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Saving Lives: Palmer Drug Abuse Program

(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 19, 2009 ) McAllen, Tx -- The abuse of alcohol and other drugs continues to be a tremendous problem for thousands of teenagers and young adults in our community. The Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP) is a non-profit organization that provides professional and confidential counseling to youth, adults, and their families affected by the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Since itÂ’s inception, PDAP helped more than 20,000 individuals reach a life of sobriety. No other operation in South Texas is like this and offers its professional services for FREE.

Palmer Drug Abuse Program began began in 1971 in the basement of Palmer Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas when one recovering alcoholic reached out to help another. As structure of the program and professionalism of the staff increased, PDAP programs spread to other cities. In 1988, a group of concerned citizens and community leaders in McAllen raised the funds necessary, hired staff, and opened the doors to Palmer Drug Abuse Program—McAllen, Inc.

PDAP serves the Rio Grande Valley, an area hit hard by the drug cartel violence along the Texas/Mexico border region in South Texas. It is a free, outpatient, twelve-step program for teenagers and adults who want to stop their abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, PDAP provides free support group meetings but also provides professional counseling and other support services for the individual as well as the whole family as they move through this difficult time in their lives. Services in English and Spanish include individual counseling, support group meetings, activities, and retreats that teach and support substance abusers and their families.

Individual and family counseling is available Monday through Friday. Support group meetings are offered three to four times per week for teenagers 12-17 years old, young adults 18-25 years old, and adults ages 26 and over. Family support meetings are provided for each of these groups. Group sessions are even available for children ages 5-12 who have been affected by the use of alcohol or other drugs in their family, children of addicts who have been abused or neglected, witnessed siblings do, deal or become incarcerated for their actions.

Young people today are faced with an increasing amount of opportunities to abuse alcohol or drugs and fewer opportunities for drug-free social interactions. PDAP provides a positive, safe place teenagers can feel they belong—a place to hang out, share their struggles, and talk to counselors. Teenagers and young adults are encouraged to “hang out” at PDAP when they are not in school or work. While at PDAP, they can shoot pool and play cards, video games, or basketball. Most importantly, they can socialize in a non-threatening, sober environment. Organized activities such as softball, volleyball, cookouts, or trips to the beach are also provided daily in summer and year round on Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.

The majority of the Rio Grande Valley population is low-income, Hispanic with a very high drop out rate, few can afford private practice counseling or the high cost of inpatient facilities. The families that PDAP helps cannot afford to pay for these services, all services are free of charge. PDAP depends on funding from a variety of sources—individual and corporate donations from the community, grants, school districts, service organizations, and the United Way.

Sobriety is just one of many rewards individuals can achieve when they attend Palmer Drug Abuse Program. In counseling appointments and group meetings, young adults and family members talk about common problems and find solutions. While supporting one another they build confidence, self-esteem, and courage to live life differently.

Thousands of people in the Valley have been relieved of the compulsion to abuse drugs and alcohol, and we want to invite more to take advantage of the free help PDAP offers. Call (956) 687-7714 to schedule an appointment, make a donation, or ask further questions.

Some hard hitting facts:
- A gram of powder cocaine costs $50 - $60 in El Paso, $50 - $80 in Dallas, $60-$100 in Houston, $70-$110 in San Antonio and only $33 in McAllen. ThatÂ’s a 70% off sale every day low price in the Rio Grande Valley!

- Columbian heroin sells for $50,000-$80,000 in Houston per kilogram, $84,000-$90,000 in El Paso, $65,000-$80,000 in Dallas and only $30,000 in McAllen. Hispanic heroin cases along the Texas/Mexico border jumped up from 23% in 2005 to 55% in 2007.
- Commercial grade Marijuana prices around Texas per pound are:

$4,000-$5,000 in Houston, $3,000-$5,000 in Austin,

$3,000-$5,000 in San Antonio, $3,400-$3,800 in Dallas and only

$1,300 in McAllen. That is a 75% difference in price for those along the South Texas Rio Grande Valley region.

Drugs are more potent, more available and more affordable in the Rio Grande Valley area than in any other region in Texas and the entire Nation! Please help PDAP help those seeking to combat their addiction problems by donating now.

Source: The Center for Excellence in Drug Epidemology Gulf Coast Addiction Technology Transfer Center, UT Addiction Research Institute, National Insitute on Drug Abuse, Department of State Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

For more information:
Myssie Cardenas-Barajas
Executive Director
Palmer Drug Abuse Program
115 N. 9th Street
McAllen, TX 78501
(956) 687-7714 office
(956) 687-5306 fax
Myssie@palmerdrugabuse.com
www.PalmerDrugAbuse.com



Palmer Drug Abuse Program
Myssie Cardenas-Barajas
(956) 687-7714
Myssie@palmerdrugabuse.com

Source: EmailWire.com

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