Embassy News
First five women complete substance abuse treatment program
Five women and one man recently completed the residential care phase of the Phoenix Recovery Project treatment program and were awarded Certificates of Completion. The program, Guyana’s first rehabilitative facility specifically tailored to the needs of women, was inaugurated in August 2008 and commenced treatment for the first clients on September 2. These five women completed the six-month program, and were joined by their male counterpart who recently completed the residential care program from Phoenix Recovery Project’s neighboring male treatment facility.
The treatment program is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of State, U.S.-based NGO Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Phoenix Recovery Project; it was developed with US$100,000 in funding from the Department of State and $30,000 from CRS. US Embassy Officer Steven Carroll was on hand to help in the handing out of the certificates.
The graduates in their own words
Each graduate was allowed to give a testimonial to her/his experience with the program. The first speaker testified that the program helped her realize that “life had real value.” The second expressed gratitude to the “people who brought me here,” adding that she had “learned self esteem.” Another speaker said that she came to realize that if she made the “effort” and demonstrated a “willingness to stay with the program” she would be successful. I “learned about [my] addiction,” declared another participant, adding that she now looks “forward to a bright future” with her daughter and mother. The lone gentleman graduate talked about how he has been able to “turn my life around for the better” through his involvement in the program.
One of the speakers at the ceremony pleaded with the public to “not stigmatize” persons who have struggled with substance abuse but are now trying to turn their lives around.
The Project has adopted “Hope” as its watch word, and is guided by the belief that says: “With commitment and hard work, recovery is possible.”