An organization that oversees a line of addiction recovery centers is currently renovating its Azle, Texas location.
The expansion of Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas’ Azle campus is made possible with the assistance of a $500,000 Affordable Housing Program Grant. The funding was provided by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and Frost Bank. Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas was one of 19 statewide projects that was awarded grant monies. In addition to the grant, approximately $100,000 was also provided by private donors.
To improve its services, Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas has been using the grant to construct a new residential facility. Formerly a steel building, it will include four bedrooms, bathrooms and a communal living room. Construction began in March with the demolition of the building and is expected to be completed this fall.
This upgrade will allow between three to four dozen program participants in addiction recovery to stay for a maximum of two years. Before the expansion was approved, patients could only stay for seven months.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that there were 1,375 opioid-related overdose deaths in Texas during 2016. In addition, a recent report from the University of Austin stated that more than 700 methamphetamine overdose deaths and nearly 550 heroin overdose deaths that year. While fentanyl has been present in many drug toxicology reports, the presence of other opioids has declined. However, the trend of consuming codeine-based cough syrup has returned.
Initially Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas was founded in New York City in 1958 by a pastor to help teens in local gangs who were dealing with substance abuse. It expanded to Texas 10 years later. The nonprofit organization has since opened nearly 200 locations around the U.S. and more than 1,000 in other countries and expanded its services to include adults and families.
Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas integrates its core values of ‘Outreach, Community, Discipleship, Compassion, Worship and Integrity’ in its efforts to reach families affected by drug addiction. It offers educational courses, skill-building workshops and aftercare services.
There are multiple residential programs around the state for men, women and boys. On average, patients complete the rehabilitation process within 15 months. Although it does not provide drug detoxification, the addiction recovery services offered by the organization emphasize holistic approaches to treatment.
The Azle residential men’s facility was incorporated in 2008 and services the Fort Worth area. Participants are paired with counselors for one-on-one mentoring as well as a three month group counseling course. In addition, individuals acquire vocational skills by participating in a work-study program. They may do this by working in one of the organization’s thrift stores or on numerous landscaping, contracting or other projects. The Azle team also connects its residents with GED and driver training courses.
Adult and Teen Challenge of Texas is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first location in San Antonio. Among many planned events, the organization will be hosting golf tournaments later this year where team donations will go toward supporting students.
Author: Sean Woodard
Sean Woodard is a journalist for Addiction Now and serves on the Film Department for Drunk Monkeys Literary Magazine and Film Blog. Focusing on a wide variety of interests, Sean’s fiction, film criticism, and other writing have been featured in Los Angeles Review of Books, Found Polaroids, and Los Angeles Magazine, among other publications. A native of Visalia, CA, he now resides in Orange County. Contact Sean at seanw@addictionnow.com
