Gaudenzia Gazette August 2014

1 G A U D E N Z I A G A Z E T T E A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 w w w. g a u d e n z i a . o r g

GazetteGAUDENZIAAUGUST 2014 VOLUME 27, ISSUE 4

Marijuana use can lead to other illicit drugsDebate is presently raging over the legalization of marijuana

and whether it can lead to use of other illegal drugs.

Recent studies indicate that marijuana use, especially in

teen years, can lead to further drug abuse and even addiction.

Marijuana: Gateway Drug for Teens

The legalization debate has caused teens to question the risks of marijuana,

increasing the use of this illicit drug. Through CESAR FAX, the Center for

Substance Abuse Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland, College

Park states that approximately two-thirds of teens who already use marijuana

would increase their likelihood of use if it is legalized.1 CESAR has also found

that more than two-thirds (68%) of first time drug users first try marijuana.2

CESAR suggests that early marijuana or alcohol use is related to later

substance use disorders. According to data from the National Survey on

Drug Use and Health, adults who first used marijuana at age 14 or younger

were nearly five times as likely to meet the criteria for illicit drug abuse or

dependence than those who started when they were 18 years or older.3

Marijuana remains the most abused illegal substance among youth.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states by the time they

graduate high school, about 46% of U.S. teens will have tried marijuana

at least once in their lifetime.4 Long-term studies of high school students

show that few young people use other drugs without first trying marijuana.

NIDA For Teens suggests that marijuana use introduces teens to pressure

and individuals who may have access to harder drugs such as cocaine

and opiates.5

1 CESAR FAX July 1, 2013 2 CESAR FAX October 22, 2012 3 CESAR FAX December 12, 2011 4 Letter from NIDA Director, Dr. Nora Volkow;www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/letter-director 5 NIDA for Teens; http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/marijuana

Marijuana and the Brain

Dr. Nora Volkow,Director of the National Institute onDrug Abuse, weighs in on the “riskysocial experiment” that is the legalizationof marijuana. She states that theevidence on the supposed safety ofmarijuana – particularly marijuana in itsmodern, far more potent form – is farfrom clear enough to take this leap.“What we are seeing is…that we want

to have a drug that will make us all feelgood and believe that there are noharmful consequences. When you areintoxicated, your memory and learningare going to go down. When you areintoxicated, your motor coordination isgoing to go down. When you arerepeatedly using marijuana, there is anincreased risk for addiction. And if youare an adolescent and you are takingmarijuana, there is a higher increasedrisk for addiction and there is also ahigher risk for long-lasting decreases incognitive capacity – that is, lowering of IQ.”

A D D I C T I O N T R E A T M E N T & R E C O V E R Y S E R V I C E S

is an important moment of recognition and

accomplishment. Gaudenzia’s graduation process

is completely voluntary. In grand total this year, 357

individuals walked proudly across the stage at ceremonies

held in Baltimore, Erie, Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

Honorary Graduate awards are presented to a person

who did not attend a Gaudenzia program, but supports

the mission and philosophy.


Erie:On May 17, at the Bayfront ConventionCenter, 15 individuals were graduated. KeynoteSpeaker was Mary Kay Eisert, community advocate. Honorary Graduate medallions werepresented to Gaudenzia staff members, Sue Ross,Executive Assistant, and Fran Davis, Job PreparationInstructor. The group was featured on local newsstations highlighting this great accomplishment.

Central Region:On June 14, in Harrisburg, at the Best WesternPremiere Hotel, 35 individuals weregraduated from programs within Central Pennsylvania. Keynote Speakerwas Michael C. Potteiger, Chairman,Pennsylvania Board of Probation andParole. Debbie Buckner-Miller,Gaudenzia Graduate and volunteer, was recognized with the Donald GarnettHumanitarian Award. Edward Smith,volunteer, and Kelly Catherman,Division Director were presented withHonorary Graduate medallions.

Sue RossGaudenzia Erie Executive Assistant, Honorary Graduatewith Mark Sarneso, Central and Western Region Director

Michael C. PotteigerCentral Region Keynote Speaker

Debbie Buckner-Miller Donald Garnett Humanitarian

Award Recipient with Mike Harle, President and CEO

Edward Smith, VolunteerHonorary Graduate Erie Class of 2014

Kelly Catherman, Division DirectorHonorary Graduate

Graduationat Gaudenzia


Eastern Region:On June 21, in Philadelphia, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 138individuals were graduated. Keynote Speaker wasState Representative Ronald G. Waters. The JoeLewis Award is given to a graduate of at least fiveyears who is active in giving back to Gaudenzia.This year’s award was presented to Bernard Burno, Clinical Supervisor at Gaudenzia DRC. AnHonorary Graduate medallion was presented toToni Montier, Eastern Region Housing Director.

Bernard Burno Clinical Supervisor

Joe Lewis Award Recipient

Toni MontierEastern Region Housing DirectorHonorary Graduate

Gaudenzia celebratesthe accomplishments of its newest alumni,who...

• completed a treatment

program and have maintained

a minimum of one year of sobriety.

• are living in a stable environment

in the community for a minimum

of four months.

• have stable employment; or are

involved in an education program;

or are doing volunteer work.

• are crime free.

• are attending Narcotics Anonymous,

Alcoholics Anonymous, ACOA or

other 12-step meetings and have

an NA or AA sponsor.

• have met other stringent eligibility

requirements, including submission

of a Graduation Proposal that

is reviewed by an evaluation team

made up of Gaudenzia

professionals, past Graduates

and members of the community.

Ronald G. WatersState RepresentativeEastern Region Keynote Speaker

Community Forum on the Perils of Heroin Use

On June 17, over 700 people attendedImagine Delaware, a community forumorganized by the Wilmington NewsJournal and Christiana Care, on theperils of the heroin epidemic that ispresently ravaging the state. Panelistsincluded political and communityleaders, as well as Stephanie King(second from left), Gaudenzia FreshStart House Manager.

Gaudenzia’s Gibson House was honored with the Criminal Justice Partners Award for 2014 by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania at its Spring Conference, held on June 16 in State College. The award recognizes individuals or organizations that are not directly employed by a county corrections or detention/shelter facility in Pennsylvania, and whose experiences demonstrate an active role inpromoting activities that improve the criminal justice system. Gibson House servesmental health/drug and alcohol consumers in Dauphin County.


Jennifer Campbell, Gibson House Director and Paula Ruane, Regional Director receive the award

This fall, Gaudenzia will be expanding its

services to Bucks County, PA. On June 20,

a briefing and walk-through was conducted

at our newest location on the grounds of

Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol to introduce

Gaudenzia to local officials.

Bucks County Officialsvisit Gaudenzia

DELAWARE

HARRISBURGRecognition

Jonathan Rubin, Director, Bucks County Health andHuman Services; Diane Maseglia, Bucks CountyCommissioner; Cecilia Velasquez, Director, GaudenziaEastern Region; Diane Rosati, Executive Director, BucksCounty Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.; Dotti Farr,Clinical and Quality Manager, Bucks County Departmentof Behavioral Health; Mary Beth Mahoney, Administrator,Bucks County Mental Health/Developmental Programsand Ken Dickinson, Gaudenzia Director of Marketing

In 1932, Congress created a networkof privately owned wholesale banks to ensure available funding for mortgages.Known as FHLBanks (Federal Home Loan Banks), these financial institutions have evolved to become a major source for community-building funding throughneighborhood banks. Across the country,FHLBanks fill a critical vacuum by providingliquidity for community development andsmall businesses – as well as home mortgagefinancing.

Gaudenzia has worked closely with the FHLBank network to finance housingprojects and needed renovations at long-termresidential facilities in Pennsylvania andMaryland. On July 7, FHLBank Pittsburghawarded $500,000 toward the cost ofconstructing apartments on West Tioga Street in Philadelphia.

A Day at the Zoo

Just in time for the 140th birthday of our nation’s first zoo, families fromGaudenzia’s Tioga Arms Apartmentsvisited the Philadelphia Zoo. Gaudenziais grateful for the kindness of caringvolunteers who purchased admissiontickets and arranged for transportation.


Winthrop Watson, FHLBank Pittsburgh CEO, presents the funding award toRichard Z. Freemann, Jr., Esq., Gaudenzia Inc. Board Chairman; Michael B. Harle,Gaudenzia President and CEO; Cindy Bass, Philadelphia Council Woman andCongressman Chaka Fattah

PHILADELPHIA

FHLBANKThankyou $500,000 awarded to Gaudenzia’sproposed facility on West Tioga Street in Philadelphia

This summer, Gale Saler will step down as

Director of Gaudenzia’s Chesapeake Region.

Since 2001 Gale has helped grow Gaudenzia’s

presence throughout Maryland, connecting

our organization to business, community

and political leaders. She won awards for

her leadership as a community organizer

and is widely respected as a professional

and a mentor to her co-workers. Gale recently

reflected on her career in the field of drug

and alcohol treatment, which to date has

spanned 36 years.

What motivated you to work in the field ofaddiction treatment and recovery services?

Growing up, I was always motivated to help people. In college, at GeorgeWashington University, I had the

opportunity to do so on a Fellowship. This led to my first job in 1978 as a RehabilitationCounselor. Once I began seeing the impact of our work on actual human beings, I knew I had found my calling.

What motivated you to work at Gaudenzia?When I left my previous employer, a number of agencies approached me to help bring their services to Maryland.

I had known Mike Harle, Gaudenzia Presidentand CEO, for a long time. In 2001, I asked Mike to accompany me to a meeting in Baltimore,hoping to gain his insights about addictiontreatment needs here. By the time we left themeeting, we had been given a building in which to offer Gaudenzia’s treatment services!


Conversation WITH GALE SALER

What aspects of your work at Gaudenzia are you most proud?When I look back at the past 13 years, I’m so proud thatGaudenzia has gone from having no presence in Maryland tobeing the largest provider of addiction treatment services in the

state. I’m proud of the quality and range of our services. I’m proud ofthe extraordinary staff that worked with me and has grown together.I’m also proud that we helped rebuild the Maryland state providersassociation.

What are your plans in the years ahead? Well, I’m not really retiring – I’m simply slowing down! I will continue to work with Gaudenzia in a consultingcapacity. I plan to teach and train people who work in

our field and I plan to work with adolescents, too.

Do you have any parting words for our readers?I consider myself very lucky to have been able to impact people on a daily basis through my work. Through the years,my husband and two children have been incredibly supportive

so that I could do so. If you were to ask me why I do what I do, myanswer would be that there were times in my career where I honestlyknew I was the difference between someone living and dying. How can you turn away from that?

A Night to Remember

On May 24, a formal affair was held at Gaudenzia’s Spring Garden Streetfacility in celebration of the 2014Eastern Region Graduating Class. The celebration was completed withmusic, dancing and a red carpet.

Organizers Anne MarieCarter, Michelle Rectorand Lynette Crewscollected donations offormal gowns, suits andeven a tuxedo for theattending Graduates.

Chesapeake Region Director Retires


You may know that one in four families isaffected by addiction, and that addictioncan be a hereditary disease. At Gaudenzia,we strive to break the chain of addictionwithin families. You may also know that Gaudenzia’s

good work needs to continue well into thefuture to make sure many more generationscan access our services. If you want to helpensure Gaudenzia’s future, please considerjoining Gaudenzia’s Legacy Society.Membership is simple, and people of

all ages and wealth are able to make adifference.

Leslie, now 24 years old, wasaddicted to heroin for about sevenyears. During that period, she was in and out of jail several times. In court, a judge saw Leslie’spotential to lead a productive life. He gave her the opportunity to go to residential drug and alcoholtreatment at Gaudenzia Fresh Start in Wilmington, Delaware. It wasmandated, but Leslie now views it as the best opportunity she’s had in her life.

GRADUATESpotlightLeslie P.

While in treatment, Leslie felt safe sharing with her counselors anddecided to make the most of the program. During the final phase ofher treatment, and with the help of Gaudenzia staff, Leslie got a jobworking at a café. She completed her treatment, moved intotransitional housing and became active in Gaudenzia’s alumni group.Leslie immersed herself into sober living and in 2013 went throughGaudenzia’s graduation process.

Soon after, Leslie was offered and enthusiastically accepted a HouseManager position at Gaudenzia. She wanted to pass on the miracle of sobriety to others suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. In the near future she plans to pursue a master’s degree in psychology.

On May 22, Leslie celebrated two years of sobriety. Today, she has an apartment lease in her name, a car, family and friends whogenuinely love her. She is happy and shows her gratitude throughbeing a sponsor and working with two sponsees and being active in a home group in a 12-Step program. Leslie has her life back, and herfamily has peace of mind that she is safe, healthy and sober.

Always consult with a professional advisor before making a charitable gift. For more information about Gaudenzia’s Planned Giving program, contact [email protected].

What you

leave behind

is not what is

engraved in stone

monuments, but

what is woven

into the lives

of others.Pericles

Leave Your Legacy at Gaudenzia

Suggested planned gifts include:

• Naming Gaudenzia in your will.

• Naming Gaudenzia as a beneficiary of your IRA or pension plan.

• Donating to Gaudenzia existing assets such as CDs, real estate, art, jewelry, stocks, bonds, etc.

The Gaudenzia Gazette is published by the Community Affairs Department of Gaudenzia, Inc.

Michael B. Harle, M.H.S.President and CEO

Richard Z. Freemann, Jr., Esq.Chair, Gaudenzia Inc.

Maureen Q. DwyerChair, Gaudenzia Foundation

Gadi AronsonDirector of Development

Sara BaumgardnerJulie GirschAndrew KeimigCarole LeeLynanne SchaefferContributors

Please forward address changes to:Gaudenzia Gazette 106 W. Main Street, Norristown, PA [email protected]

Production costs of this issue have been paid by the employees of Gaudenzia through the 2014 Staff Appeal.

GAUDENZIA, Inc.Corporate Offices106 W. Main StreetNorristown, PA 19401

www.gaudenzia.org

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

GET [email protected]

LEARN MORE ABOUT [email protected]

MAKE A PLANNED [email protected]

UPDATE NAME OR [email protected]


Follow us online! www.facebook.com/gaudenziaorg

www.twitter.com/gaudenzia

Summer Treat

On June 1, communityvolunteers arranged arefreshing Ice Cream Social at Gaudenzia’s FountainSprings for resident womenand their young children.Pictured above are communityvolunteers Dave Yeungling,Wayne and Deb Herring.

Special thank you to the Yeungling family!

Documents

Gaudenzia Gazette August 2014