From left, Cary Hawkins, Mike Cheves and Chris Adams talk at Providence Ministries during a 20th anniversary celebration of Providence's addiction recovery programs.

DALTON, Ga. — Around 2,500 to 3,000 people have completed Providence Ministries’ addiction recovery programs since it opened its doors 20 years ago, says founder and president Roy Johnson.

Johnson said the program began when he noticed that many of the men in Providence’s homeless shelter had a problem with alcohol.

“When we started, the big thing was alcohol,” he said. “Then it was cocaine, and later, it was meth. Now, the big thing we are dealing with is prescription medications, especially opioids. And we see people from all walks of life, especially professional people.”

Providence started with a six-month program for men supervised by state- and nationally-certified addiction counselors. Over the years, it has added a 90-day women’s program in Rocky Face, a 90-day men’s program in Rhea County, Tenn., and transitional housing.

Providence Ministries recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first men’s addiction recovery program, and many of the graduates of that program returned to Providence to share their stories.

“I’m working on 10 years clean,” said Kenny “Red” Samples. “This place is the foundation.”

“Foundation,” that’s a word that comes up often when talking to people who have completed Providence’s recovery programs

“You really have to rebuild your life from the bottom up,” said Darrell Cole. “They help you do that. They give you the tools. But they give you God’s love, too. You can come back in here after you have left the program, and Brother Roy, all of the staff, they have all the time in the world for you. The talk to you. They want to know how you are doing. When I came in here, I felt like I had nobody. Now, I feel like they are my family.”

Many, though not all of the staff at Providence, are themselves recovering addicts, often graduates of one of Providence’s programs. Samples said that makes a big difference.

“They have dealt with alcohol addiction. They have dealt with drug addiction,” he said.

In addition, many people who have completed one of Providence’s addiction recovery programs continue to come back year after year, to help serve meals at Thanksgiving or Christmas or to take part in a worship service or just to say hello to the people there.

“For so many people, this is where they got their lives back and they want to give back and to give others they sort of help they received here,” said Mark Warwick, Providence Ministries transitional living supervisor  and fleet manager and himself a graduate of its addiction recovery program.