True Story: Dawn and Orion

I am a mother of three, and I work as an administrative assistant at a police department. I have 18 years of law enforcement work experience as well as an active duty enlistment in the Air Force. My husband of 11 years has been a police officer for 25 years. We are used to fighting the war on drugs in our daily work lives—but we were unprepared to fight it in our own home. In 2011, we were losing our personal war on drugs: our 15-year-old son, Orion, was addicted to Percocet.

Our home had become an unhappy one. Orion acted out, wouldn’t follow our rules, and wouldn’t stop using. I was so frustrated, not to mention afraid that Orion would end up in jail or dead. I was also worried about my younger children being exposed to the dangerous behaviors that went along with Orion’s drug abuse. Needless to say, there was a lot of yelling, crying, and unsuccessful discipline in our house. Nothing was working.

Not that we hadn’t reached out for help—we had. We’d tried psychology appointments, doctor’s appointments, drug and alcohol counseling appointments…but no matter what we did, Orion wouldn’t stop his dangerous behavior. I was so close to giving up, I even thought about dropping him off with his biological father, who was an addict as well.

But on October 26, 2011, my prayers were answered. Orion was admitted to the Phoenix House Academy of Dublin. It was a long hard battle, but it was worth it. At our first 30-day meeting, Orion insisted that we sign him out and allow him to come home. But I told him he couldn’t come home until he successfully completed the program. So he said he would just try to get kicked out. I still said we wouldn’t allow him to come home.

The very next week we were told that Orion had finally begun to “step into treatment.” That was week five, and he really started to flourish. The program gave him the safe environment he needed to start his recovery. The staff worked with him on his problems, pinpointed the causes of his drug use, and provided him with coping skills that he will have for the rest of his life. They also worked with our family to teach us coping skills as well.

The Academy was truly amazing, and the staff were always just a phone call away for us parents. My family and I cannot thank the Phoenix House Academy enough for the months of services that they provided to our son—they literally saved his life. Because of the strength of this program, my younger children now have a brother they can be proud of.

Today, Orion continues to apply what he learned at Phoenix House. Most recently, when I caught him skipping school, we told him to come up with his own punishment. So on his own, he confessed to his assistant principal at school the next day and told him he was willing to accept the consequences because he had messed up. The assistant principal later told me that he’d been very impressed by the way Orion had handled the situation, and that I should be proud. I am proud—the proud parent of a child in recovery. My son is 18 months sober thanks to Phoenix House.

If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, call us today at 1-800-378-4435 or send us an email.

True Story: Orion

I have a family history of drug addiction, and my dad is still currently struggling with it. He and my mom got divorced when I was young, so I was around addiction, but not for very long. Mostly I blame my personality; I was always obsessive about everything I did, always wanted more. I was never satisfied. So when I started using drugs I was just so consumed by it, even from the very first time I smoked weed. I’ve heard some people say that it took them a while before they became addicted, but not me. I was obsessed.

That was when I was about 12, and after that it was drinking and then my drug of choice, which was Percocet. I was never put off by the knowledge of how bad a drug was for me, so I kept trying harder drugs even though people said they could kill me. Once I got into Percocet I pretty much stopped doing everything else and my life just fell apart. I was 14. I got arrested a couple of times, and I couldn’t remember some things I did or said while high. One time my mom was crying, and she said I’d told her I couldn’t stop using even though I wanted to—and I had no memory of ever telling her that.

When I was arrested for the third time, my mom had had enough. She talked to my drug counselor and they referred me to the Phoenix House Academy of Dublin, New Hampshire. I went in for an interview was admitted a week later. I didn’t even have to wait. I was pretty defiant in the beginning, and on my 30^-day update I had my bags packed; I was convinced I’d get my mom to let me out. But my family and counselors were like, “Nope, you’re not ready.” I thought, “Oh crap.”

So for two months I was pretty badly behaved but then something clicked – I don’t know what it was – and I started to open myself up and give treatment a chance. It was slow going, mostly because a lot of my behaviors were pretty impulsive. I tended to do whatever I wanted and say whatever I wanted, and I needed to take a closer look at that tendency. In the end, I’m really glad I was there for six months because that’s what I needed to work on my behaviors. For me, my family was a big motivation—making sure I made things OK with them.

I met some of my best friends at the Academy, and I loved all the counselors. I still go up there once every two weeks to visit them, volunteer, and talk to the kids. When I completed treatment I took all the advice they gave me. I stopped hanging out with the kids I used to do drugs with, made new group of friends, got a job, and got my driver’s license. I used to play soccer before I started doing drugs and now that I’m sober I’m able to do that again. I’m still in high school and looking forward to graduating early in January of next year. I’m planning to go to college in Florida to become a psychologist or a counselor.

I live with my mom, my stepdad, my younger brother and younger sister—my other sister lives with my dad. I’ve gained my family’s trust again, and they all enjoy having me around now much more than they used to! I’ll never forget graduating Phoenix House and having my whole family there, my cousins and aunts and everyone telling me they’re proud of me. I mean, my mom didn’t know what to do with me back when I was using, it was really hard on her and it still is when she thinks back on it.

I hope that other kids who are in the position I was in will realize that nobody can make you get sober—you’re the only one who can do that. You’re the only one who can change your life. But believe me, when you do change your life, it will just keep getting better.

If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, call us today at 1-800-378-4435 or send us an email.

Phoenix House Cornerstone Opens in New Hampshire

Phoenix House Cornerstone, a 12-bed sober living facility in Northfield, New Hampshire, recently opened its doors to provide recovery housing for adult men who have completed treatment for substance abuse, but need a structured, supportive environment to help them make the transition to independent living.

Support for those in the early stages of recovery from addiction

Recovery housing is based on the belief that many individuals need to spend additional time in a stable, supportive environment in order to reinforce sobriety.  Recovery housing provides assistance in maintaining a healthy, drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle.  Phoenix Houses of New England has become a leader in providing this type of transitional living throughout the region.

Phoenix House Cornerstone is overseen by a housing coordinator and is located in a safe residential neighborhood within walking distance of public transportation.  Residents come from all walks of life and backgrounds and have access to daily Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, work opportunities, personal services, educational facilities, and recreational activities.  Phoenix House Franklin Center, a nearby residential facility providing crisis intervention, detoxification, and short-term residential treatment, is also available to Cornerstone residents if additional support is needed.  Random drug testing is performed by the housing coordinator and manager to help ensure sustained sobriety.

Phoenix Houses of New England is a leader in providing recovery housing throughout the region. If you or someone you love needs help in attaining or sustaining recovery from drugs or alcohol, please call 1 800 DRUG HELP (1 800 378 4435).  Help is never more than a phone call away!

True Story: Kristin

My parents got divorced when I was very young and my mom remarried.  I consider my stepfather my dad and he thinks of me as his daughter.  I had a really good childhood.  I was given every opportunity—all the love and affection you could imagine.  But this disease can happen to anyone.  My biological father was an addict and I believe for me, addiction is hereditary.  As a kid, I always felt different.  I was overweight, and I’d hide food and eat it.  I’d lie to friends and steal money from my parents.  I was awkward and scared of everything.

At 15, I got drunk for the first time and liked it.  On my 16^th birthday, I got really drunk.  I was scared that my parents would be angry, but they ended up saying, “We’re not mad.  We’re just disappointed.”  After that, I basically became a dry drunk.  I was really into punk rock and had a lot of teen angst.  When I was 18, I was in community college and I tried cocaine for the first time.  The combination of alcohol and coke really did it for me.  I barely finished college.  I lived above a head shop and started tattooing, which played into my partying lifestyle.  Later on, I moved to Boston and stopped tattooing.  My drinking and drugs came first.

By the time I left Boston, I was having trouble getting out of bed, my hair was falling out, and my skin was terrible.  I moved back into my mom’s house in New Hampshire, but it took me a year and couple of arrests before I realized I needed help.  One day, I was on my way to go drink and I got a DUI.  I was at double the legal limit and I felt like I hadn’t even started drinking.  That’s how high my tolerance was.  I thought, “God, I’m 26!  This isn’t how I want to lead my life.”  I went to an intensive outpatient program, and that’s when I realized I really had a problem.

Unfortunately, the program wasn’t enough to keep me sober.  My thinking was so warped that I told myself, “You’re a drunken cokehead.  You can try heroin!”  I used heroin for about a month and a half.  During that time, I remember getting on my knees and begging God to help me because I was so weak.  I started calling detoxes and Phoenix House Franklin was the first to call me back.  I went through detox and then transitional living; I worked during the day and came back to Franklin at night.  Then, one day I went out and used.  Instead of lying about it, I told the staff that I had relapsed and needed help.  The amazing thing is, they didn’t kick me out.  They saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself.

In September 2009, they sent me to Phoenix House Keene Center and I haven’t used since.  After two weeks, I came back to Franklin and stayed in transitional housing for four months.  The program had 24-hour counseling available, a supportive group of peers, required meetings—everything I needed to get my life back on track.  The staff wasn’t scared to tell me, “This is not OK.”  They really pushed me. After I left Phoenix House, I decided I didn’t want to lose contact.  I started volunteering and speaking about my recovery.

Every week, I do recovery-related art with the clients.  In one of my exercises, I have them fold a piece of paper and then draw all the things they like on one side of the crease.  It can be anything: music, sunsets, friends, family.  On the other side, I have them draw their drug of choice.  By the time they’re done, one side of the paper is filled with cool stuff and the other is just barren.  I tell them, “This is your choice.  If you want that, all this goes away.”  Some clients have a hard time filling up the page with things they like.  I say, “That’s because drugs have stripped you of everything.”  It’s a really powerful visual.

I now have three and a half years clean.  I’ll finish my B.F.A. in May and I was just accepted to a prestigious graduate arts program in New Mexico.  I’m studying to become a professional lithographer; lithography is a printmaking process using limestone.  I feel like my art mirrors my life.  You can do anything using the stone, but you have to follow certain steps—just like I have to follow certain steps in life to bring my goals to fruition.

Today, I’m proud of my relationships with friends and family.  One of the best parts of my recovery has been my renewed connection with my sister.  For a long time, she wanted nothing to do with me.  It’s been a process, but in the last six months, she’s started to come around.  Just the other day, she texted me about a new purse she bought.  It seems like a small thing, but I thought, “She could have told anyone and she told me.”  We love each other, and she finally has a big sister again.

If it weren’t for Phoenix House, I would’ve ended up in jail.  I keep in contact with the staff and I know that if I’m having a problem, I can go in and the counselors will take time out of their day for me.  I could stop by today if I needed to.  The thing I’d tell people who are struggling is, “Just give yourself a chance.  You’re worth it.”  I am not an exception.  Anyone can do this if they try.

 

If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, call us today at 1-800-378-4435 or send us an email.

 

Music for a Cause: Keene State College Chamber Singers Partner with Phoenix House

Young musicians at Keene State College have come up with an innovative way to support nonprofit organizations in southern New Hampshire, and this spring Phoenix House Keene Center, which provides residential and outpatient rehabilitation for substance abuse, is the beneficiary of their time and talents.

Each semester, the Keene State College Chamber Singers partner with a nonprofit organization in the Monadnock region.  The Singers learn about the organization’s mission, prepare music based on that theme, perform outreach events, and finally donate 20 percent of concert proceeds to the organization.  In the past, the Singers have partnered with Hundred Nights Shelter, Stonewall Farm, and the Monadnock Conservancy. During the Spring 2013 semester, Phoenix House Keene Center will benefit from this creative and generous musical partnership.

Don’t Miss This Concert in Support of Recovery!

On Sunday, April 14, 2013, the Chamber Singers will present a concert entitled “ARISE!  Songs of Triumphant Beauty.”  The concert will feature Mozart’s “Regina Coeli” and Bernstein’s “The Lark,” with guest countertenor soloist, Aaron Russo. Other works by Nystedt, Arcadelt, Stanford, Gibbons, and Passereau will also be performed.  A pre-concert lecture panel will begin at 2:30 p.m. followed by the performance at 3:00 p.m. in Redfern Art Center’s Alumni Recital Hall. The Chamber Singers are conducted by Dr. Sandra Howard and student assistant conductor Hannah Hall, and are joined by collaborative pianist Cheryl Sharrock.

To learn more about Phoenix House and our services, the singers invited Amelie Gooding, Program Director, Phoenix House Keene Center, to visit the Keene State campus and answer questions regarding Keene Center’s services to the community, the ways in which drug and alcohol treatment have changed over time, the impact of funding questions on individual access to recovery services, the range of individuals affected by substance abuse, and ways in which the Singers themselves could contribute to educating the general public on addiction and helping people in crisis.  As a follow-up, the Singers plan a visit to Keene Center where they will meet with clients, listen to their stories, and learn from their experiences.

New Hampshireis a state hit hard by the current economic climate, and substance abuse treatment programs have been particularly affected.  To see these young musicians take such a deep and generous interest in helping Phoenix House provide a healthier, happier future to drug- and alcohol-troubled people is heartwarming indeed!

Every day, Phoenix Houses of New England’s 45 programs help hundreds of people who are struggling with addiction turn their lives around.  For more information on our programs and services, please call 1 800 DRUG HELP (1 800 378 4435).

Phoenix House Dublin Center Honored for Education on Healthy Relationships

The Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Keene, New Hampshire, recently honored Phoenix House Dublin Center with its Partner in Education Award.  Presented at the Monadnock Center’s Annual Meeting, the award was accepted by Kate Robertson, Program Director, on behalf of Dublin Center.

Each year the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention honors various community partners for their work in helping to advance the Center’s mission.  Phoenix House is deeply aware that violence, including domestic and sexual abuse, is an all too common by-product of substance abuse, and we are fully committed to providing education on healthy relationships as an essential factor in maintaining long-term recovery and healthy lifestyles.

Phoenix House Dublin Center provides residential rehabilitation services to adults with substance abuse disorders, including those with co-occurring mental health issues.  Services include detoxification, short-term residential treatment, and transitional living for those in the early stages of recovery.

The Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention is dedicated to breaking the cycle of violence through providing education and outreach in schools, businesses, and throughout the community.

If you or a loved one are experiencing problems with drugs or alcohol, please call Phoenix House at 1 800 DRUG HELP (1 800 378 4435).  We’re here to help!

Q&A: Heavy Drinking in the Granite State

Blog Editors’ Note: Our substance abuse prevention partners at New Futures recently analyzed the costs of excessive alcohol consumption in New Hampshire.  Here, study author and self-proclaimed “nerd” Brian Gottlob shares the report’s key findings.

Phoenix House: Tell us how you partnered with New Futures to conduct this study.

Brian Gottlob: In order to get public policy enacted, lawmakers need to have issues monetized. A cause may be near and dear to an advocacy group like New Futures, but when governments make decisions, they do so with the economic aspect in mind. So, when it came to the problem of excessive alcohol consumption, New Futures needed someone to translate the issue into dollars and cents—and I was the nerd to do it.

Phoenix House: How did you conduct this study; what data sources did you use?

BG: The data was multi-faceted and came from many sources, including unique New Hampshire economic data as well as large national data sets. We determined that excessive alcohol consumption costs New Hampshire more than $1.15 billion annually in lost productivity and earnings, increased expenditures for healthcare, and public safety expenses. When lawmakers see that figure, they’re going to be taken aback. But all the numbers in the report point toward the same conclusion, which gives me confidence that what we’re saying is credible and accurate.

PH: How did you define “excessive alcohol consumption” for the purposes of this study?

BG: There are broad categories of excessive alcohol consumption, but it’s primarily defined as binge drinking, underage drinking, lifetime dependency, and drinking during pregnancy.

PH: Why is this such an issue in our country and in New Hampshire specifically?

BG: Everyone knows someone who has been dramatically or adversely affected by alcohol.  When we look at the aggregate of those individual tragedies and their impact on others, the magnitude of this problem is greater than most people think. It demands to be elevated to a public policy level—especially in New Hampshire where alcohol constitutes the fourth or fifth largest source of revenue for the state. We have no sales tax and a pretty vibrant tourism industry; we have the highest per capita sales of alcoholic beverages of any state in the country. Our state’s motto is “live free or die,” meaning we have a strong belief in limited government and lawmakers don’t jump to come up with services. However, this study makes the case that we can’t just consider the revenue from alcohol sales; we have to step up our efforts to address the costs.

PH: You mention that excessive drinking has a high cost in specific areas, such as productivity and healthcare. What is the significance of these findings?

BG: The thing that really jumps out at me is the productivity aspect. A $700 million loss in productivity may be only one percent of the state economy, but in New Hampshire, that’s still a big number. When businesspeople see the numbers, they can understand and we’re broadening our base of allies. In terms of healthcare, everyone is concerned about medical costs—and the costs of excessive drinking are so preventable.  Only six percent of people who need substance abuse treatment in New Hampshire receive it. Our state spends more than $200 million a year on the health consequences of drinking and a lot of it could be saved if we got more people into treatment. That’s why geeks like me do what we do—to supplement that message with a dollar amount.

PH: What are the implications of this study for the substance abuse treatment field?

BG: My hope is that this study gives the field a tool to make a case for increased rates of treatment and prevention. It’s one thing to say that alcohol is a problem. It’s another thing to show potential savings. The report provides a much stronger argument as to why the state should fund treatment at a higher level.

PH: Whom are you hoping to reach with this report, and what do you hope to accomplish?

BG: The document is designed for policymakers, but also to broaden the coalition on this issue.  If we can make the case that this is about our economy, it puts the conversation on a different plane. An investment in treatment and prevention could save $12,000 a year for every individual in the state who drinks excessively.  Now, we’re not just pointing out a problem.  We’re showing what happens when you choose a solution.

If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, call us today at 1-800-378-4435 or send us an email.

Slam Dunk! Phoenix House Academy at Dublin at the Boston Celtics!

It was the thrill of a lifetime when the young clients from Phoenix House Academy at Dublin, New Hampshire, were treated to a Boston Celtics home game at Boston’s TD Garden on Wednesday, January 9, 2013.  This memorable outing was made possible by a generous gift from the members of The Club National, a civic organization in nearby Nashua, New Hampshire, and coordinated by Philip Francoeur, a member of Phoenix House’s Dublin-Kenne Community Advisory Board.

The excitement of attending a live game and cheering on New England’s outstanding home team was made all the keener by the Celtics’ 87-79 victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns.

Providing healthy recreational and cultural opportunities for young people in residential treatment for substance abuse is an essential factor in Phoenix House’s services for youth.  As youngsters relearn the pleasures of sober, drug- and alcohol-free leisure activities, they build their recovery skills while developing healthy pastimes which support sustained recovery.

Phoenix House Academy at Dublin is a coeducational facility providing residential substance abuse and education services to adolescents ages 14 to 18 from throughout New Hampshire.  Located on the same beautiful, historic grounds as Phoenix House Dublin Center, the Academy provides young clients with the tools they need to overcome substance abuse, get back on track in school, and go on to a healthy, drug-free future.

If you or a loved one are in need of help with drug and/or alcohol addiction, please contact 1-800-DRUG-HELP now.

Healthy Minds + Healthy Bodies = Healthy Recovery

Residents of our substance abuse treatment facility, Phoenix House Academy at Springfield, along with staff members John Danielsen and Kim Fernald, took to the hills in South Hadley, Massachusetts, for a day of healthy recreation—sledding, camaraderie, fun and relaxation.  The clients enjoyed a fun-filled day sliding down the slopes, reveling the clean fresh air, and returning to the the academy for a relaxing evening warmed by hot chocolate.

Phoenix House believes that involvement in recreational and physical activity can benefit recovery by reducing the stress that can trigger relapse.  Exercise also helps alleviate boredom, which for some may be a key relapse trigger, and it may benefit teens emotionally by restoring balance in their lives and boosting their self-esteem.

Phoenix Houses of New England provides residential treatment for adolescents in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, in highly structured, family-like environments that address the full range of developmental, educational, and treatment needs of youths ages 14 to 18.  The course of treatment is individualized and may last from three to six months.  In addition to group and family counseling, youths participate in on-site education with state-certified teachers.  Relapse prevention and the development of strong support networks in the home community are emphasized during treatment.

Healthy minds and healthy bodies lead to a healthy recovery!

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, contact Phoenix House today at 1-800-DRUG-HELP

Open House at Phoenix House Dublin Center

Phoenix House Dublin Center, in collaboration with the NH Providers Association, will host an Open House for regional legislators on Friday, January 25, 2013, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at 3 Pierce Road in Dublin.

“We value our relationship with our legislators and have invited them to learn more about our agency and tour our facility,” said Katherine Robertson, MA, MLADC, LCMHC, Program Director, Phoenix House Dublin Center.  “With substance abuse programs so closely tied to the state budget, we believe this event will give all participants a better understanding of how state budget and policy issues impact our local facilities and the community at large.”

The NH Providers Association represents organizations providing alcohol and other drug treatment throughout the state of New Hampshire.  From the mountains to the seacoast, the association provides statewide support, advocacy, training, and workforce development opportunities for providers.  The Association’s goal is to support members’ efforts to offer high quality substance abuse prevention, treatment, intervention, and recovery support services for the citizens of New Hampshire.

Phoenix House Dublin Center provides a safe and supportive environment for men and women to begin their recovery.  Our services include clinically managed detoxification, short-term residential substance abuse treatment, and transitional living. Phoenix House Academy at Dublin, also located on the campus, provides intensive substance abuse treatment and education for adolescents ages 13 to 18.

For more information about programs offered at Phoenix House Dublin Center, please call 603 568 8501.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year in Rhode Island!

Teens in Rhode Island Phoenix House substance abuse treatment programs had a Merry Christmas this year thanks to the kindness and generosity of organizations throughout the region.  The community came together and sponsored clients in the programs to ensure that each youngster’s holiday wishes come true.  Several organizations and companies in Rhode Island joined forces to bring some light and happiness to the residents of the Phoenix House Youth Shelter and Phoenix House Academy at Wallum Lake and were able to provide presents for more than 40 kids this year.  On Christmas morning, the teens at the two programs will awaken to gifts of comfort:  coats, shoes, clothing, and necessities for the winter season.

Brandy Bates, Program Director at Phoenix House Youth Shelter, played Santa Claus this year.  She spent numerous hours collecting gifts for the kids in the programs.

Phoenix House Youth Shelter at Wallum Lake provides short-term residential care for adolescent boys ages 14 to 17.  The program provides a supportive environment allowing teens to attend local schools and adjust to a safe, healthy lifestyle supported by positive reinforcement and peer-to-peer role modeling.  Phoenix House Academy at Wallum Lake offers a full spectrum of residential substance abuse treatment services for boys ages 13 to 18 and provides individualized education–a critical factor in sustained adolescent recovery.  The educational program is overseen by a state-certified teacher.  Clients have access to our state-of-the-art Learning Center and the GTECH Technology Center.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Phoenix House is here to help.  Call our toll free number today:  1-800-378-4435.

 

 

Christmas Spirit Abounds at Phoenix House in Dorchester!

Phoenix House Dorchester Center and Phoenix Families had  wonderful holiday celebrations this Christmas thanks to the generosity of so many!  All Phoenix House families were adopted this season–providing moms and their children with gifts and good cheer.  Families were adopted at Phoenix House Dorchester Center, our residential treatement program for substance dependent mothers and their children, and at Phoenix Families, our emergency housing program for mothers and children.  Holiday donations were made to our very special families by generous individuals, families, organizations, and other Phoenix House facilities across the region who adopted families this year!

Said Doris Brown, who serves as Program Director at both Phoenix House Dorchester Center and Phoenix Families, “For many children in our care, this was really their first Christmas season in a secure–and in the case of Phoenix House Dorchester Center–sober environment.  It just warms your heart.”

Thanks to everyone who made the dreams of mothers and children at Phoenix House come true!

Learn more about Phoenix House programs in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Catch the Holiday Spirit!

 

Phoenix House Helps Prevent Buying of Alcohol for Minors

On November 15, Phoenix Houses of New England, as part of the North Kingstown Prevention Coalition, joined forces with local law enforcement to get the message out to adults–purchasing alcohol for minors is against the law!

Susan Vogl, Director of Juvenile Drug Court, Phoenix Houses of New England, worked with local law enforcement officials and visited stores which distribute alcohol throughout North Kingstown, Rhode Island.  Working as a team, they placed Sticker Shock labels on multi-packs of alcohol at numerous liquor stores in North Kingstown.  The message of Project Sticker Shock is to educate purchasers about the Rhode Island laws.  The lime green stickers reflect the message, “Know the law, providing alcohol to a minor is illegal.  Conviction could result in fines of up to $2,500 and/or up to one year in jail.”

As quoted in the North Kingstown View, “The practice of buying alcohol for minors was very commonplace many years ago.  There is much more awareness today.”  Throughout New England, Phoenix House program directors visit schools and hospitals, participate in community meetings and prevention coalitions–all to bring awareness to the public of the dangers of substance abuse.

With the holidays approaching, many under-age youth get together with friends, and often try to find someone willing to buy them alcohol.  This project is a reminder of the consequences.  The North Kingstown Police Department, the North Kingstown Prevention Coalition and Phoenix House are working together as partners to keep their youth and community safe.

 

 

Catch the Holiday Spirit! Adopt A Family!

Holiday spirit abounds throughout New England as friends of Phoenix House—members of the Board, administration, and staff at facilities everywhere—rally together to ensure that for the children in our care, holiday dreams do come true!  We encourage you to adopt a family at Phoenix House Dorchester Center, our program for substance dependent mothers and their children, or at Phoenix Families, our emergency housing program for mothers and children.

Individuals, families and other Phoenix House facilities across the region have all adopted families by making a commitment of $150.  Adopters may choose to fulfill their commitment in one of two ways.  We will provide details about your adopted family, including the first names and ages of the mother and her children, their clothing sizes, and a special wish or two of each. Provided with details about the family—with their privacy protected, of course—adopters may choose to purchase gifts themselves for a value of approximately $150, wrap them, and deliver or send them to Phoenix Houses of New England.  Other adopters choose to forward a check for $150 and Phoenix House will do the holiday shopping.  Says Doris Brown, who serves as Program Director at both Phoenix House Dorchester Center and Phoenix Families, “For many children in our care, this is really their first Christmas season in a secure—and in the case of Phoenix House Dorchester Center—sober environment.  It just warms your heart.”

Make your commitment now!  Contact Phoenix Houses of New England at 401.331.4250, Extension 3210, or by email at cdenning@phoenixhouse.org.  You may also register online to make a commitment.

Iggy the Iguana Brings Joy to Clients and Staff at Phoenix House Youth Shelter!

Everyone at Phoenix House Youth Shelter, located in Pascoag, RI, was surprised last Christmas with the arrival of a new mascot.  Iggy the Iguana was delivered to the center over the holiday season last year and has become a family member.

Iggy was donated by Anna Znoski who has for the past several years overseen a holiday giving project with 15 other women.  Every year the women collect gifts for the residents of the Shelter and deliver them for Christmas.  Last year among the gifts was a special surprise that has brought the clients hours of fun.  Iggy is cared for, fed, taken for walks and loved by the clients and staff.  The clients take pride in the responsibility of caring for a pet.

Phoenix House Youth Shelter provides short-term residential care for adolescent boys ages 14 to 17.  Located on the campus of Phoenix House Academy at Wallum Lake, it provides a supportive environment allowing teens to attend local schools and adjust to a safe, healthy lifestyle supported by positive reinforcement and peer-to-peer role modeling.  Our highly qualified staff members work closely with social workers, case managers, and the justice system to help our young residents acquire the life skills they need to become productive members of society and achieve successful family reunification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phoenix House Youth Shelter clients and staff look forward to many more holiday seasons with Iggy!

Find out more about programs and services at Phoenix House Youth Shelter, or call us today at 1-800-378-4435.

Phoenix House Academy at Springfield Participates in Western Massachusetts Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Providers Networking Fair

On October 24, 2012, staff from the the Phoenix House Academy at Springfield participated in the Western Massachusetts Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Providers Networking Fair hosted by Providence Behavioral Health Hospital.  Phoenix House hosted a table at the event representing Phoenix House Outpatient, family intervention, and Adult and Adolescent residential programs.  Over thirteen agencies and thirty programs were represented at the event, and professionals and prospective clients gathered to share and obtain information critical to substance abuse treatment.

Phoenix House Academy at Springfield is a residential facility that provides substance abuse treatment and education to adolescent boys ages 13 to 18.  Counselors and residents work together to create personal treatment plans that match solutions to the specific needs of the client and his family. Because successful recovery requires the involvement and support of each resident’s family, individual and group family sessions are integral components of treatment.

Residential treatment for adults is offered by Phoenix House Springfield Center.  The center serves men and women from Massachusetts who need residential treatment for substance abuse and/or co-occurring mental health issues.  Length of stay is determined by individual needs for services that are provided in this residential setting.

Phoenix House Massachusetts Outpatient provides treatment for both adolescents and adults.  Our comprehensive services help individuals and their families take control of their lives by developing a pathway to sustainable recovery.  Clients receive a complete assessment and an individualized action plan.  Weekly individual and group sessions with random drug testing, as requested, are available with outpatient services.

Find out more about programs and services at Phoenix House Academy at Springfiled, or call us today at 1-800-378-4435.

RISE Helps Those throughout Vermont with Substance Abuse Problems

Phoenix House RISE (Recovery in an Independent, Sober Environment) Brattleboro is one of four transitional living facilities located in Vermont.  Recently RISE Brattleboro was highlighted in an article in the Brattleboro Reformer by Domenic Poli.

Phoenix House RISE offers a 3- to 24-month sober living program for men in early recovery from substance abuse. The RISE community living experience allows clients to practice and reinforce healthy new behaviors learned in treatment.  The program provides ongoing case management, counseling, therapeutic groups, and continuing care planning for men ages 21 or older, who have transitioned from a residential or intensive outpatient treatment program within the past six months.

In addition, funded by the Veterans Administration, RISE Bellows Falls holds six beds specifically for veterans who have served active duty.  RISE also provides a 14-bed gender-specific women’s program at a separate location in Brattleboro.

If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, call us today at 1-800-378-4435 or send us an email.

Boo!! Phoenix Houses of New England Celebrates Halloween!

Phoenix House Academy at Springfield hosted a day of old-fashioned Halloween fun including cookie decorating, a scavenger hunt, a costume party with trick-or-treating throughout the facility, and a scary movie to end the day.  Prizes were awarded for the most creative, scariest, and funniest costumes.  The clients enjoyed a day of sober, healthy fun with their peers.

The Halloween spirit also prevailed at Phoenix House Dublin Center as clients demonstrated their creative pumpkin carving talents.  They enjoyed an evening of healthy, creative fun!

Springfield Academy is a residential facility providing drug & substance abuse treatment and education to adolescent boys ages 13 to 18.  The program offers rigorous individualized treatment combined with a high school curriculum based on a customized learning plan developed for each student.

Phoenix House Dublin Center is located in the mountains of New Hampshire and focuses on resolving addiction issues, managing sustainable recovery, and developing, productive and meaningful lifestyles.   Phoenix House is committed to providing clients with a healthy, sober environment.  During holidays, people with substance abuse issues are often faced with more pressures to drink and use drugs.  Phoenix House encourages clients and residents to engage in healthy and creative activities that will help them stay on the path of sobriety.

If you or a loved one needs help for substance abuse, call us today at 1-800-378-4435 or send us an email.

RUN WALK RIDE POSTPONED!

In light of safety concerns connected with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Phoenix Houses of New England has postponed its fifth annual Run! Walk! Ride!–For The Health of It! until the spring of 2013.  The event, originally scheduled on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at Phoenix House Exeter Center, Exeter, R.I., is tentatively planned for April, 2013.

Further information on the rescheduling will be available at www.phoenixhouse.org/Rhode-Island, following the link to Run! Walk! Ride!  Information is also available by telephone at 401 331 4250, ext. 3210, or by emailing cdenning@phoenixhouse.org.

Run! Walk! Ride!–For the Health of It! offers participants the choice of a 3K walk, a 5K run, or a 20+ mile bicycle ride, as well as a health and fitness fair, Fit for Recovery!, and an old-fashioned barbecue and bake sale.  Proceeds from the annual event support the efforts of Phoenix Houses of New England to help individuals overcome addiction.

Phoenix House Exeter Center provides long-term residential substance abuse treatment for adult men, as well as medically monitored detoxification for men and women through two separate programs:  the Walsh Unit and RESPECT.

We look forward to seeing you in the spring for Run! Walk! Ride!