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Life on the outside: Ex-addicts are turning lives around: Treatment called key to staying out of jail

Great article, great idea, go DORA....

Thank God for a program that can help! Many families desperately want treatment for their adult children but simply can't afford what little treatment programs there are. Many are not very effective, anyway.
Most landlords won't rent to people with felony convictions--with good reason. Most employers won't hire them--with good reason. Many job fields are closed to felons--education, the military, health care, working for utility companies, the list goes on--and with good reason! About the only fields open are fast foods, which doesn't pay enough to support a family, and construction, for which many addicts lack skills. Addicts who sincerely want to overcome their addictions have an uphill battle that most of us can't even imagine--and knowing that they have crafted their own downfall doesn't make it any easier for them.
God bless the people who work with addicts--it's a tough, often thankless, very dishearting job. A wise and experienced probation officer told me once that the only addicts who make it are those who have some sort of spiritual change of heart and usually have a family who love them and that they will do for their children what they can't do for themselves.

Being a ex-drug addict myself(clean for 20 years)I find this to be a wonderful difference. As most people know in my day, if you were a user that is all people,police,councelors,methadone clinic,that's all they saw!The discussion going on then was why not?And apparently it has been taken seriously and we are past why not and at how to.I applaude the individuals responsible for the change. I believe we will see a new day comin! It is so hard to function on release let alone after 20years. So with the tools given and a mind set from the community all these new graduates will be makin a difference. God bless all involved and lets all pray that this is not taken for granted!Like it is suppose to happen and these individuals got it comin!I do not know if it is part of the program but I know that yoga and meditation has really helped me along the part of wellness and not allowing the selfishness back in!Peace and goodness to all.

Hooray!! We have been waiting. Here's to your success and to more people with the foresight and energy to do what you do.