By Guy Page

A graduate of the Adult and Teen Challenge program recently took to Facebook to tell her story of recovery from heroin and fentanyl addiction.

Angela Dougherty is among the 78% percent of program graduates who have remained clean and sober after leaving the faith-based intensive, 12-18 month program, which is privately supported.

Calling Adult and Teen Challenge a “ministry of transformation,” Dougherty added, “I am one of those stories.”

“When I was 19 years old, I began using heroin. Over the next 10 years, that addiction eventually progressed to fentanyl, and the consequences were devastating—not only for my own life, but for the lives of the people around me,” Dougherty said on Facebook Tuesday, September 29. “Almost three years ago, I came to Adult & Teen Challenge to finally face my addiction and the things that had brought me to that point.”

Opioid-related overdose deaths are down this year, according to the Vermont Department of Health – 49 through June, compared to a three-year average of 92 for the average of the previous three years. 

But deaths are only the tip of the opioid misery iceberg. Every drug addict has a suffering family. Every drug addict is one less person able to work and pay taxes in Vermont’s worker-starved economy. Drug addiction is a drain on taxpayer-funded criminal justice and/or social services. Drug addiction enriches the criminal drug cartels, which invest the proceeds in yet more misery, violence and death. 

Adult & Teen Challenge of Vermont provides Christian faith-based, residential care to young people and adults – men and women – who struggle with life-controlling problems. According to the Adult and Teen Challenge of Vermont website, the programs are typically 12-18 months and consist of Bible studies, work projects, education (for adolescents), recreation and more. The three Vermont homes (a men’s home in Johnson, a women’s home, and a transitional home in Rutland) are among 220 such sites in North America. 

78% success rate – In 2019, Adult & Teen Challenge commissioned an outside organization to complete empirical research on behalf of the ministry for the first time. The research aimed to examine the long-term impact of programming on the lives of ATC graduates. Results of this study indicate 78% of the 340 sample respondents are sober and substance abuse free after participating in the ATC program.

The Adult and Teen Challenge of Vermont annual banquet will be held Saturday, November 7 at 5 PM (social hour) and 6 PM (presentation) at the Lamoille Valley Church of the Nazarene on Rte. 15 in Hyde Park. For more information see the ATC of Vermont Facebook page. 

Dougherty, a graduate of the Vermont women’s home program, shared information about another ATC gala, also on November 7, in Swansea, Massachusetts. Here’s her story, which she posted on her Facebook page:

I don’t often share publicly about my life—not because I’m ashamed, but simply because I’ve never been someone who does.

However, this event is important to me, and I believe sharing a little of my story gives some context.

When I was 19 years old, I began using heroin. Over the next 10 years, that addiction eventually progressed to fentanyl, and the consequences were devastating—not only for my own life, but for the lives of the people around me.

Almost three years ago, I came to Adult & Teen Challenge to finally face my addiction and the things that had brought me to that point.

Today, I have the privilege of serving full-time on staff at the very ministry God used to change my life.

That’s why our upcoming November 7th Gala means so much to me. This ministry doesn’t just tell stories of transformation—I am one of those stories.

I’d love for you to be part of this special evening. Please consider purchasing a ticket or making a contribution to help Adult & Teen Challenge continue reaching people and families whose lives have been impacted by addiction.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting a cause that means so much to me.