, Cutcher has both the book smarts and lived experience to adequately run a substance use disorder treatment center. He’s earned three degrees: an Associates in substance abuse treatment and mental health, a Bachelor’s in Science, and a Master’s in Business and Healthcare Administration.
Cutcher began using drugs in 2000 after needing seven consecutive surgeries from injuries sustained playing football at the University of Toledo. As the story often goes, he was prescribed painkillers after surgery and became dependent on them. Things in his personal life began spinning out of control.
“There were a lot of moments when I realized I needed help,” Cutcher said. “My family is the most important to me. When I started losing their trust, that’s when I knew I needed to make a change.”
Cutcher entered treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, but it was not his only experience with treatment centers at that point.
“I was working as a program coordinator at a treatment center while I was using,” he said. “I don’t even know how to explain it; it was kind of surreal. It was a rough stretch of my life, to say the least.”
Cutcher has worked in treatment for 25 years, the last 14 of which he has been clean. Prior to joining the team at Midwest Recovery Center, Cutcher was the Employee Assistance Director at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee. He frequently referred medical students and employees who needed substance use treatment to Midwest Detox Center and Midwest Recovery Center. After getting to know CEO Matt Bell and COO Joshua Dressel, he knew that the Ohio TruHealing Centers were where he wanted to be.
“The vision and culture here is unlike any place I’ve ever worked,” he said. “I’ve really been touched by the people. Everyone is on the same page for the same goals. A lot of people in this field just come and punch the clock, but I don’t see that here. I’m really grateful that I have an opportunity to lead a team of people like that.”
As part of his new role, Cutcher hopes to improve the systems that are already in place and take the Ohio facilities “to the next level.”
“I want to be the best facility in the state,” he said. “We’re growing by leaps and bounds, and I want to continue to work on that expansion.”
Cutcher says the most rewarding part of his 25-plus years in substance use treatment is giving back to the clients, knowing that people are going to regain their lives. His own story is an example of what can happen through hard work and sobriety.
“I always had a vision that this is what I wanted to do when I grew up,” he said. “I’m not even sure what drew me to this field, but now I’m living the dream.”
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