By Cathy Higgins
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A substance-abuse rehabilitation facility could become part of the Baldwin County landscape in the not too distant future.
During the bi-monthly meeting of Project Safe Neighborhood at Bay Minette City Hall Thursday morning, representatives of Mission Teens Inc., announced that they were interested in opening a branch of the non-profit recovery center in the area.
“We help people who hhave drug and alcohol problems,” said north Alabama Mission Teens representative Bill Murphy.
He explained that Mission Teens is a biblical-based program designed to help volunteer clients overcome addiction over a period of eight to 10 months.
“It’s a Christian alternative to a secular program,” Murphy said at Thursday’s meeting.
He explained that a typical day for clients includes more than five hours of Bible study each morning and household chores or other projects each afternoon.
“By and large, we see a good percentage of people change,” Murphy said.
He explained that although the program contains the name, “teen,” it is actually geared toward adults.
“If they are out of school,” Murphy said.
He added that the program also helps clients obtain marketable life skills, such as a G.E.D. and computer skills.
But Murphy did say the facility is not equipped to handle clients who are on medication.
“We are not doctors; we’re not nurses,” Murphy’s wife and colleague, Terry, said. “We’re not equipped to hand out medications.”
The representatives explained that the program, which originated in New Jersey, is offered to clients at no charge, with funding obtained by donations and grants.
The representatives pointed out that hopes of locating a facility here are still in the early stages.
