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Show A man on his way up . . . by Tim Funk Ken Brown has done a lot of traveling for a man only 21. He started using heroin at 14 in Detroit. Drugs were his culture his family used them, his friends -- used them. Eventually heroin became the world. There was crime to support his habit and prison for the crime. Prison brought more drugs and later more crime. When Ken was busted the last of many times, he was presented with a choice; five years to life in prison or rehabilitation. He jumped at the chance. He thought "a little rehab and he'd be free. "I said one year, maybe two and I'd be back on the streets again. Rubicon, a drug treatment facility in Flint, Michigan was the first stop. There Ken's attitudes proved hard to change. He had been through many programs and had done a lot of pretending by that time. One more game wouldn't make much difference. What effort he made in Rubicon met with failure. Eventually he was discharged .from that program, still unfit for society. I I His change in Fortunately, Rubicon had merged with the Odyssey House national program while Ken was still there. A review of his case gave him the chance to come to Utah Odyssey House. He entered the Salt Lake Center as a beginner. He was put at the bottom of the House earlier treatment was no credit, he had to prove himself from the start. The change in scenery has worked remarkably well. With his Michigan experience behind him, Ken has been able to use it to structure. accept the program here. He is succeeding where before the best he could do was stay the same. "I feel better about the people here and the program in now realize what am general. doing and what to do about it. At the start Ken found life at Rubicon unreal. He thought "it was a white man's thing to get money out of me, to use me. Looking back he says, "I was off the wall, crazy. It was hard for him "to accept the idea people really care about me. His attitude came confronted as he and more. He couldn't pretend anymore in the open situation Odyssey House creates and as Ken puts it "My covers were pulled. couldn't hide anymore. Then he was able "to look up and see others doing it who supposedly came from the same I quarter I did. helping the various house departments and people get their work done. It is an important position for Ken and the House. If he functions well, others can follow his example. Ken has recently started to work with the black community, especially the younger people. He sees a real need for leadership among them, "because there aren't many young black leaders here. his fellow House residents more Odyssey the Odyssey program. He is the Odyssey House coordinator responsible for He was soon telling himself, "Ken , you've got to stop messin' around." Once he was able to deal with himself, Ken began to progress in Ken is further advanced in the local Odyssey program than any other black. He thinks this affords him the chance to help out. By telling others his story, they can avoid the same mistakes. He would like to "start groups for young people. don't have any definite plans about what is needed. will help as best can." Ken Brown has come this far. He is too proud of himself to turn back. What he has he owes to himself and the Odyssey House I I I program. |