WOMAN RECLAIMS HER LIFE AFTER DRUGS

HUNTINGTON -- Carol Richard recently discovered reality after a
15-year drought.

Richard is remembering how good it feels to keep her house in order,
to be self-sufficient. She gets excited about the small things in
life like taking a hot shower or cooking her children a nutritious
meal. She relishes the thought of sitting down with her daughter each
night and helping her with some homework.

For her, life is something new.

At 36-years-old, Richard is finally drug-free.

A little over a year ago, Richard completed a 6-month stay at the
Renaissance Program for women. The program helps women overcome
addiction, while allowing them to remain with their children.

On her own at the age of 14, Richard never knew the support and love
of a family.

But at the end of eighth grade when she dropped out of school, she
began to know the control and cravings of drugs.

"I was introduced to drugs when I was younger," Richard said. "But I
really started using them when I was working in a strip club in Charleston."

Richard's addiction to drugs developed in her youth, but it
manifested itself during her second pregnancy when she was arrested
by police after they found 10 pounds of marijuana on her. She was
sentenced to five months in South Central jail in Charleston.

Richard's drugs of choice were marijuana and methamphetamine.

At her worst, she said she almost didn't recognize herself. It wasn't
uncommon for her to yell at her kids, just to get them out of her
way. She rarely paid her bills and wondered day to day how she would
put food on the table.

"It was the best thing that ever happened to me when I got arrested,"
Richard said. "I tried to tell the dealers to stay away from me when
I was pregnant, but somehow I could still find a way to get the drugs."

As a result of her long term use she has problems with her teeth,
stomach and memory.

"I have gained 80 pounds since I got off the drugs," Richard said.
"But I try not to let that bother me because what I have really
gained is my life."

Richard's attributes her stay at Renaissance to keeping her off drugs
for two years.

The program, which only serves women, is based on a no tolerance
policy where women are not allowed to use any medication in house.

"At first, when you get into the program, you really think you are
crazy," Richard said. "You worry what people are thinking about you
and you start to hit reality again."

The program is based heavily on group counseling. There is also an
in-house physchologist on hand.

Kim Miller, manager for the Renaissance Program, said the program is
designed to be comprehensive.

"We have apartments where women can live with us," Miller said. "We
try to address all their needs while they are here."

The program addresses problems that can be directly related to drugs,
including criminal thinking, employment problems, relationship
issues, trauma and mental health. Women are allowed to stay at the
house for up to a year or longer.

Richard said the program has worked for her, but it won't work for
anyone until they are ready to quit taking drugs. She is also well
aware of the fact that she has an addiction that will never go away.
Just within the past two weeks, she said she has felt the urge to use
drugs again.

"It is a life long commitment," Richard said. "You make small steps,
but when you get cocky in your recovery then that is when you start to fall."

Looking into the future, Richard sees herself getting her GED and
working with children for a career. The key to staying off drugs, she
said, is being honest with yourself and those around you.

As she holds her 22-month-old son, Treyvon, tears well up in her eyes.

"Now it is about my kids, it is about them," Richard said. "I am so
much happier now on my worst day clean than I ever was on my best day high."