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Recovery in the News
Walkers fight addiction, a day at a time: Agencies, former users, providers Walk for Recovery
Mike BairdCaller Times
September 17, 2006
An executive chef tossed an orange from hand to hand as he walked along the bayfront at 8:15 a.m. Saturday with 75 others for National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month.
"Most of the time I'd sit down and put a needle in my arm," said Robert Nicholson, 33. "Today I'm putting this orange in my body when we get halfway. It may be orange juice by then."
He's been cocaine free for a month today.
"You can't buy, bottle or put a price on recovery," Nicholson said. "Addiction is a non-life."
About 30 service providers from nine local agencies participated in Walk for Recovery 2006 to show support for the more than 1,500 people in Nueces County admitted to treatment each year.
Alcohol, crack cocaine and heroin top the drug-of-choice list, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, with 72 percent of those entering treatment in Nueces County being men whose average age is 35. Eighteen percent are homeless.
“The walk is a way of showing that recovery does work," said Linda Copado-Rincon, a prevention specialist with the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Coastal Bend, who helped organize the event through the Prevention Resource Center. "People think once you're an addict there's no hope, but many do overcome."
Behind Nicholson, a refinery boilermaker pummeled the pavement with a yellow tennis ball to Gloria Estefan's lyrics to "Conga," blasting from loudspeakers at Mann Street and Shoreline Boulevard.
"Got to keep my hands busy," said Troy Walters, 39. He is recovering from methamphetamine use at Charlie's Place, thanks to Project Vida, a United Way financial support initiative for families in crisis.
"That stuff brought me to my knees," he said. "I couldn't do it (recover) without all these people and the unity."
There's a wide spectrum of addiction, said Norma Paas, executive director of South Texas Substance Abuse Recovery Service, which helps more than 600 people with drug abuse issues. The service was notified this week that it has been awarded a $2 million Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration grant for five years to help treat the homeless.
Some service providers talked about their own substance abuse in testimonies before the walk.
"My precious sobriety day is June 10, 1993," said Nancy Greene, 52, a counselor at the recovery service. "It comes with pain, but it's not only abstinence. Success requires honesty, integrity and a complete change in attitude, then no one can take sobriety from you - except you."
A familiar face to some of the participants was Clayton Hill, 73, a retired nurse who worked 28 years at five local health service facilities helping people recover from alcohol and drug abuse.
"It takes good luck, some talent, but it's mostly the grace of God," Hill said. "Every day is a good day in recovery."
© 2006 Scripps Texas Newspapers, L.P. A Scripps Howard newspaper. All Rights Reserved .