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Maura Winton
Maura Winton was addicted to heroin for 32 years.
Now she and about 40 other recovering addicts in Nevada County figure they took so much out of their communities that it's time to give back.
That's why Recovery Alumni Associates began in September, to help those who have been through initial drug court and other recovery programs to stay sober. The recovering addicts are also doing it to keep themselves clean of the drugs that ravaged their lives.
"It fulfills my recovery to give back. I have to," said Winton, now clean for more than four years. "I took so much for so long."
"We have to make amends for what we did to the community," said Bob Rogers, leader of the group and an employee at Community Recovery Resources, also known as CORR, a county nonprofit that finds recovery programs for addicts. "I stay and clean and sober by helping another addict."
Rogers has been to prison more than once and used methamphetamine for 33 years. He has been clean for two and one-half years.
Kevin Brady's drug of choice for 25 years was "whatever you had in your pocket: cocaine in the '80s, crank in the '90s, heroin," he said. Now clean for more than three years and on his way to an architectural degree at Chico State, Brady said the alumni group is hard to fool.
Now she and about 40 other recovering addicts in Nevada County figure they took so much out of their communities that it's time to give back.
That's why Recovery Alumni Associates began in September, to help those who have been through initial drug court and other recovery programs to stay sober. The recovering addicts are also doing it to keep themselves clean of the drugs that ravaged their lives.
"It fulfills my recovery to give back. I have to," said Winton, now clean for more than four years. "I took so much for so long."
"We have to make amends for what we did to the community," said Bob Rogers, leader of the group and an employee at Community Recovery Resources, also known as CORR, a county nonprofit that finds recovery programs for addicts. "I stay and clean and sober by helping another addict."
Rogers has been to prison more than once and used methamphetamine for 33 years. He has been clean for two and one-half years.
Kevin Brady's drug of choice for 25 years was "whatever you had in your pocket: cocaine in the '80s, crank in the '90s, heroin," he said. Now clean for more than three years and on his way to an architectural degree at Chico State, Brady said the alumni group is hard to fool.
"We know who's serious about staying clean," Brady said. "That's one asset this group has."
They also know there is more to deal with than dope alone.
"Once the drugs are gone, there is a living problem," said alumni member Christine Blankenship, who also works at CORR, from which the group sprang. "We work on the underlying problems of why the drugs were taken in the first place and, as graduates of CORR, we know where to send these people."
Blankenship was into methamphetamine for about seven years and has been clean for more than five. She and the alumni members said a big help in aiding their recovery could be something as simple as a ride to drug court.
Beyond that, those in the group can help recovering addicts gain the food and shelter they need to stay sober and become productive again. Otherwise, they said, many who go through treatment come out to face the same people and problems they had before and go right back into drugs.
"We want to give help to those out there who don't think they can get it," Blankenship said. "We know what works."
They also know there is more to deal with than dope alone.
"Once the drugs are gone, there is a living problem," said alumni member Christine Blankenship, who also works at CORR, from which the group sprang. "We work on the underlying problems of why the drugs were taken in the first place and, as graduates of CORR, we know where to send these people."
Blankenship was into methamphetamine for about seven years and has been clean for more than five. She and the alumni members said a big help in aiding their recovery could be something as simple as a ride to drug court.
Beyond that, those in the group can help recovering addicts gain the food and shelter they need to stay sober and become productive again. Otherwise, they said, many who go through treatment come out to face the same people and problems they had before and go right back into drugs.
"We want to give help to those out there who don't think they can get it," Blankenship said. "We know what works."
How to help or get help
If you want to donate money, goods or services to the Recovery Alumni Associates, you can write them at P.O. Box 2643, Grass Valley, CA 95945. To contact them by phone or to get help for a drug problem, call Community Recovery Resources (CORR) at 273-9541.
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The group is well-aware that many members of the community have been burned in the past when asked to help recovering addicts, Rogers said. That's why the alumni is willing to channel help to those recovering from the outside.
He said a recent donation came in because a family did not want to just give a lump of money to a recovering loved one. They feared it would go straight to drugs and asked the alumni to give it out to the addict in the form of prolonged help.
Those who want help have to fill out forms with the alumni and are kept accountable. The nine-member board has to unanimously approve a request for aid. "We just don't shovel it out," Rogers said.
"We're already helping," said Shelley Rogers, Bob's wife, now clean for 30 months after 22 years on meth. "We've funded a woman for the transition house," she said. The home recently opened to give those graduating from initial treatment six more months to grow and recover.
The alumni are also planning fundraisers for the near future, including a walk for recovery and a benefit concert. They're asking for any kind of help for their group because it takes money and material to save addicts lives.
Bob Rogers said the kind of help he got in Nevada County can be parlayed with alumni experience for those who want it. They can teach simple things for addiction's not-so-simple answers.
"Today I had a choice to stick a needle in my arm or not," Bob Rogers said. "Now I have a lot of choices because I made the right choice this morning.
He said a recent donation came in because a family did not want to just give a lump of money to a recovering loved one. They feared it would go straight to drugs and asked the alumni to give it out to the addict in the form of prolonged help.
Those who want help have to fill out forms with the alumni and are kept accountable. The nine-member board has to unanimously approve a request for aid. "We just don't shovel it out," Rogers said.
"We're already helping," said Shelley Rogers, Bob's wife, now clean for 30 months after 22 years on meth. "We've funded a woman for the transition house," she said. The home recently opened to give those graduating from initial treatment six more months to grow and recover.
The alumni are also planning fundraisers for the near future, including a walk for recovery and a benefit concert. They're asking for any kind of help for their group because it takes money and material to save addicts lives.
Bob Rogers said the kind of help he got in Nevada County can be parlayed with alumni experience for those who want it. They can teach simple things for addiction's not-so-simple answers.
"Today I had a choice to stick a needle in my arm or not," Bob Rogers said. "Now I have a lot of choices because I made the right choice this morning.
"I used to think guys with tattoos and guns were tough. A tough guy is somebody who stays clean for a year."
<I>To contact senior staff writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.</I>
<I>To contact senior staff writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.</I>
