In recent years, budget cuts in Palm Beach County Florida have resulted in the loss of essential services. Drug Farm was one highly successful county program which was recently shut down for lack of funds. The closing of Drug Farm left Palm Beach County’s correctional facilities with no effective remedy to the problem of addiction. Meanwhile, the impact of the addiction problem on our community is staggering.
Most crime today involves substance abuse as a contributing cause. 85% of the inmates in the Palm Beach County jail have some involvement with substance abuse. Broken families and lost lives as a consequence of addiction make headlines every day. The county needs to fill the hole left by the closing of Drug Farm immediately. The Sheriff’s Department searched for a way to address the problem of addiction on a very limited budget. Under the dynamic leadership of Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Chief Deputy Mike Gauger, the Another Way program was born. Located in the Belle Glade jail, Another Way is the in-house drug education program of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. There was a problem, however. Taxpayer funding was lacking for even the more limited needs of an in-house program.
The Treatment Center became aware of PBSO’s dilemma. After a meeting with Chief Deputy Gauger, The Treatment Center stepped forward with a solution to the problem. Rick Marvin, employed by The Treatment Center, agreed to facilitate a drug education program for the Sheriff’s office. He has been instrumental in the development and operation of the program at no cost to the taxpayers of Palm Beach County.
Another Way has been a tremendous success. Every 60 days a new group of 65 inmates completes the program. Another Way is often the first contact these men have with the foundational ideas of recovery.
During the drug and alcohol education program, inmates are introduced to inspiring examples of other addicts who have overcome alcoholism and addictions. Rick Marvin facilitates his recovery program in the Belle Glade jail Monday through Friday. Outside of the groups he leads, Rick spends time with each inmate individually, offering his experience and guidance. The men graduate with a thorough understanding of addiction and hope for a life free from drugs and alcohol. The Treatment Center is honored to be Sharing Our Hope with both the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and each and every graduate of the Another Way Program.
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The Treatment Center has been awarded
the joint commission gold seal of approval.
