Anthony Richards

Teen Challenge Jamaica, says Mr. Anthony Richards, has a high success rate which could easily be due to the fact that candidates are selected following an interview.

"We accept candidates who have a life-controlling problem and not in denial, because you have some people who have a problem but just don't recognise there is one. They have to be willing to change their life."

In fact, Mr. Richards, the acting executive director, now attributes his change of lifestyle to Teen Challenge as he is one of the many changed men who entered the institution as an addict and is now living a happy life. A problem which many persons can relate to, Mr. Richards' addiction started after he migrated to the United States, leaving his career as a police officer behind for "greener pastures".

location change didn't help

However, his quest quickly turned dark as he found himself engaging in drinking and using crack. He said after realising that he was in need of help, he decided that by returning home he would be rid of his addiction and his bad past, but this was not so."I wanted to change location because I think I could quit, but it was everywhere (crack) and I just continued to use it.

At one point, it was so bad that I became suicidal, I just knew it was the end of the rope. It was either suicide or change."

To get his life back on track, he said he spoke with a pastor who introduced him to what would eventually give his life a 180-degree spin.

"He told me about the programme and when I heard it was for 12 months, I was a bit scared, but still I went in and I won't say it wasn't difficult at first."

work at teen challenge

He did survive and was so successful that at the end of the programme he was asked to work at the institution as an intern acting in the capacity of a teacher.

After completing that, he further assumed various positions leading up to his current post.

Addicts need the support of family members, however, quite often, this is lacking and for Mr. Richards some had turned their backs on him. "Some saw the addiction as a huge monster, but the restoration process did not take too long."