Addict's story one of thanks to newly relocated Lutheran Social Services
He was a heroin addict for four years, a man who lost his wife -- who herself died of an accidental drug overdose -- but found sobriety with the help of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, an agency that recently moved to Schaumburg.
A resident of Schaumburg Township, the young man said he found his sobriety after entering treatment to overcome his long-time habit.
"If I had not been sober at the time my wife died, I am sure I would have followed her to the grave," he said. "I lost most of my friends who also struggled with this drug and its terrible addictions."
He credits Lutheran Social Services for giving him "a chance to see life in a new, more positive light because I found new reasons, goals and ideals, and finally I am starting to truly live, which is a wonderful and miraculous feeling."
Known locally as Behavioral Health Services, the agency at which the heroin addict found help moved its facilities recently from Palatine.
Members of the Schaumburg Township Mental Health Board will visit the facility, funded partially by the township, when commissioners meet there on Feb. 12. They will tour the agency's new quarters at 1111 Plaza Drive, hear from director Mary Madsen, then conduct the evening's business at the site.
Madsen -- who has a master's degree in counseling psychology and is a licensed clinical professional counselor and a certified alcohol and other drug counselor -- is a native of Arlington Heights.
Madsen is happy with the agency's local move to better serve the folks in Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg. She says she is available to help educate the community on substance abuse and addiction issues, and "to aid in the referral process for other local social service agencies that seek sliding scale fees for their client's treatment." Madsen finds the local public transportation facilities most welcome.
"Our new location will provide increased ease of accessibility, with access to major roads and the tollway, and front door service with PACE bus routes 208, 606, 696 and 757," Madsen said.
Besides treating drug related problems, Behavior Health offers bilingual service in alcohol detox, residential rehab, and day and intensive outpatient treatment, as well as providing women's and men's long-term residences, one in Elgin, another on Chicago's North Side, and two others in the city.
Among other services, the agency offers alcohol and drug assessment, gives counseling to individuals, couples and family groups, provides DUI risk education, primary treatment and aftercare. It also is willing to provide education and consultation services to schools, churches, community groups and other agencies.
The township's little-known mental health board, under the current leadership of Dr. Charles Falk, formed in 1971 and first offered aid to fund Lutheran Social Services. Later, it added the Salvation Army Counseling Center, Schaumburg; the Kenneth Young Centers, Elk Grove Village; SHARE, Hoffman Estates; LifeSpan, Des Plaines; PHD Counseling Center, Palatine; Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault, Arlington Heights, and the Renz Addiction Counseling Center, Elgin.
In a "graduation letter" to Behavioral Health, the reformed heroin addict reminded folks there that they indeed had helped him.
"So always remember that what you made possible (for me) is truly a gift, a gift for the chance of life."