cannabisnews.com: Recovery Rally Helps Addicts Start New Year Sober





Recovery Rally Helps Addicts Start New Year Sober
Posted by FoM on January 03, 2000 at 07:12:41 PT
By John Affleck
Source: Akron Beacon Journal 
Ken Grimes began the last 17 years the way he spent most of his time -- drinking or taking drugs.But this New Year's weekend he was clean, sober and wide awake to the knowledge that beating his addictions in 2000 is more than a resolution. For him, it's a matter of life and death.
``2000 for me is a wake-up call. It's a chance to become a member of society and help another individual,'' Grimes said yesterday at a fair designed to help people who want to recover from drug habits and many other problems.The first-time event, known as the Recovery Rally, featured entertainment from singers and dance troupes yesterday afternoon at a downtown mall.The main attraction was a group of booths offering advice to people dealing with difficulties including poor diet, serious debt and mental illness.Pat Egan, an organizer of the event, said it was taking place on the first weekend of 2000 partly to give people a chance to make a psychological break with their past.A ``resolution wall,'' where visitors could write out their commitments to a healthier lifestyle, stood at one end of the exhibits. ``To be drug free,'' read one resolution. Others, in children's handwriting, were less serious. ``To smile more,'' said one. ``No cursing,'' read another.Grimes, 38, was addicted to crack cocaine and was living on the street in July when he read about Y-Haven, a comprehensive rehabilitation program for homeless men. He was accepted into the program a few months ago and said his craving for drugs is gone.Next week he will go to vocational school -- his first formal education in 20 years -- to train for a new job as a carpenter.``I've been really looking forward to it,'' he said with a smile.LeBaron McDonald, another formerly homeless man, has been with the Y-Haven program for a month. His goal for 2000 is to obtain a commercial driver's license through the program.``The year 2000 is very meaningful to me,'' he said. ``It's a time when I have to do what I've got to do to finish the program and then deal with life on life's terms.''Published Monday, January 3, 2000,in the Akron Beacon Journal. The Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Related Article:Center Offers Addicts a Chance - 1/01/2000http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4152.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by Chris Campbell on January 03, 2000 at 19:07:05 PT:
Hope this applies to our leaders as well.
Great, perhaps politicians make a psychological break from the paradigm of sending sick people to jail as well.Peter M, if you're out there I very much hope this year goes much MUCH better for you than the last one.Anyone have news about Renee's case? As far as I know she's still in Van.
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