In Pursuit of…a Drug Free Life
By Joseph Young
WI Staff Writer
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Robert F. Russ, 42, is a functional addict. The former Wilson Senior High School student has been using drugs since he was 16. He did not graduate from Wilson. He preferred smoking marijuana and PCP, and eventually became addicted to crack cocaine.
“Drugs were more important. Once I got a joint in my hand, I preferred doing that instead of going to school,” Russ says. “It altered my thinking, making me believe that I didn’t need school at the time.”
Russ also has spent eight years behind bars on drug-related charges. He was last released in 2004.
“You do whatever it takes to get the drug,” Russ says.
Russ’ sons, Robert, 9, and Michael, 16, last week attended a graduation ceremony where their father and several other men were celebrated for completing a recovery program through the Central Union Mission. The celebration was held Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Freedom Baptist Church in Northwest. About 100 guests cheered the men on.
Michael says it is nice to see that his father has accomplished something and is willing to get his life together. He hopes that he doesn’t have to go back to that life style ever again.
“No son wants to see his father go through all that time and time again,” Michael says. “I just hope he stays straight.”
Michael hopes to rekindle a stronger bond with his father.
“I hope that we can become closer and do more things together,” Michael says. “Just do more father and son things.” (See another story on fathering inside, page 5).
Rev. Chuck Jones, pastor of the Vermont Baptist Church in Northwest, understands the struggle. He told the eight Washington area men graduating from Central Union Mission’s Spiritual Transformation Program, an 18-month program to help men overcome homelessness and addiction, to “Keep your eyes on the prize.”
Many of the men who enter the program relapse before they finish it. According to the Mission’s 2006 report, 64 men entered the program with only 28 completing it. Six of the 28 later relapsed but were readmitted into the program.
The Mission takes a three-prong approach to ensuring sobriety including addiction recovery, spiritual guidance and life-skills training. Its goals are achieved through involving the men in Biblical counseling, regular drug testing and work therapy. The Mission also provides men with literacy and GED training.
“The major thrust is a Christian program,” says Rev. Gregory Strong, executive director of the Central Union Mission. “We do use clinical methodology. We have certified addiction counselors. We have social workers. But the thrust is a Christian program.”
Also, the Mission’s program has a component that ministers to children like Robert and Michael. The goal of the ministry is to heal relationships that are broken due to drug addiction. The Mission offers a free summer camp for children, Christmas bags and gifts and food, especially for single mothers.
“We try to minister to the entire family,” Rev. Strong says. “The family needs help while he is in the program. So we try to minister to those needs also.”
The program is free. The sesrvices provided for each patient cost approximately $20,000 for the 12 to18 month program. The Mission receives no money from the federal or local government. All of its funding comes from charitable contributions, says Barfonce Baldwin, senior director of the Central Union Mission.
For more information about the Central Union Mission contacted Rev. Gregory Strong at (202) 745-7118.
