CEDAR CITY— The meeting house for the "Keep Coming Back" 12-step Program for drug and alcohol recovery is in jeopardy of closure because of diminishing funds. ?
The KKCB Program, which supports about 200 people per week, is a private non-profit organization funded by private donors.?
Each month the program is from $100 to $200 short in funding and if the trend continues the program won't exist anymore, said KKCB member Nate Anderson, a student at Southern Utah University.
"We want to keep the meetinghouse alive," Anderson said. "We can't expect this to continue to happen and it looks like it may die."
The help cover the shortfall KKCB will host fundraisers March 27 and April 7 at the meeting hall, 28 N. 100 West, at 6 p.m.
The program on March 27 will include a chili dinner, games and speakers who will discuss the importance of the program. KKCB will have a barbecue fundraiser April 7 at 10 a.m. at the meeting hall where They plan to sell hand-made quilts, have a car wash and a live band.
The 12-step programs, which hosts 20 meetings per week either on SUU campus or at the town meeting hall receives $800 to $900 a month but needs $1,000 per month to survive.
Michael B., who spoke on condition he didn't want to be fully identified, is Secretary-board member of the 12-step program. At 52 years old and drug-free for 23 years He said losing the meeting hall will be detrimental to new members' needs.
Fellow program member Russell Kennedy agreed.
"The continuance of safe, accessible places, like the 12-step hall in Cedar City are absolutely essential to effectively combat and treat the disease of addiction in our community," Kennedy said. "It quite simply provides a place where lives are saved."
Kennedy said he picked up drugs for the first time at 24, was a drug user for 10 years and has been clean for two years with the help of the 12-step program, his family and God.?
"I am convinced, and remain so, that the only way out of such places of darkness is the involvement of a loving God or higher power and a 12-step program," Kennedy said.?
The closest support group outside of Cedar City is in St. George, Michael said.
"People are going to go crazy," he said. "Younger members in recovery are more tenuous and they will go out and start using again — they won't have means to deal with it." ?
Michael said his advice to new members in the program is: Don't pick up, don't put it in and you won't get high.
"It's a very simplistic process but it's hard," Michael said. "Somebody somewhere needs a meeting everyday." ?
Michael said people start abusing drugs and alcohol to give them an escape from reality's hardships and struggles. ? ?
Many end up spending all their money on these substances and resort to crime to obtain the drugs or alcohol.
Anderson said one of the program's traditions is that new comers are the most important people, but if the meeting house goes under, there won't be any support for recovery.?