 Testimonials
- Stories of Hope through Recovery
When
my daughter and I came to PDAP almost six
years ago, I was absolutely drained. I had no resources left to draw
on;
mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually. As I attended
meetings and
eventually scheduled sessions for both of us, I was ‘informally’
working the
first four steps in my head. I could both see and feel the difference
the
program was making in all facets of my life; not just in my
relationship with
my daughter. After close to a year, I began formally working the steps
with a
sponsor and began experiencing some of the promises. My daughter
learned life
lessons and gained valuable tools through the group, her sponsors, and
working
the steps. These will always be available to her to draw upon should
she choose
to do so. * * * * * * * * * *
If I would sum up all of the things I have gotten from PDAP in one word, I would choose the word sanity. When I started in the program, I felt my life was insanity. Nothing I had done as a parent prepared me for what I would face with a child who has a drug addiction problem. From the first phone call I made to PDAP, my life began to take steps to return to a life I could begin to live again. Every time I have called staff members in need, they have taken time to counsel me, set up appointments with me, and offer whatever support I needed to help me through my difficult time. With the weekly group meeting, I have been able to share our experiences with other people who will not judge me and who use their “been there, done that” advice to guide me along the difficult path we have faced. Through the counselors and the meetings, I have been introduced to the 12-step program as well as meditations to start my day with some semblance of peace. Without all of these things, I feel my life would still be reeling out of control. PDAP has been invaluable to me as a parent. Thank you PDAP! PDAP Parent – June 2008 * * * * * * * * * *
My son was no stranger to 12-step programs. He had paid dearly for many 12-step program classes that had been court ordered. After private counseling, a couple of years on probation, and yet another run-in with the law, I remembered this program and looked them up on the internet. My son agreed to attend PDAP. I liked the fact that PDAP had a parent meeting component. These meetings give me a nonjudgmental forum to listen, learn and speak about subjects, experiences, and problems unique to families recovering from the effects of substance abuse. I'm accepted "as is." I can speak or not and feel welcomed no matter what. After a few meetings, I asked my son what was different about this 12-step program as opposed to the many others he had paid for. His reply was, "Mom, they really care." I am so thankful that PDAP is helping to heal our family that has been torn apart by substance abuse. PDAP Parent – June 2008 * * * * * * * * * *
I celebrate the 5th year of my second recovery!!! It was a long time ago that I was a member of PDAP (1978), and would like to thank anyone still around for planting the seed that made this recovery possible. The experience I had was invaluable in helping me embrace the 12-step program I am now in. PDAP Alum – June 2008 Please find the enclosed donation to your program in honor of our niece, who celebrates her nineteenth birthday today. She is growing into a fine young woman with a bright future ahead of her, and we hope that this donation in her name will help you enable other young men and women to find a better path in life as well. Thank you for your efforts to help a needy segment of Houston's youth to become drug-free, contributing adult citizens. Anonymous Donor – April 2008 * * * * * * * * * *
…One day something different happened. I can see today that it was God placing a miracle in my life. I bought some Xanax with the intention of using that day. I got into some trouble at school, and left. I happened to have the number of a PDAP’er and I called him. He promptly replied that he could pick me up. I threw away the drugs, and proceeded to wait for him outside. This PDAP’er began to interact with me on a different level then I was ever used to, and he gave me hope. He shared his story with me, and told me that there was a solution to my addiction, and that it was in PDAP. Through his story my journey in sobriety began. Through the 12 steps, I have found liberation from the desire to drink or use. Through PDAP, I have discovered a fellowship of people who are more like me than I ever knew before. When I became a sober PDAP’er at sixteen, I could never have dreamed of the miracles that have occurred in my life. I have gone on to not only complete high school, but to attend The University of Texas at Austin. Most importantly I can say with a full heart that I am happy, sober, and living a life I never dreamed of. PDAP Alum – March 2008 * * * * * * * * * *
I struggled a lot with my daughter, because I could not find a program that offered meetings in Spanish that would allow me to understand what was being said. Thanks to a school counselor, I found out about this program and it has been a blessing. I relate to other Hispanic parents who, like me, have different customs and find it hard to accept the differences between our customs and the customs in this country, as well as the differences between our generation and my daughter's generation. Since I have started coming regularly to the program, my daughter is less argumentative and now she has started listening and I have begun listening too. I am realizing that there are things that I cannot change and I am learning to deal with it. PDAP Parent (PDAP Bi-Lingual Program) - March 2008 * * * * * * * * * *
I'm sixteen years old. I started using drugs when I was 13. Before I came to PDAP I had failed my freshman year, gotten tickets for not attending school, and had two overdoses from substance abuse. I fought with my family often and I could not maintain healthy friendships. I have been coming to PDAP for a little over a year now. PDAP has been a very positive influence in my life. Now I go to school regularly, make A's & B's and I don't act out anymore. I've made many good sober friends in the program. I'm a lot happier now and I get along with my family better! PDAP has helped me with more than stopping drugs; it has also helped me learn how to deal with situations when they arise and life in general. I've gotten a major boost in self-confidence and self-esteem. At PDAP, I do a lot of service work and help others. I feel apart of something. When I'm in a meeting and someone shares something I can relate. I'm really glad I have found this program to help me make my life to become more manageable. PDAP Young Adult – March 2008 * * * * * * * * * *
I was in PDAP in 1974, I was 13 years old and I had overdosed on drugs. I stayed in it off and on till I was 18. I had my monkey fist for 1 year and 30 days. The tools that I learned in PDAP were there when I finally woke up and was able to see the real insanity of it all. Your counselors miss seeing the results from people like me. We are the ones that find it later and use PDAP and our recovery tools to stay alive. PDAP saved my life. AA and NA helped me stay the course. PDAP Alum – June 2007 * * * * * * * * * *
PDAP helped save my relationship with all my loved
ones. THANK
YOU PDAP!PDAP Young Adult – April 2007 * * * * * * * * * *
My name is Matthew and I am 17 years old. I first stepped foot in PDAP June, 29 2006. At that time I was cold hearted, had no relationship with my family, and I shut out all of my emotions because I felt emotions were for weak minded people. I had the mentality of "if people feared you, you really do have all of the power." I truly believed that. At first I was hesitant about coming, but I did it to get my parents off of my back. A few weeks passed and I came to believe I really was and am an addict. After a while in PDAP I made true friends/family, I became in contact with my higher power, basically I felt like a new person...as if my life did a complete 180. I truly believe that PDAP has saved my life because without PDAP I know I would be either in a cemetery or in a lock down facility. PDAP Young Adult - November 2007 |