Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / May 2, 1985, edition 1 / Page 12
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
m me lAHnmumty Steve Hicks Stresses Importance Of Handling Alcohol-Related Problems special To The Post The effort to prevent and treat alcohol abuse in North Carolina involves many public and private agencies, ranging from law enforce ment to mental health. One of the largest state agencies dealing with the alcohol problem is the Depart ment of Human Resources’ Division of Mental Health, Mental Retarda tion, and Substance Abuse Ser vices The division operates three alcoholic rehabilitation centers (ARCs) and oversees ISO communi ty programs that help over 30,000 alcoholics every year. Steve Hicks, Deputy Director for Alcohol and Drugs, stresses the im portance of handling alcohol-related problems in the community. “By providing help within the community the individual can keep his or her Job and contact with the family,” he said. “Community pro grams can get at the root of an alcoholic’s problems within his or her own environment, whereas seeking help out of the community one can’t deal with these problems as well.” Hicks pointed out that in some cases though, removing alcoholics from the environment is the,only way to stop thexh from drinking, especially in the case of the chronic alcoholic. “The alcoholic rehabilita tion centers are for the most severe cases,” he said. “Most eg these individuals have lost their Jobs and have several medical problems as well. When community programs :«*n’t help them, they need the in tensive, month-long treatment that the ARCs provide.” rr Hicks said the programs differ in each community. In the large com munities, such as Wake County, comprehensive programs are avail 'i- able which include in-patient can, medical detoxification units, and counseling. Much of the funding for - |the larger programs is available because of a greater amount of local «upport. : "Most programs across the state have detoxification capabilities and if they can't provide it, then an agreement is made with another program or the local hospital for service,” be explained. "Many of the comprehensive centers also have satellite centers in rural areas which provide counseling and reha bilitation.” Many communities have halfway tiroes these facilities are used for indivi^hr^SnTfrom the ARCs because they provide a smoother transition back into the communi ty. Counseling and rehabilitation are provided through the local alcohol treatment program for these clients. The staff members' at each cen r———■ ' Fourth in series ter vary according to the program, but as of January 1, 1985 new standards require that all state funded programs have at least one certified alcoholism and drug abuse counselor, or a certified substance a abuse counselor. The community programs are staffed by these counselors, me dical personnel, volunteers, and in some cases, recovered alcoholics. Don Jones is program supervisor at the Alcohol Education Center (AEC) in High Point. He super vises the residential care services available at the center. Jones is a recovered alcoholic who was treated at the ARC in Butner in 1972 and 1973. He distinctly remem bers that May 14, 1973 was the last time he ever had a drink. He said that it was the treatment he re ceived at the ARC that turned him around and inspired him to start helping other alcoholics. “My drinking problem was my own fault and no one else’s,” he said. “For 13 years I blamed my pro blems on everyone else and tried to drink them awav. The last time I went to the ARC I was up to two pints of vodka a day.” Jones says he drifted from Job to Job, became separated from his wife and alienated from his children. “I had loused up my life so badly that I could only get better,” he em phasised. “After three weeks at the ARC I finally began to place the blame on myself and began to deal with the things that bothered me in a constructive manner.” Jones stressed that the hardest part of Ms rehabilitation was com ing back into the community, and repairing the damage done to his family life. "It took several years for the relations between my chil dren and myself to reach a healthy level,” he noted. “It took actions, not words, and the people who helped me at the ARC made me realize that I had the power to do it.” Jones joined the staff of the AEC _ in High Point in 1975. He and his wife have also become volunteers with the telephone crisis line in the com munity. “My experiences have helped each of us grow a lot, and made us realize that helping others will make a difference in both their lives and our own lives too.” Both , toe Joneses have been attending classes at High PomftoUege and In his work at the AEC Jones sees two to three new cases of alcoholism a day; Once a month he visits problem drinkers at the ARC in Butner to help ease their transi uon oacK into me community. “I feel very good about the work I do because I know that it helps,” he stated. "My counselors got me to take a look at myself instead of pointing the finger at other people. The most important thing I brought away from my treatment was my life. I want to help others do the same.” Community programs, such as the one Don Jones works for, are often supplemented by support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon. In North Carolina there are 581 AA organizations with a mem bership of 7,359. These programs provide group therapy for alcoholics as well as counseling for family members. “Community programs are the front line in fighting alcohol abuse," Hicks said. “By dealing with problems in the local environ ment we can hopefully prevent al coholism from progressing to its most severe stages.” Sorority To Host Two Events The Iota Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority is boating two >«»nh[ jp ^ coming weeks. On Saturday, May 11, the Iota Chapter’s Nurses’ Week Celebration will be held at noon at McDonald’s Cafeteria No. 2., 1-85 and Beatties Ford Rd. Contact Harriet G. Love at 892-1036 be tween 5-8 p.m. if you want to attend. The secbnd event, a county-wide health screening, is being co-spon sored by the Iota Chapter and the Charlotte Medidkl Sodety. The screening will take place at the House of Prayer, 2321 Beatties Ford Rd., Saturday, May 18, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m The purposes of the free screening are to alert the public to the many services available in the community and to encourage pu blic awareness of preventive mea sures and warning signs of illness. Kamp-A-Long The YWCA has the answer for parents who are uneasy about leav ing their children at home alone during the summer months...Kamp A-Long begins at the Park Road Center June 10. Activities include arts and crafts, storytelling, In ternational visitors, field tripe, swimming, gymnastics, tumbling, and'-nature study: Tnwaportation provided from downtown YWCA to ParirJtoad. * t The YWCA is accepting applica tions now for boys and girls ages six to 12 years. There will be 11 one week sessions. Fees are $42 per one week session. Scholarships are available. - Timisha Barnes .Featured in gospel recital Timisha Barnes Leads Revival Greater Bethel AME Church is hosting a Youth Revival the week of May 5-10. The theme is "Parents, ministers, educators, go ye into all the city and claim our youth.” The week’s focus is on peace. Opening services at 4 p.m. Sunday will feature a Gospel recital by Timisha Barnes of Kannapolis. At 14, Miss Barnes has studied at the Children’s Theatre and Barber Scotia College. She has appeared in numerous plays and has been seen on WSO&TV^pnd WBTV Miss Barnes will he accompanied by Evangelist J. C. Davis. The featured speaker for the Re vival will be Walter V. Howard, a student at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta and Associate Minister at Bethel. The Rev. Marshall HU1 of Char lotte will conduct a Prayer, Praise and Bible Study on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The Rev. Hill is president of Marshville Bible Center in Marshville, S.C. The Youth and Sunbeam Choirs of Bethel and other Charlotte youth choirs will provide inspirational mu sic. Services begin nightly at 7:30. Annette L. Cowan .New director ^ Annette L, Cowan To Head Gastonia The Southwest region of Las Amigas, Inc. recently installed its officers for the 1985-87 term. In stallation was held in Salisbury, N.C. The Southwest region of Las Amigas Includes the following Chapters: ^harlotte-Mecklenburg, Groinonia, Kannapolis, Moores ville, Salisbury, and GreenviUe, S.C. The director is Annette L. Cowan, Gastonia Chapter; assistant direc tor, Mrs. Ruth Settle, GreenviUe Chapter; recording secretary, Mrs. Barbara GarretL-GreenvUie Chap, ter; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Barbara Atwater, Charlotte-Meck lenburg Chapter; treasurer, Mrs. Carrie Grier, Kannapolis Chap ter; parliamentarian, Mrs. Estelle Coffey, Gastonia Chapter; and his- - torian, Mrs. Mildred Ware, Moores Jdltau Las Amigas, a national civic and social organization is now in its 28th year. Director of the Southwest region, Mrs. Cowan, a native Char lottean, is employed as a teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system. , -%W.I> READ THE POS1 t. jiftii.1 ib •■■FREE STORAGE *i a iTiuiuicmna Cleaners & Laundry [ 50% ow © ALL DRY CLEANING ** paBA***^ - s - S ai. +*»••»•«• ■ V +WMrl Shoe Repair *5°° Off FULL SOLE OR HALF SOLE W HEEL g ; ^.-y “W" t-., NO LIMIT S + U*<Jy'tM**( RorU.M only $1.99 "g, * RntfJtn.u £££« § . . -1 I. BiinnivarDvirD j IAMB DAY IMVW -orwhilel wait_■ •U^«toUTY-LO*W«TW..CB fteS."--j|] ..^Vy^^Tc^y j »- KW.0M. ^1* INIt t. tot Ofttc* B f ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■iFHEE MOTH PROOFING|BBBaBBaB£ffiaBaBBBBBBB* MEDITERRANEAN STYLE INSTAMATIC 25”* Quasar INSTAMATIC COLOR CONSOLE TV $69995 Reg. $899.95 Handsome credenza cabinet with concealed casters, / service miser 25” chassis, dyna-color system, dyna-brite ill In-line picture tube, Illuminated channel numbers and 2 out front speakers. Controls out front and provision for Cable TV hook up. 8ee this super buy today! Price Includes 1-Year In-Home Service! * ALL SCREENS ARE MEASURED * DIAGONALLY! Use Sterchi's Credit With A Personal Toudi! INCLUDES 1 YEAR-IN-HOME SERVICE 1 ' . 4 __ m FURNISHING SOUTHERN HOMES SINCE 1888 -*..-.-.- - - 5943 S. Blvd. 5330391 (K-Mort Shopping Or.) kaseegee Rd. 333-3751 Roosevelt Blvd. (Monro#, N.C.) i- - - - - - _
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 2, 1985, edition 1
12
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75