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FUND-RAISING BEGINS FOR WOMEN'S HOME

Couple Seeks $70,000 By July

PERRY COUNTY - The Rev.  Bob Campbell and his wife, Peggy, want to expand the services they provide to female substance abusers working to kick their habits.  Having operated Agape Recovery Ministries for drug and alcohol addicts for a couple of years, they hope to open the doors of a new facility by January 2007.

"Our vision is to open a ladies recovery house in Perry County," Bob said in a flyer intended to lure community leaders and potential donors to a fund-raising dinner conducted Thursday.  "We have set a goal of $70,000 to purchase a house and bring it up to code.  We currently have $12,000 with an open grant for ( up to ) $10,000."

Roger Stacy, past president and one of the founders of Owensboro's Community Solutions for Substance Abuse, was one of the speakers at the dinner.  He said that organization has the only recovery program in Kentucky, and has had such success at bringing together service providers and raising community awareness that it's been recognized by the governor's office and is being held up as a model for others.

"A lot of people have stepped up, as you people are here," he said, indicating the small crowd gathered in a room at St.  Paul Church.  The former car dealer told the audience he has a son in recovery.

"You're dealing with a disease of the brain," he said.  "It's terminal.  Without treatment, it will kill you.  It's highly hereditary - - if one parent is an addict or alcoholic, there will be a 50- to 75-percent better chance the child will become one." If two parents are addicted, the odds jump to 90 percent, he added.

"The solution to the problem is sitting here tonight.  Knowledge and understanding of the problem will cause us to change the whole environment.  We've cut smoking dramatically," he pointed out.

People think of drug abuse as a behavioral problem, implying it's simple to correct, but "many years ago tuberculosis was understood as a behavioral problem because people acted a little funny when they had it." The root cause was found "and now it's wiped out," Stacy said.

The opening of what eventually came to be four homes in Owensboro, two each for men and women, provided environments conducive to addicts' recovery.

"The community came forward with stoves, refrigerators, food and clothing," Stacy said.  "You will find people are willing to help, but don't know how to help."

Earl Loney, who retired as director of Owensboro's Lighthouse Recovery Home a year ago, has been in recovery from alcoholism for 27 years, "so it's in our family," he said.  He called the battle against addiction in a community "a slow fight we have to keep on fighting.  The drug problem is growing faster than we can recruit people to fight it.  You have to give everything you can to make this work.  If you can't give financially, roll up your sleeves."

Why open a recovery home for women in Perry County?

"Because Perry County has none," Peggy Campbell explained, saying women are ready to change sooner than men.  Many are involved with drugs because of their relationships with men, and "ladies have children, so it hits their hearts - they see the need to change."

"Women are more apt to come for help," Bob added.  "They don't have all that macho junk to get through."

The Campbells know the hurdles they'll have to leap en route to turning their vision into reality, the first a financial obstacle.  Their plan includes fund-raising into July 2006, then the purchase and any necessary improvements to the home within the following six months.

"A lot of things could make that go quicker," Peggy said.  "Some people have suggested someone might donate a house, or a bank or finance company might have a repossessed house they'd be willing to give us."

"This is a community problem - we're asking those who can to help," Bob said.  "One in seven high-school students will try meth.  This is not a problem that cares what your name is or how much money your father makes.  It's kids making bad decisions with cruel consequences."

Once someone is hooked on a drug, "It's not that they don't want to quit - they can't," he added.

"We want to provide the opportunity if they want to get clean and sober," Peggy said.

"Peggy and I have been in recovery for 18 years, so we know the road, the path," Bob said.  Explaining they used less-addictive drugs like marijuana and speed, he continued, "Peggy and I are familiar with our addictions.  They're not comparable to the addictions of today, but we're not called biblically to go find the easy ones."

Methamphetamine "is one of the most addictive drugs out there," he said, but "we've seen a lot of good response when people find out someone loves them."

"We've seen everything from great success to funerals," Bob said.  He told the dinner guests at the fund-raiser he feels joy when a mother recovering from drug abuse gets her children back.  Conversely, "It's a hard thing to bury your failures," he said.

No one wants to invite drug abusers into their neighborhood, the couple realizes, but unlike every other house in the county, a recovery home will be tightly controlled "Nobody's testing their neighbors now," Bob pointed out.  "People are cooking meth in every part of the county."

The recovery home will have a recovering addict or alcoholic on duty as a house manager 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said, explaining former users are the only ones who truly know how to deal with addicts.

Dress, conduct and curfew rules will be enforced.  "Exemplary conduct will be expected," Bob said.  "Anything short of that will be dealt with." Testing for drug and alcohol use will be routine for the eight to 10 residents.

Most participants in residential programs are ordered by courts to participate, Peggy said.  If they violate terms of court orders, "we immediately notify the courts, they're picked up and have to finish whatever sentence they have."

A zoning hearing will be conducted before any property is purchased, Bob said, giving potential neighbors the opportunity to voice their concerns.

"You and I can make a difference," he told the dinner guests.  "We want to get this thing opened.  It's long past due."

The Campbells can be contacted at 547-2772.  Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Agape Recovery Ministries; 101 Taylor St.; Cannelton IN 47520.