W illiam Lesane was a patient at a methadone clinic. “People from STAND used to visit us at the clinic, make connections, and invite us to come over.” At first, he was hesitant. Then a counselor referred him to STAND, and he gave it a try. “I attended their Reflection meetings and events. Their programs are excellent. They’re one of only a few in underserved communities like mine who are effective in helping people reenter society who suffer from drug addiction and trauma. We need more places like STAND in all communities.” Some of the staff went through programs themselves, and William found that very connecting. “They're very amazing.
What’s special about them is that they have experience with addiction and know what it feels like, feeling that sense of doom because you have
to start all over in life, and they are well equipped to assist us in that. So, I think their services are immeasurable.” It’s a fun community, too:
“The environment was well suited for someone like me who had a lot of idle time . . . we could use their computers, play pool, participate in meetings and things like that. . . which was helpful because it kept me busy doing something else besides going out and looking for drugs.” And now he’s the one helping others. He shares a story that he was in a residential treatment facility called Black Bear Lodge in the mountains of Georgia. “It’s a very beautiful place, and I graduated from there almost 18 months ago.”
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