RESTART Initiative Celebrates 90% Success Rate in First Annual Report

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - Angie Collignon, the Substance Use and Justice Program Coordinator, delivered the first annual report for the RESTART initiative, painting a picture of high success and community engagement since the program’s launch in April 2025.

A major highlight of the report was the Diversion Program, which ran from July 1 through the end of 2025. Collignon reported that 84 individuals were referred to the program, with a staggering 90% success rate among those who completed it.

The initiative’s impact on public health has also been significant through its partnership with Emily’s Hope. Together, they have distributed 808 units of naloxone (an opioid-overdose reversal drug) throughout the community.

“Our partnership with Codington RESTART has allowed the Emily’s Hope team to grow in both reach and impact,” Collignon read from a partner quote.

The program’s marketing campaign has also achieved massive digital reach. Collignon noted that the RESTART social media presence saw nearly 250,000 engagements in 2025.

“We had six individuals from the community work with our marketing company to do interviews about their sobriety journey,” Collignon said. “It’s been very powerful. One of our videos has over 5,000 views alone.”