The speakers from Nicasa included a director, a youth counselor, and members of Bridgehouse, their halfway home.
“Building brighter futures for individuals, families and communities since 1966” is the theme statement of Nicasa, a prevention and treatment agency that fights addiction and substance abuse. On Friday, Nov. 8 the Antioch Community High School student body watched a special presentation from Nicasa representatives about their program and the addictions they fight.
Nicasa director Elizabeth Thielen said that one in ten people who drink become alcoholics. Also, young people have twice the rate of problem gambling compared to adults. Both of these issues are part of the focus of Nicasa, along with substance abuse.
“Problem gamblers have a higher suicide rate than any other addiction,” said Thielen.
That’s why Nicasa offers a help hotline at 1-800-GAMBLER and programs for people struggling with this lesser-known, but deadly, addiction.
“Drug and alcohol use across Lake County is rampant,” said one of the youth counselors from Nicasa. She cited marijuana, heroin, alcohol and prescription and non-prescription drugs as major problems in this area, starting with children as young as the middle school age.
All ACHS students listened to the Nicasa program and were invited to ask questions at its conclusion.
“We offer a safe place, we help them to stay clean,” said a worker from Nicasa’s Prevention Department. The organization has classes, clinics and care focused on both prevention and recovery, which are available for students and adults.
Nicasa also owns a halfway house named the Bridgehouse which “gives professional help in a structured environment, twenty-four hours a day.” There are usually three steps to their recovery program: detox, treatment and then living at the Bridgehouse. Here, alcoholics are “building a network of sobriety” when their lives are unmanageable by themselves.
Nineteen-year-old Mike, a resident at the Bridgehouse, shared his powerful story with the students. He was addicted to marijuana in high school and also drank heavily. He went to three rehab centers and described the issues that continue to haunt him even after staying clean through Nicasa.
“I can’t even leave the state,” he said, even after completing a year of probation without any infractions.
“Every single day I went through it,” he said. Mike had promising skill in basketball, but he “threw it away” for his drug habits. “But today, I see myself as a leader. I want to work for a halfway house down there [in Florida],” he said. “For the first time in my life, I have a plan.”
One of the Nicasa speakers was a former alcoholic who now works for the program.
Another speaker was a former ACHS student, Frank,who would have graduated in 2006. Instead, he dropped out of school to join the military after his addiction to marijuana and heroin choked his academics.
“I wanted to be numb. I lived a very destructive lifestyle,” said Frank.
Throughout his life, he has overdosed several times and feels lucky to be alive. He has also been in and out of treatment facilities over a dozen times, served time in jail and lost many friends to drugs and alcohol.
“I’ve been to more funerals than I can count,” he said, “[Heroin is] a demon.” However, with the help of Nicasa and other rehabilitation facilities, Frank is learning to reclaim his life and help others do the same.
“Continue making the right choices because you guys are our future,” Frank encouraged the students.
