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Show a special person . . . remained to train new ones and give the older ones One Woman Reaches Out To Others encouragement. There is no way of knowing how many people, young ones in particular, have made it through their troubles with Lois' help. Just her availability and willingness to talk have shown some results. "One fellow," Lois recalls, "used to come into the old Center on Edison Street. I'd see him often and try to talk to him but knew he he never said much. wasn't doing well. He had given up school and his job. He had this pad with some others and was using drugs a lot. Things were generally going down hill for him. "One morning about 5:00 a.m. we were talking and he said he wanted to go home. His family lived here so took him home and he did better from then on." "That was the turning I by Tim Funk Community Drug Crisis Center, 868 McClelland, is well established now. It is a United Fund agency with a professional paid staff conducting a regular counseling and outreach program. It is housed in a spacious building in a quiet neighborhood and has a regular staff of volunteers. About four years ago things at the Crisis Center weren't so peaceful. The Center started just as the drug mania - psychedelics, speed, wild music, long hair and freak-out- s - descended unexpectedly on sleepy Salt Lake valley. Drug Crisis was aptly named for the times. In an atmosphere of fear and disbelief it was "the only place going" where victims of the drug madness could find any kind of relief. During those early days it handled many crisis cases especially among kids using drugs for the first time. The Center started as an experiment and went through turbulent times before it gained its present identity and community acceptance. At first the Center ran a "come one, come all" operation with no restrictions made on either those who used the Center or those who ran it. Center business was hectic and often chaotic. A small group of dedicated people saw the Center through those difficult growing pains. They kept things intact until its foundations were fixed. One of those who has stayed with the Center from the beginning is Lois Nielson. She was among the first volunteers who came to work in the Center and has helped it through many troubles. former volunteer puts it, "Lois was something like an oak tree standing in a storm. If things seemed to be going crazy, you would find Lois there, strong and calm as ever, keeping it all As a I point," says Lois. "I don't know if he matured enough to do that because he came to the Center, but you could feel something happening over a long period of time." Lois wondered about the others she has met at the Crisis Center. "There are so many who have disappeared, you just don't together." know." Lois had the sense, instinct and organizational ability it took to put the place in shape. As a Recently Lois played a part in the establishment of the Free Medical Clinic downstairs at the Crisis Center. She looks after the nursing instructor with Army service behind her, she knew the medical nature of the drug problem she was trying to handle. Even more, she tried to pass her experience and understanding on to her fellow volunteers. Many of the early volunteers were shaky and knew little about drugs, the e or why it drug user was. Lois, while not exactly a "head" herself at least knew how to approach and care for a desperate youngster in a drug crisis situation. Volunteers have come and gone by the score yet Lois has sub-cultur- clinic, keeping things ready for the regular Wednesday night sessions. She thinks the clinic is one of the Center's most promising features and hopes it will receive more use. (See story on Free Medical Clinic in this issue and feature article on the Drug Crisis Center in last week's issue.) Lois would never assume she has done more than her share for the Crisis Center or even that she has done enough. But without her, the place wouldn't hold up as well. |