LOCAL WOMEN GO ON TV SHOW TO WARN OTHERS ABOUT DANGERS OF DRUGS

Road To Recovery

HUNTINGTON -- Two Huntington women appeared on a nationally syndicated talk
show last week to share their story of recovery from drug addiction -- and
to inspire to others to do the same.

Both Denise Chappell, 32, and Karrie Meade, 27, traveled to New York City
in November to be taped on "The Ananda Lewis Show," a morning talk show,
which airs at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on CBS (WOWK-TV).

The show focused on women recovering from drug addiction who have used
drugs and alcohol around their children and while they were pregnant. The
show aired this past Thursday.

Chappell and Meade participate in the Renaissance program offered by
Prestera Center for Mental Health Services Inc.

The program is a six-month residential drug and alcohol treatment program
for mothers and their children. It not only teaches women how to break free
from addiction, but it also teaches basic living skills and offers job
training.

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment referred producers of the show to
Renaissance to find clients who may be interested in talking with them,
said Kim Miller, director of women's substance abuse services at Prestera.

"I think it gives them an opportunity to tell their story, and it helped to
increase their self-esteem," said Glennis Peters, a therapist with Prestera
who accompanied the women on their trip. "Their biggest motivation was to
help other people."

Chappell, who is originally from Beckley, was struggling with addiction
when she was pregnant with all four of her children, she said.

She described drug addiction as a powerful disease where you damage
yourself and others without realizing it.

"I guess this was a way of knowing that I did wrong and for me to express
it by helping other women," Chappell said about being taped for the show.
"Ananda was great. The audience wanted to really listen."

Being pregnant does not ease the addiction, she said.

"When you're an addict, you don't know who or what you're damaging," she said.

Chappell said she is proud of her recovery, and after six months with the
Renaissance program would like to take advantage of an expansion program.

"I wanted to become a mother and make it up to them," she said. "I have to
face up to responsibilities. Children forgive."

Meade said she was pregnant while she was using heroin. She said she found
herself without feeling and without hope and did not see a way out.

"I didn't know what recovery was or what relapse meant," she said.

She believes the Renaissance program saved her life and her baby's life.
"You can eventually gain your life back," she said. "Trust in God. If you
really want your child to get into long-term treatment, there are people
who care about you and want to see you do the right thing. With all the
support here and counselors with Renaissance, I learned to live and have
feelings. I was scared I had injured her for life. She's my miracle baby."

The women were rewarded for their courage in appearing on the show and
telling their stories with an all-expense paid trip to New York City. They
had only a couple days, but they made the most of it by visiting the Statue
of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park and the World Trade Center's ground
zero. One of the highlights for them was eating New York-style pizza and
hot dogs, Chappell said. But their greatest reward was knowing they may be
helping other women by sharing their stories.

For more information about addition recovery or the Renaissance program,
call the Renaissance Resource Center at (304) 525-4673 or stop by the
center at 1853 8th Ave. in Huntington.