A Community's Answer by William Moyers on Creators.com

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A Community's Answer

In a fancy ballroom at a posh hotel on the Florida coast, I shared stories with people who every day live their answer to the toughest question when it comes to alcohol and other drugs: "Now what?"

They do it many different ways.

Rey Pezeshkan is a successful architect from Iran who one day realized that neither he nor his neighbors knew much about ways to prevent the problem in his hometown of Naples, Fla. So he cobbled together captains of industry and civic leaders and local experts, and together they launched Drug Free Collier in 2006. Today it is a model for proactive community-based action to educate citizens about legal and illegal drugs, especially among youths.

"As the father of a young son, I wanted to make sure I did everything possible to know the issues. Then I realized it was more than just about my own family," said Pezeshkan. "Later, I understood that when it comes to substance abuse, it won't get solved by arresting or punishing people. What is needed are more volunteers to speak to groups, to help with prescription disposal programs, to carry the message into Collier County schools."

Scott Salley lost his son, Deke, to a drug overdose in 2002. "That was when I came to grips that we had to do something quickly in this community," said Salley, a top official in the Collier County sheriff's office. He uses his bully pulpit and his family's loss to advocate for treatment for addicts. "I see in people so much of my son, who was struggling."

In the ballroom, too, were people who survived their addiction.

Ten, 20 or 30 days ago, some of them stood at their "Now what?" moments. Now they're in treatment. "Homeless and hopeless on New Year's Day, living in a sober house filled with hope today, go figure," laughed Melanie Stout, 33, from Bonita Springs.

Others have known the answer for 10, 20 or 30 years. Even still, they're amazed. "If anyone had ever told me I'd make it this far, I'd have called them crazy," said Harve Ferrill, in town from Chicago to support what's happening in Collier County. Next week, Ferrill, 80, will mark 47 years sober.

A lot of people owe their answer to "Now what?" to the counselors, therapists and spiritual care experts who also attended the ballroom gathering. "We're the bridge between what was and what is," said one counselor, who put down the crack pipe in 1988, got drug-free and last year completed her master's degree in addiction counseling. She lives not far from the beach in Naples. "This is more than a dream come true. It's a life come true."

What's happening in Collier County, Fla., is proof there is an answer to "Now what?" From prevention and education to treatment and recovery, people are living it there — just as it can be lived anywhere when the community leads the way.

William Moyers is the vice president of public affairs and community relations for the Hazelden Foundation and the author of "Broken," his best-selling memoirs. His new book, "Now What? An Insider's Guide to Addiction and Recovery," has just been published. Please send your questions to William Moyers at wmoyers@hazelden.org. To find out more about William Moyers and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.