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Sims found out about MWFHE at a mental health clinic in Decatur, where he was attending a weekly therapy group. “One of the other clients was talking about resources and mentioned MWFHE.” Sims contacted the program and entered treatment at MWFHE a few days later. He moved into the supportive housing maintained by MWFHE and started a weekly schedule of recovery meetings and one-to-one counseling. Sims, who had battled depression and anger issues for a number of years, says his mental health has greatly improved since getting clean. “I made up my mind I wasn't going to do it (use) anymore. The groups helped me get in touch with my real feelings. I don't look down on anyone else for what they do; I just know I can't do it anymore.” “I try to encourage everyone I know,” Sims says. “I tell the other guys in the program if I can do it, Finding a place to get help “THEY ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE A MINUTE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU, TALK WITH YOU, AND HELP YOU OUT.” -Adrian Sims

they can do it, too. They are straightforward here, they don't try to jive you. They give you the tools to work with and really encourage you.” 'If I get to where I'm having a bad day, I'll talk to Miss Ruby, or talk to Darryl, our office manager, or talk to my family. That keeps me going. The most important thing is to be honest and let everyone in the agency know what is going on. They always seem to have a minute to sit down with you, talk to you and help you out.” Now 52, Sims is currently working to get his GED degree. He'd like to eventually attend college to become an addiction counselor, and pass on some of what he has learned about recovering from addiction.

Helping out

Meanwhile, he's made a good start in that direction by helping recovering addicts and alcoholics as a resident manager. The residences are a way to provide the structure that can make it easier for treatment clients to focus on their recovery, and access ongoing support, Sims notes. As a resident manager, he drug-tests residents three times a week, makes sure they do their chores and go to their meetings. “If they have

any issues we try to handle them at community meetings every Sunday, when we go over the house rules. We talk about things that are going on with them.” The literature used by recovering people in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous emphasizes the importance of “passing it on,” and Adrian Sims is doing just that at Men and Women For Human Excellence.

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