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Show Odyssey House Gives Opportunities And Treatment For Drug Addicts by Tim Funk "Drug addiction is curable," says Marty Blaustein, Administrative Director of the Utah Odyssey House. "Our cure rate is 98. Those are who have graduated from the Odyssey program and are on their own. They are entirely drug free. They have no addiction." Odyssey House says the addict can be made responsible for his actions. By placing him in a structured environment like the ex-addic- ts one Odyssey provides, the can learn to contribute ex-addi- ct socially and be a good citizen. He is given the opportunity to Bob Ensworth, Odyssey House Western Regional Director function free of drugs, depending only upon himself. Director Blaustein says that through Odyssey House the ex-addi- becomes "a ct functioning, drug free, social participant. The Utah Odyssey House opened at 68 East Sixth South in November, 1971. From an original group of 12 the local program has grown to where it offers treatment to some 30 to 40 It is an Marty Blaustein, Administrative Director, Utah which the former addict lives in the house and is given therapy entirely free of any in drug use. Odyssey House residents come into the program either voluntarily or involuntarily. The largest number, some three fourths, would be considered They have legal pressure behind them. For them "the motivation is 18 to 24 months here at Odyssey or five years in forces him Trust and respect are big words in the Odyssey House vocabulary. At the beginning the new resident has little confidence in himself, the program, or his fellow residents. He learns as he goes along that he can trust those around him. It is a situation in which everyone works together. Accomplishment is the different levels recognized of the house hierarchy. The more responsibility the resident can handle the more he is given. Progress is marked by how far up the ladder the resident has come. At the top is graduation and into society. The house society is open. in re-ent- is All Everything discussion of a resident is done within the group. There is no must face hiding, the group-oriente- ex-addi- d. ct his problems. Peer group pressure schooling and the like. Meals, coffee breaks and recreation are all scheduled to insure that each resident is at his particular task. There is no "copping out." The job assigned must be done. Responsibility is spread through the house chain of command. West Second South area. authority that goes with it forms to accept of drugs is also cause for responsibility for his own actions. Life in Odyssey House is tough. House rules are strictly enforced. A resident will be discharged if he steals, receives contraband, makes threats, uses physical violence, or engages in sexual activity. Obviously any use discharge. (Residents and staff take a daily urine test to prove they are drug free.) The daily routine is demanding. Each resident is given duties he is expected to perform during a 16 hour day. This includes house chores, group involuntary. prison." Those who come into the program voluntarily usually do so "because the hassle of getting drugs has sent them to us." can come Responsibility and the Odyssey House. ex-addic- program sessions, outreach activity, Gary Gingold, Community Liason staff member the house structure. From the top level down residents run the house business, conferring with the professional staff only to assure them that things are working smoothly. The staff retains the final say on changes in policy but the true function of the staff comes in their efforts to guide the theraputic process. House affairs are handled by one of the many departments. There are housekeeping, is being planned for the Residents speak anywhere there is a group willing to listen. They appear at schools, civic groups, the prison, at big and small. There are attempts to introduce the courts and the police to the Odyssey House program and concepts. To show that drugs are "a sickness, not a is one of the standard crime themes in the Odyssey thinking. This idea is being accepted more and more by enforcement officials. Tours are conducted of the Odyssey House facility. It is important that the public realizes how industrious the house community is, that the program is full of real people and that it works. business, But the efforts are never purchasing and ordering departments, to name a few. Higher level residents are in charge of each department and it is their job to see that everything is working as it should. Some of the staff lives right in the house. Bob Ensworth, enough. "We'll get a call from the renovation, kitchen, legal and community after something desperate happens. Involvement comes after realization that there is a drug problem. . ," laments Blaustein. . The Odyssey approach is Odyssey House Western Regional Director, has his wife and eight children with him at Utah Odyssey. With little ones running around, and several house pets "maybe drug addiction isn't in your community today but let's talk about it now so you'll be moving about, house residents coming and going, life in the Odyssey House is always hectic. Odyssey House directs its better understood," program at both cure and prevention. Prevention efforts take place outside of the house in the many community activities undertaken by the Odyssey people. Communication about drugs and their effects is attempted with the public. There is an outreach program designed to contact both present and drug users. A new storefront facility where addicts potential ready if it does happen." "One thing we wish was says Blaustein, "is that Odyssey House is law and order oriented. We support the police. program, the In our is confronted with his use of drugs. For him the choice is jail or rehabilitation." The Odyssey House concept originated in 1965 in New York ex-addi- ct with Dr. Judianne r, Current National Director of Odyssey, Inc. Densen-Gerbe- Through her foresight and efforts the Odyssey House now has six facilities in New York City, and one each in New Jersey, New |