REBUILDING LIVES

Program helps clients recover from addiction

A recovering drug and alcohol addict, Rachel can speak to the
services provided by the Phoenix House residential rehabilitation program.

Once I started using, it became a part of my daily life," said the
24-year-old, whose name has been withheld to protect her privacy. "I
wanted to stay clean, but I didn't know how."

The Scottsboro native was raised in a religious environment, but she
became entangled with drug and alcohol as an experiment that was soon
out of control.

Sixty-eight days ago she was referred to the Phoenix House and has
finally begun to make progress. "This is a good place that teaches you
how to stay clean and live a normal life," Rachel said. "People come
into this program like myself, and you feel so ashamed about the
things you've done and how you have made people feel.

"[Staff members] help you understand there is help, and it is a
disease. They make you feel really welcome and help relieve the shame
and guilt."

Since she arrived, she has found a job and is thinking of going back
to college. She doesn't plan to leave the Phoenix House any time soon.

Like Rachel, more than 3,000 people have been served by the program.
While this is the only program of its type in West Alabama for women,
it also serves men.

Ronald Colvin, the director of the center, is one of those. "I went
through the Phoenix House in 1983," he said. "So I can relate to the
clients and what they are going through."

Colvin said the program provides free housing, food and transportation
as well as counseling and job placement services. There are 18 slots
for males and 12 slots for females, and a new house was recently built
across the street to house three female graduates.

"Once they leave the program here, it's low-cost housing for them to
live in and continue to work," Colvin said. "It gives them more time
to get on their feet."

The Phoenix House is a state-supported institution that is also a
United Way agency. It holds one annual fund-raiser -- a Western gala
- -- that will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Water Oaks Farms on McWrights Ferry Road.

The $100 tickets will buy access into the event and a chance to win a
2004 Ford F-150 XLT.

"We will have a country western band and food galore," Phoenix House
board member and fund-raising chairperson Eunice Gay said. "There's
barbecue and all the fixings, and all of it is donated."

Outback Steakhouse, the Pottery Grill and Dreamland Bar-B-Que were
among last year's contributors. "It's very successful," Gay said. "We
raise anywhere from $18,000 to $20,000."

The money goes into a foundation fund, and this year it will likely be
used to replace furniture in the women's center. Gay said many people
look forward to the event each year, and the 400 tickets usually sell
out.

"It's a lot of fun, and the main thing is you're helping the clients
of the Phoenix House to get their lives turned around," Gay said.

The residential rehab program serves clients from across the state.
They stay anywhere from three months to a year.

"So many of them are not ready to leave at the end of 90 days," Gay
said. "They feel they've accomplished something, and they enjoy it so
much."

"There are few families in our community who aren't touched by
alcoholism and drug addiction," Colvin said.

And the Western Gala gives the community a chance to contribute to the
effort of alleviating that problem.

"It's a good opportunity to support the Phoenix House and the clients
we serve while having fun," Colvin said.