Success Stories

June

At 56, June lost her husband of 22 years to a heroin overdose. No longer able to live on her husband's pension and, at only 96 pounds, the mother of three decided it was time to face her own addiction to meth. While in the Samaritan Daytop Village Methadone-to-Abstinence Residential (MTAR) treatment program, she not only took steps to recover from her 32-year addiction to drugs but also attended school and received her certificate as a home health aide. Now living with her mother, June has been clean and sober for more than two years. She is employed as a bilingual home health aide, and plans to get her own apartment and reunite with her children.

"I never thought I'd get off meth," she said of her recovery. "You can make it out, like I did."

Robert

Robert was a proud Army paramedic, but life challenges led him to alcohol and substance use. When his daughter was taken away from him, he knew change was imminent and found help at the Samaritan Daytop Village Veterans Program. He honed his technological skills through the HOPE Program while working on his recovery, and secured an internship at Unique People Services.

Marvin

Marvin was 29 years old and facing three-and-a-half years in prison when he was mandated to Samaritan Daytop Village through the Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) and Drug Treatment Alternatives to Prison (DTAP) programs. As part of his recovery, he took a parenting and GED courses. He passed his GED with the highest score of any Samaritan Daytop Village graduate and served as valedictorian of his class. He also completed a seven-month auto body technician course and lined up a job.

"Without Samaritan Daytop Village, I couldn't accomplish the things I'm doing now," he said. "I want to stay out of trouble and be a good influence on my son."

Donna

Donna was one of the first to walk through the doors of the Samaritan Daytop Village Women Veterans Program. Despite growing up with many luxuries in a beautiful, stable home with strong parental involvement, Donna began experimenting with drugs and alcohol in her late teens. After five years of service in the Army, her transition to civilian life included substance use to ease the stress and struggles of her circumstances, which included loss of her marriage, family and job. Samaritan Daytop Village provided her the safe environment and stability to face her addiction and experiences.

Kenneth

Kenneth had attempted completion of a 30-day treatment program at Forbell Men's Shelter before embracing his road to recovery. Sitting in the shelter for six weeks with a broken ankle, he had nothing but time to focus on his life and treatment.

"The turning point came when I started talking about my mother's death in group therapy. After 30 years, I was finally able to begin grieving," he explained. Several years after completing the program, Kenneth returned to Forbell – but this time as a Security Counselor. Through a series of promotions and successes, he eventually served as the Supervisor of Staff.