After an average of 429 days in a program that requires almost daily work on one’s addiction, 14 recovering substance abusers graduated last week from Baltimore’s Recovery In Community’s comprehensive treatment program.
“We are a state-certified, community-based, outpatient treatment program that’s definitely different in that our clients are expected to be in treatment for at least a year,” said Recovery In Community’s Executive Director Lena M. Franklin.
The graduation, the eighth in the nonprofit’s nine-year history, took place at Transfiguration Catholic Community Hall and featured Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III as keynote speaker.
“One part of the commissioner’s law enforcement job is knowing what causes crime and [supporting programs] that help prevent crime,” Baltimore City Police Department spokesperson Sterling Clifford said. “And drug treatment is a big part of that.”
Distinct from what Franklin calls the “28-day detoxification model,” RIC’s four days-a-week recovery regime features individual, group, and gender-specific counseling; substance abuse lectures and discussions; frequent urine testing; and even acupuncture treatments.
“Acupuncture is an integral part of our program,” Franklin said, noting research attesting to acupuncture’s stress-reducing effectiveness in treating early stage substance abuse. “We try to address as many barriers to treatment as we possibly can.”
Since RIC’s graduation ceremonies began in 2001, 257 recovering alcohol and drug abusers have completed the nonprofit’s treatment regimen, which takes all comers who agree to entry requirements.
About 300 people per year enter the program, Franklin said.
“It’s a wonderful program,” said Wanda Brookins, one of the graduates. “It sure made me look at my disease a lot differently. Now I know more about it. It gets you ready to go back to society productively.”
“I thought it was excellent,” said Christine Jones, another local graduate. “I loved it. I never thought I’d get to this point. But I made it. I’ve been clean and sober for a year now.”
Case management for the 104 clients currently undergoing treatment is provided by RIC’s 14-person staff, which promotes graduate-led, peer group counseling sessions once a week. Transitional housing services, HIV testing and mental health interventions are offered by the nonprofit’s shelter and health agency partners.
The nonprofit’s $600,000-a-year budget is funded mostly through the Baltimore City Public Health Department.
FOR INFORMATION
Recovery In Community Inc.
31 N. Fulton Ave., Baltimore
410-362-1400
recoveryincommunity.org/
