Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 Source: San Mateo County Times, The (CA) Copyright: 2003, MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/Stories/0,1413,87%257E2524%257E,00.html Website: http://www.sanmateocountytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/392 Author: Bret Putnam Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) THREE DECADES PUTTING ADDICTS ON ROAD TO RECOVERY San Mateo County's Project 90 Turns 30 PORTOLA VALLEY -- Men come to Project 90 beaten down by the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction, and they are given an opportunity to pause and take a look at where addiction is leading them. On Saturday, Project 90 --San Mateo County's largest drug-and-alcohol treatment provider -- celebrated its 30th anniversary with an afternoon of barbecue and blues music at the Portola Valley Town Center. "It's really about giving a guy a chance to come in and get a positive direction and learn the tools for recovery," said Project 90 executive director Marc Sabin. At Project 90, men do some soul-searching, receive guidance from counselors and therapists, and bounce experiences and ideas off one another. Most importantly, perhaps, they begin working the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Over the last three decades, Project 90, which has 126 beds at facilities in San Mateo and South San Francisco, has served some 12,000 men. Albert was a 43-year-old Redwood City man with two daughters when his alcoholism and addiction became so bad his mother slapped a restraining order on him in 1994. He was banished from the family business -- operating a horse farm in Woodside -- and ended up living in a trailer "with a ten-speed bike that had nine gears." A friend suggested Project 90, and Albert has been clean and sober ever since. He reconciled with his mother and his daughters, and he's back working in the family business. He also volunteers at Project 90, working with new men like Jason, a 29-year old San Franciscan who was released from the San Mateo County jail 110 days ago. "One of the biggest benefits is that the counselors are ex-addicts," Jason said. "They know where we've been and where we want to go." One of those counselors is David. He grew up in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park and hit bottom in 1993 on alcohol and drugs. "I knew there was a better way, and I wanted to get some tools," David said. David got sober at Project 90, and went on to join the staff. A year ago David graduated from the College of San Mateo, where he studied drug-and-alcohol counseling. "It's been real rewarding," David said. "It's been nice to help a lot of people from my 'hood. David said his friends who once knew him as an addict now know him as a sober man. "They're able to see it does work," David said. Another program graduate is Paul, who was 51, strung out on heroin, and living in a vacant house in San Francisco when he came Project 90. He had spent 13 years behind bars. "I was committing crimes to support my habit. Crazy stuff that sent me to prison," Paul said. Paul has stayed sober, and now works at a treatment center in San Francisco, after a stint on the Project 90 staff. Men like Paul set an example for Alex, a 19-year-old Daly City man who was court-mandated to Project 90 54 days ago for an offense he doesn't care to discuss. Paul has a 4-month-old daughter, and he has promised her he will stay clean and sober. "I'm learning a lot from all the older guys," Alex said. Project 90 is headquartered at 720 South B St. in San Mateo. To inquire about enrolling in the program, volunteering or making a contribution, contact 579-7881. "It's really about giving a guy a chance to come in and get a positive direction and learn the tools for recovery" Marc Sabin project 90 executive director - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin