ADAMS House addiction program seeks to expand

ADAMS House founder Dan Hill, center, joins two of the drug and alcohol addiction support program's charges, Johnny B., left, and Joe D. The program doesn't divulge the last names of its participants.

ADAMS House, a program to help men with drug and alcohol problems turn their lives around, is looking to expand to four houses from three.

For six years, the program has provided a structured living environment and second chances at life.

Dan Hill, who struggled with drug and alcohol problems himself, founded Alcohol and Drug Afflicted Men's Stabilization House in 2005. It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in July, 2009.

Suzanne Mitchell, a member of the board of directors, said the program "gives men who are essentially homeless, who have drug or alcohol addiction. a place to live where they can be surrounded by sobriety and support. Dan puts them through a pretty detailed program that helps them get their finances back in order, learn budgeting, and teaches them responsibility."

The three ADAMS House facilities are in East and South Toledo, with a total of 19 participants in residence.

Mr. Hill said the program consists of four components.

The first is a 12-step recovery program, in which the men are expected to participate to help reach sobriety.

The second component involves domestic education. That includes a business meeting every Sunday at which the men discuss the last week's business and plan for the upcoming week's chores. If a resident fails to come home and to carry out his responsibilities, the other men in the home will determine the consequences. If they are unable to do so, the decision will be left up to the staff.

The third component is occupational education. Men must begin working a steady job, enroll in higher education, or volunteer a specified number of hours within 90 days of entering the program.

The final component is budgeting.

The program is operated by Mr. Hill with two other volunteers: a programming coordinator and a case manager.

ADAMS House is supported by private donors and various fund-raisers. Men who have jobs and can contribute financially to the house help by paying rent.

On July 24, ADAMS House put on a motorcycle-ride fund-raiser.

According to an outcomes study performed in 2010 by Kelly Grover, a Lucas County social worker, and Shawn Dowling, who has worked in the field of chemical dependency and mental illness, 90 percent of 11 ADAMS House alumni who lived there in 2007 have remained sober.

Prior to entering ADAMS House, 64 percent of those graduates had tried other outpatient recovery programs and did not remain sober, the study found.

Mr. Hill attributes ADAMS House's success rate to the men being surrounded by people they can relate to who have overcome drugs and alcohol.

"We've all been homeless, in one way or another, and we've all been drug addicts and alcoholics," Mr. Hill said. "We have the experience, I believe, to share with the person to help them and make that connection."

Several of the men are referred to ADAMS House through the Lucas County Family Court. Information on the program may be obtained by calling 419-754-1431.

Contact Payton Willey at: paytonwilley@theblade.com or 419-724-6050