Raffle to fund youth drug abuse program

Carson City parents concerned their children may be abusing drugs or alcohol have a resource that's not much publicized.

The Community Counseling Center will provide free urine tests and a drug and alcohol assessment. But grant money to fund the invaluable Youth Diversion Program ran out so administrator Mary Bryan had to get creative.

With the help of Carson City businesses, the center is raffling off a 2004 Dodge Viper on July 4.

In order for the raffle to go as planned, the center must sell 750 tickets at $100 a pop. They've only reached the halfway mark, Bryan admits sheepishly.

"We don't have much time left," she said. "I can't imagine stopping the youth program though. The sooner we can intervene, the less pattern we'll have to interrupt."

The center has worked on substance abuse treatment in Carson City and Douglas County for the past 20 years. Started in 1985 by the Rev. Jerry Hanley, Bryan said people as young as 11 and as old as 82 have taken advantage of the nonprofit's counselors and group meetings.

In addition to outpatient services, the center has a 17-bed inpatient program, Domestic Violence Recovery groups and family counseling.

"If they want to stop, this is the place to come," she said. "We are not anyone's savior here. We're just trying to get people to be part of the community."

Bryan should know. For the past 16 years, she has headed the center.

She said the experience she's gained is more valuable than her master's in psychology.

"My bet is that we probably see in the course of a year between 1,500 and 2,000 different people," she said.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at 881-1213 or ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com

You can help

• Raffle: Tickets for the July 4 drawing for a 2004 Dodge Viper can be

purchased for $100 from the Community Counseling Center at 205 S. Pratt St.; Carson Dodge at 3059 S. Carson St.; Adele's at 1112 N. Carson St.; and Piñon Plaza at 2171 Highway 50 E.

• Proceeds: Benefit the Carson City and Minden Community Counseling Center Youth Program.

• Information: Call the Community Counseling Center at 882-3945.