News

SEPTEMBER MARKS THE PATH TO RECOVERY

By Erin France/ OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 10:43 AM CDT

September is the National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.

It’s a time to celebrate successes and publicize Pine Bluff’s resources for addicts and their families, said Joe Hall, executive director of the alcohol and drug treatment facilities at Human Development and Resources Services Inc. in Pine Bluff.

“It’s important because people here in Pine Bluff need to be aware that there is a serious drug problem here and there is help here,” he said.

“There are treatment facilities that can deal with these issues.”

Besides his program there are plenty of local nonprofits and religious organizations willing to lend a hand, Hall said.

“A lot of times when people may have family members or friends who need these services they send them out of town because they don’t want anybody to know about it,” he said. “It shouldn’t be like that.”

Locals might go to treatment centers in Hot Springs, Texarkana or El Dorado, he said.

“My feeling is that we need to come together and start helping our people,” he said.

Hall, a former addict himself, said familiar surroundings can help surmount roadblocks to recovery.

Human Development and Resource Services offers accredited and certified services to Jefferson, Grant, Lincoln, Arkansas and Cleveland counties.

Administrative offices are located at 2106 E. Sixth Ave. Several outpatient and inpatient locations are available.

Hall said HDRS works with a variety of organizations in order to find continuous treatment for their patients.

“This whole thing is about ... letting people know that treatment does work,” he said. “It works for people who want it to work.”

Glenn Jackson, director of Second CHANGE Recovery Center, operates one of the programs that works in conjunction with HDRS.

He’s also a former client.

Jackson said he stopped using alcohol and drugs in 1991.

“I just got tired of living that way,” he said. “I got to the point where I knew if I didn’t do something different I was going to die.”

After recovering, Jackson said he knew he wanted to help other addicts.

“It’s a well-needed entity,” he said.

Not many residents know what community programs are offered, he said.

For Second CHANGE, participants are encouraged to attend meetings — held three times a day seven days a week. The program also has short-term residences available, Jackson said.

“I think Pine Bluff as a whole really needs to stand behind us more,” he said.

The program, headquartered at 2821 S. Catalpa St., was visited by about 6,000 residents last year, Jackson said.

But there’s still more to be done, he said, especially with additional funding.

“We could offer so much more,” Jackson said, a sentiment repeated by Hall at HDRS.

“A lot of people don’t know that there’s a way out,” Jackson said.

After admitting there is a problem and finding recovery resources, addicts still can be hesitant to join local meetings, Jackson said.

“You’re going to have to pocket your little pride up.”

Print this story   |   Email this story