INMATES HELP INMATES RISE

Richmond Adopts Program That Gives Them The Responsibility For Recovering From Substance Abuse

The hymn lyrics reverberate from Dwayne White's vocal cords like a roar.

"Lord, if you can't move the mountain, give me the strength to climb it," he bellows with five other inmates dressed in prison blues.

It's a lesson that White, a felon serving time in Richmond City Jail, never learned during three previous stints in prison and more than half a life using drugs.

"I've learned to deal with life on life's terms in here," White said.  "Today, I can accept rejection."

The 35-year-old was among two dozen who graduated yesterday from Henrico County Jail East's "RISE" program, or Recovery In a Secure Environment.

The 12-step program teaches inmates to deal with their addiction through intensive therapy, including prayer, meditation, group discussions and education.

White and four other Richmond inmates will take what they have learned from six weeks in "RISE" and implement a model program in the city jail.  The city program is set to begin in June.

Since the Henrico program's inception four years ago, RISE has grown from 20 to 200 inmates.  The program has graduated about 1,000 inmates and is now offered to women at the county's Jail East facility in New Kent County and the West facility on Parham Road.

"The mission is to help the inmate recover so they're prepared to return to the community and not come back," said Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade, who started the program as a way to deal with the raging problem of alcohol and drug abuse among inmates.  "If we could put 50 percent of the jail population in the program, we would."

The program's recidivism rates are currently being studied but appear positive, Wade said.

Henrico spends about $125,000 a year on the program, including the cost of instruction manu- als, videos and books.

Neither Henrico nor the city of Richmond has conducted formal surveys on the percentage of substance abusers in the system.  However, officials estimate about 80 percent of the population abuses alcohol or drugs.

Those numbers sent Richmond officials searching for an answer.

They found it in Henrico.

City Councilman W.R.  "Bill" Johnson visited the program last summer.  Since then, the two localities have worked together to bring "RISE" to Richmond.

"This is a positive program that could impact a lot of people," said Rick Stroman, substance abuse therapist for Richmond City Jail, "Anything to help them stay clean and sober with the support and structure of this is always good."

Inmates participating in the "RISE" program are housed in their own pod.  Within that close-knit environment, they work through the program's four phases at their own pace.  Each phase focuses on a different skill needed to recover from addiction, including an introduction, relapse prevention and life skills.  The first two phases are six weeks long, and the latter two extend for the inmates' entire sentence.  A graduation is held every month.

Carl Robinson, who has been in the program a few weeks, said he is learning to be honest.

"I didn't like to admit my problems before," the 34-year-old said.  "I'm learning to be true about what's going on within myself."

While mental health and substance abuse staff members work with inmates, it remains the inmates' responsibility to run the program.  Senior participants are elected as leaders and become responsible for scheduling, programming and rules within their group.

Louis Fox, clinical psychologist for Henrico County Jail, said the hands-on approach to recovery is integral to success.

"We are holding them responsible for solving their problems," Fox said.  "And for an addict who has been told they're a failure at everything, to feel that sense of accomplishment and pride is one of the healing parts of the program."

Yesterday, the desire to recover could be felt throughout the large room where hundreds gathered for the graduation ceremony.  Participants stood proud, reciting principles of the program.  Others shared their feelings through poem and song.

"I really hope to take back a positive attitude," White said about his re-entry to the Richmond jail later this month.  "There are a lot of guys who know me and will say, 'If Dwayne can do it, maybe I can do it, too.'"