Second chance offered through program
By SHARON KERR Staff writer

Newsboy photo/Sharon Kerr SPEAKING BEFORE A crowd is difficult for Alan, a Jasper native, but his mentor, Eugene (seated) is there for support and to help him "face his fears."

Cenikor, an addiction recovery center based near Houston, made a presentation to probation officers from seven counties at the Jasper County courthouse last Thursday, Feb. 28.

Star speakers on behalf of Cenikor were two men still in the program, Eugene, a former football player, and Alan, a Jasper native. (Those still in the program are identified by first name only, but using his photo was approved by the man and his mother.)

Alan said he became addicted to methamphetamines 10 years ago but hid it for a long time.

"Cenikor let me rebuild bridges I had burned with people in town who I have much respect for," Alan said. "I don't even remember the seven days I spent in the hospital and county jail. Cenikor has given me back stuff I took for granted. It saved my life."

The presentation was introduced by Chris Kaiser, a Cenikor graduate who is now the admissions outreach coordinator. Kaiser was sent to the program from Maryland in 2003. His alternative was 20 years in prison, a powerful motivator to stay in the program, Kaiser said.

Newsboy photo/Sharon Kerr EUGENE,ALAN and Cenikor Outreach Coordinator Chris Kaiser pose for a picture during last Thursday's event.

"The pro-social world was so foreign to me that I didn't think I could do it," Kaiser said of his orientation period, but other residents helped him through.

Kaiser and Eugene, the exathlete who is about to graduate, said that is the key to the program's success.

An old hospital sitting on 19 acres in Deer Park is home

to the Cenikor program. It's described as a therapeutic community, a safe place where people suffering from addiction can learn to reenter productive lives.

"We have counselors, but the clients themselves are the main agent of change," Kaiser said. "The residents do the work to get back with life… to enjoy life without engaging in self-destructive behavior."

The program

Cenikor accepts addicts with no psychiatric or physical conditions that limit participation in the work program; clients with no history of arson, violent or sexual offenses.

It is an 18-month residential program, followed by four to six months of aftercare. By the time residents graduate, they are employed and financially independent.

After orientation, clients go into the workforce with companies who have partnered with Cenikor to provide jobs and training. All of the clients' wages the first 17 months go back to Cenikor to support the program. Those wages cover about 60 percent of the operating costs. The rest comes from donations and grants. It does not cost the client or his or her family to put someone into the Cenikor program.

During the four-to-six month follow up period, residents keep their wages, learn to manage their finances, and save up at least two months worth of living expenses before graduating.

Eugene's experience

Eugene said he grew up in a good family, earned a scholarship to Baylor, and had the opportunity to play NFLfootball, but he lost all that, good jobs, his home and his family to cocaine addiction.

When his life began to unravel, he tried other, shorter addiction programs. He even tried Cenikor, dropped out, tried again, and dropped out again.

He said the first attempts were to please his mother, his wife, his family. It was only when he had spiraled out of control, "in a destructive tornado," that he came back to Cenikor for the third time with the attitude that "I'm going to do whatever it takes" because he had no where else to turn.

"Now, I don't desire to be great any more, I desire to serve," Eugene said. "I can help give back to the next group (like Alan). I want to be a provider."

Alan's experience

Speaking with great emotion, Alan described his addiction and how the structured Cenikor environment helped him.

"The visits from my family and letters from people in the community keep me going," Alan said. "Now I'm teaching newcomers and it feels good to be able to tell people 'it's going to be all right' and maybe help someone stay (in the program) one more day.

"I want to be the father, son, husband I was meant to be," Alan said.

Most of his family, including his mother, father, and wife stood up and spoke in support of Alan and Cenikor.

Buckshot Walker

James "Buckshot" Walker, a Jasper County probation officer, told probation personnel from Jasper, San Augustine, Polk, Angelina, Hardin, Sabine and Tyler counties that placing people with drug addictions in Cenikor can reduce jail overcrowding.

A press release from Cenikor says the Texas Department of State Health Services estimates more than 1.8 million people in Texas suffer from at least one form of substance abuse. Cenikor has two locations in Texas and one in Louisiana that house 500 residents.

For more information, call 1-888-CENIKOR or go to www.cenikor.org.