Our direct recovery services are available to:

• Teenagers (male and female) between the ages of 10-17 (called Younger Group);
• Adults (male and female) ages 18 and up, including those who have "graduated" from the Younger Group (called Older Group);
• Family members of chemically-dependent teenagers and adults including parents, grandparents, spouses and extended family (called Family Group);
• Adolescent siblings (between the ages of 9-14) of chemically depended teenagers or the children of adult addicts (called New Generations).

We also provide:

• State-approved alcohol education program for minors (MIP)
• Facilitated recovery group meetings in school settings to adolescents in four school districts in San Antonio;
• A speaker's bureau that covers topics related to substance abuse and recovery;
• A safe haven and activity center at each of our satellite offices for our program participants and their friends to "hang out."

Each year we serve on average:

• 800 teenagers in Younger Group;
• 300 adults in Older Group;
• 400 family members of substance abusers in Family Group;
• 50 siblings of chemically dependent teens in New Generations;
• 200 San Antonio high school and junior high school students during facilitated group meetings in 4 area school districts;
• 100 speaking engagements and presentations on substance abuse and recovery to schools, civic groups, businesses and churches reaching thousands of San Antonio residents.

How Do I Sign Up?
Our admissions process is simple...show up!! Show up to a meeting (see office locations & meeting schedules) or set an appointment to speak with a PDAP counselor. We don't have an exhaustive intake process and you won't have to rummage though your mail to find an electric bill to prove you live in Bexar County. All we ask is that you show up, show up sober, and come with an open-mind. If our program isn't right for you-and no program is right for everyone-then we'll help find a program to meet your needs.

**For those of you on probation and/or parole: PDAP welcomes you. However, we are not, nor will we ever be a part of the criminal justice system. If you work the program we'll work with your supervising officer. We will gladly be a part of your recovery, but we won't be a part of your punishment. What that means is that if you WANT to live your life free of alcohol and other drugs, then PDAP is the program for you. Sometimes you may not know you want to stay sober, and that's OK, show up and keep showing up, and our message of sobriety will sink in. However, if you only want to satisfy the terms of your probation or parole and have absolutely no interest in recovery or sobriety, please don't waste time...yours or ours. There are many programs in San Antonio that will take your money, have you sit in a class, and give you a certificate of completion to show a judge. That's not PDAP...we're only about recovery.

Why PDAP?
Simply put, PDAP works!! 89% of our chemically-dependent participants who remain active in PDAP for 90 days achieve at least 30 days of sobriety! We understand that relapse is a part of the recovery process. Our environment of love and understanding does not ostracize those who relapse, but rather encourages them to get honest with their use and become accountable not only to themselves and their family, but also to the group of their recovering peers. Those that stay active in PDAP...work the steps, attend meetings, come to activities and stay honest...can and do stay sober.

The PDAP recovery philosophy is based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which are tailored to meet the needs of the younger population (see Twelve Steps of PDAP). Our goal is to help chemical abusers stop using drugs and alcohol by attaining progressively longer periods of sobriety. To do this, we provide three direct services to assist the newcomer achieve, and the PDAP veteran maintain, sobriety. These direct services include:

Individual Counseling-Since substance use and abuse usually begins with a poor choice, but continues for other reasons, we utilize expertly-trained counselors to help our program participants through the recovery process and identify root causes that perpetuate substance abuse. All PDAP counselora are in recovery themselves. Having "been there," counselors can identify with issues pertaining to substance abuse and work with participants to identify and solve common problems.

Recovery Group Meetings-All program participants have access to weekly recovery group meetings at each of the four PDAP-San Antonio satellite offices. These meetings are similar to 12-step meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, but have been modified slightly to meet the changing needs of the population we serve. In group meetings, participants have a chance to share their feelings and emotional struggles with an empathetic group of their peers in an atmosphere of love and understanding that also embraces honesty and accountability. At PDAP, participants will receive honest feedback and constant support from both peers and staff as they work through the 12-steps. Recovery group meetings are available Monday - Thursday at different locations (see Office Locations & Meeting Schedule), as well as every Saturday morning (only for individuals 18 and over).

Chemical-Free Activities & Retreats-Another key element in the PDAP approach to recovery is weekly chemical-free social activities. Ask virtually any parent or family member of a chemically-addicted teen or young adult and most will tell you their loved one "fell in with the wrong crowd." While usually not the only reason, the "wrong crowd" can, and often does, have an impact on the prolonged use of drugs and alcohol. To combat negative peer influences, PDAP organizes weekly activities for teenagers and young adults designed to promote bonding among the peers in the group and to help them recognize that it is possible to have fun without getting high. Activities include bowling nights, trips to the movies, concerts and laser tag to just name a few. These gathering offer the opportunity for program participants to hang out with a new crowd...the "sober crowd."

PDAP also organizes weekend retreats and activities during the year. These retreats combine fun with opportunities to learn more about the recovery process. The Families In Recovery Retreat is one such annual event where families and their chemically- dependent loved ones work through issues and learn to communicate. Other activities include "toobing" down the Guadalupe River, beach retreat weekends during the summer to Port Aransas, fishing trips and other outdoor activities, and the occasional all-night lock-in at one of the PDAP-San Antonio satellite offices. All retreats and activities are supervised by a combination of PDAP staff and special volunteers (usually from the PDAP family group).

Each PDAP counseling office also serves as a safe haven or activity center where teenagers and young adults can hang out with their recovering peers. The activity centers have pool tables and video games and are staffed at all times. Outdoor games and some indoor athletic equipment are also available at some of the satellite offices for those who prefer physical activity.

PDAP also provides recovery group meetings at several school locations in four different school districts. These are relatively new to PDAP, but are a part of our program demonstrating serious growth potential. Currently we must limit the number of groups we facilitate due to staffing issues. In fact, we have had to turn down three times as many requests for this service as we are able to provide. Our staff is also available to provide informational presentations to community groups, schools, churches and businesses. If you would like to learn about substance abuse from a PDAP staffer, please call our administrative office at 210-227-2634 or email our executive director, Mark Barr, at mbarr@dap.com.

What's this going to cost?
PDAP does not have a fee schedule. We don't offer a sliding scale. We don't bill insurance. Our services are provided at no cost. We do pass around a basket at each meeting and we do have an annual fund-raising campaign which offers those who benefit from our services to make a tax-deductible contribution to the program. Although we do not charge fees, we do have expenses. Any financial or volunteer help you can provide is both needed and greatly appreciated.