It’s been a while since we heard from underground rap champion Slaine (La Coka Nostra). As Slaine’s latest full-length LP release is 2021’s ‘The Things We Can’t Forgive’ with renowned producer The Arcitype. Turns out he’s been busy establishing a Psychiatry Mental Health Clinic in Nordwood, Massachusetts called Grand Rising Behavioral Health! We don’t have many details other than Grand Rising Behavioral Health is now officially open with 10 employees and the official website for Grand Rising has launched via https://www.grandrisingbehavioralhealth.com/
When George Carroll refers to himself as an “accidental businessman,” he’s usually talking about becoming an entrepreneur to promote his music.
But the rapper and actor better known as Slaine has embarked on another career where his entrepreneurial experience comes in handy: helping people rebound from addiction and other mental health issues.
Building on the success of the Charles River Recovery rehab center that he helped open in 2022, Carroll has launched a clinic in Norwood called Grand Rising Behavioral Health with two of his Charles River partners, Jon Foster and Armando Petruzziello. The outpatient clinic off Route 1 offers assistance with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Carroll said he was inspired by reflecting on a personal crisis he faced several years ago. Sober since 2014, Carroll no longer turned to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, and instead found success with helping others.
“It feels very fulfilling,” Carroll said during a recent interview in the new clinic. “I know what it’s like to run a startup. It’s terrifying in one sense. But to see it start becoming this living, breathing organism — sometimes I walk into Charles River and I get tears in my eyes.”
Carroll’s rise to fame is well chronicled. While looking for locals to cast in his 2007 movie “Gone Baby Gone,” Ben Affleck spotted a newspaper story about Carroll’s work with hip hop supergroup La Coka Nostra. Carroll had a small but memorable spot in that film, and landed a much more prominent role when Affleck returned to Boston for “The Town.”
As part of his addiction recovery, Carroll fielded requests from fans and others looking for assistance with their own demons. That eventually led to the Charles River venture in Weston, and now Grand Rising in Norwood. Carroll continues to balance this work with his acting and music careers: He just returned from England from filming of “The Running Man,” and has a new album coming in February.
Around 10 people work at the clinic today, a number Carroll expects will grow. Grand Rising doesn’t yet have contracts with major health insurers, but Carroll hopes that will change, too, as it gains traction. Foster manages day-to-day operations, though Carroll will remain actively involved in running the clinic and plans to make occasional appearances at group sessions.
If there’s anything Carroll has learned from his entertainment career, it’s that even a momentary interaction can have a lasting impact.
“To me, that’s what it’s all about, not just in movies but in life,” Carroll said. “When a moment comes, capitalize on your moment, make the most of that moment.”
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