A new year of New Hope
By KATHLEEN McKEVITT

The new billboard for New Hope Counseling.

Troy Beaver, director of Addiction Services, Anger Management, and Marketing, of the New Hope Counseling center in Blairsville, is reviewing the latest information on the first year of operation. "Success," he says, is the reality. Based on initial data from face to face follow-up interviews of clients receiving treatment at New Hope, there is a 60 percent improvement in abstinence from methamphetamine.

The facility is primarily a methamphetamine recovery center, but also treats other addictions such as alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and more. The center opened in August 2005 and runs on a three-year grant. The grant was easily approved for the new year, starting now to run through August 2007.

Beaver began his work with drug addiction in 1979. Talking about addiction statistics, he said that "most people started with marijuana or alcohol," and can drink or use for some time before addiction is realized. However, with methamphetamine, one use equals immediate addiction for most people. But if a user is away from methamphetamine for a sustained period of one to two years, it is easier to overcome than alcohol, although both are a "lifetime recovery processes."

The New Hope organization asks for community involvement. Earlier this month Fannin County held a march to raise awareness about methanphetamine. Another march for awareness is planned in White County for September 9th.

"What we especially need," said Beaver, "is churches, private organizations, and the public to get involved, to get informed, and to help be centers where meetings can be held,

where warmth and acceptance, and nurturing is provided, and organized awareness campaigns are launched."

"We want the community here to know that there is a drug program. We'd like to see the churches in this county get involved, and help raise consciousness. If anyone would like more education on this subject they can call me. It would surprise most people to know that most of the drugs that are not coming in from the Mexican cartel are raised and made right here in this county."

All the employees of New Hope are credentialed both with college degrees and/or certified in addiction treatment. Treatments are not confrontational, but nurturing, caring, and building. Beaver and his team help people be fully aware of where they are now and where they need to be to be well and productive.

New Hope also provides an intensive outpatient treatment program based on the matrix model in which each client

attends group meetings three nights weekly, and receives regular random drug screens.

"We don't give up on people," said Beaver. "We require accountability, and do all we can to help people stay connected with the program, and in a healthy life."

Troy Beaver can be reached at 706-745-4066 at the New Hope Counseling Center. The center is located 41 Hospital St., Suite 15 in Blairsville. Also be sure to watch for their new billboard in Union County.