Salvation Army program helps those with addictions fight for sobriety

The fight against addiction is a tough battle where one must stand with courage and take precaution. Since the enemy can be found just about anywhere, it often takes an army to win.

In North Las Vegas, that legion comes in the form of The Salvation Army's Adult Rehabilitation Program at 211 Judson Ave.

"This program is aimed at giving men and women the access to tools for a lifelong sobriety," said Lt. David McDaniel, administrator of the program.

The free six-month, faith-based rehabilitation program is offered within a residential rehabilitation facility. It is supported through donations and purchases from The Salvation Army's family stores and boutiques.

The women's facility, which also is located in North Las Vegas, can host 28 "beneficiaries," as the residents are called, and the men's facility 87.

Prior to entering the program, beneficiaries must fill out a questionnaire, which they can pick up at the men's facility. There, they can also meet with intake coordinator Joe Lazi.

"We have them fill out a questionnaire to find out if the person is ready for treatment," Lazi said. "We look at their willingness and level of motivation. Nine years ago, this placed saved my life, and I know it can save other lives, too."

Beneficiaries who enter the program must be detoxed, and their stay can be court-ordained or they can come on their own.

Once beneficiaries enter the program, they are asked not to bring anything. They are immediately provided with a room, clothing and hygiene items.

"During the first 30-day initiation/orientation period, they are not allowed to have contact with the outside world. They're not allowed a phone, visitation or sign-outs," McDaniel said. "They can send and receive mail, but during this time, we want them to just worry about themselves."

Program components include individual and group counseling, substance abuse education, a 12-step program, anger management, work therapy, Bible study and chapel services, and re-entry and alumni support.

Daily routines consist of getting up at 5:30 a.m., eating a hot breakfast, quiet devotion time, eight hours of work therapy, shower time and dinner.

The evening requires them to participate in two- to three-hour classes, which include anger management, life skills, coping skills and chemical dependency. A self-esteem class is also offered for women.

During the weekends, participants are free to relax, and with each passing month, they gain more freedom. During months two and three, beneficiaries are allowed to sign out for up to four hours at a time and begin to reassimilate into their family setting.

"We want them to get the feel of the wife, son or mother without making a full-pledge commitment and have the burden of home life," McDaniel said. "It's purely visitation."

After they pass a 90-day review, they are eligible for eight hours of sign-out time, and classes mature into lessons that involve budget planning and balancing a checkbook.

The program can last up to one year depending on the needs of the individual. Throughout their stay, beneficiaries are tracked to make sure they continue to progress.

After successful completion of the six month-program — also known as phase one — they are able to sign up for phase two — a four-week business training class — and then phase three, in which they are able to live at the facility for an additional six weeks or until they receive two full paychecks.

"That's as good as it gets," McDaniel said. "Our statistics have shown that if we can keep them in The Salvation Army network for 18 months, they have a greater chance of staying sober for five-plus years."

McDaniel had his own moment of clarity in 1999.

"I struggled with 17 years of addiction," McDaniel said. "It started with alcohol when I was a child, and from there, I pretty much did every drug imaginable. I was surrounded with family problems, domestic violence, child abuse, etc., and that's how I numbed myself. After a while, I started to believe that that was all there was to life. "

Then one day, shortly before he turned 30 and after contemplating suicide, he said he heard the voice of God.

"I always believed in God, but I didn't know what that really meant until I got to The Salvation Army," McDaniel said. "I thought God was about religion and ceremonies. The Salvation Army taught me that God was about relationships."

During any phase of the program, beneficiaries are allowed to leave. Because The Salvation Army is a Christian denominational church and an international charitable organization, it focuses on the development of good work ethics and responsible behaviors through spiritual growth and moral regeneration, although it doesn't mandate conversion.

"We believe that there has to be a regeneration that takes place — a rebirth towards becoming a new person," McDaniel said. "You could leave pretty much everything behind. That's a tall order because sometimes that means leaving relationships, jobs; everything that is detrimental to your sobriety."

Staff at the rehabilitation program will also work closely with the local court system to call on the behalf of beneficiaries.

"There's no sense in going to jail for six weeks when they can transition to the next phase of life," McDaniel said. "We try to get them community service hours instead."

Nationwide, the program has a 32 to 36 percent completion rate, according to McDaniel.

During the North Las Vegas facility's first year of operation, which began in March 2014, it had an 18 percent completion rate. From October to now, that number had surged to 26 percent.

Future plans include extending the men's facility to include the women's facility at 39 W. Owens Ave.

During the holidays, staff members decorate and provide a Christmas dinner and toys for the beneficiaries' children. McDaniel estimated that, overall, the program provides about $50,000 worth of treatment, including housing, clothing, food, etc., per beneficiary.

"I have 46 years of drug addiction, and I can tell you there are no other programs like this one," said beneficiary Phillip Bernstein, 59. "This program is so solid and so structured. It truly saved my life."

There is currently room available at both the women's and men's facilities. Call 702-399-2769 or visit salvationarmysouthernnevada.org.

To donate, call 800-728-7825 or visit satruck.org.

— To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy.