[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 23394-23395]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              ``PROJECT 90'' CONTRIBUTES TO OUR COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2003

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, too often the sourge of drug and alcohol 
addiction permanently destroys lives. For this reason, I invite my 
colleagues to join with me today in commending Project 90, Inc., for 
its success in helping to rebuild and reclaim lives which have been 
shattered by addiction. Project 90, which is located in San Mateo, 
California, has benefited our community for over 30 years, and it is 
most appropriate to acknowledge that contribution.
  Since 1972, this alcohol and drug rehabilitation program has helped 
over 6,500 men overcome their addictions. I am proud to note that the 
success of this program is remarkable, in that, virtually all the men 
who graduate from Project 90 have successfully eliminated addiction and 
do not return to drug or alcohol usage. I am also proud to note this 
program began in my congressional district in San Mateo, California 
with five men who were determined to overcome the disease of addiction 
and who were determined to form a recovery process that worked.
  Mr. Speaker, Project 90's recovery process is based on ``Project 
Ninety's Social Model Residential Treatment Program,'' Which is based 
on the philosophy that an individual must take responsibility for his 
recovery. The treatment is unique in that it helps addicts learns about 
the process of recovery, the disease of addiction, and how this has 
affected their lives. Additionally, the addict learns about the path of 
self-destruction created by addiction, how circumstances drive him to 
addiction, and how his behavior perpetuates it.
  Treatment services are carried out through written assignments, group 
and individual counseling, as well as personal work following the 
twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Substance Abuse and 
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also recently recognized 
Project 90 for its exemplary data collecting methods, and participants 
in Project 90 have spoken with other SAMHSA grantees to share record 
keeping methods developed by Project 90.
  Mr. Speaker, Project 90 has expanded its facilities so that it now 
has the space to handle 223 men and 12 adolescent males. The program 
can accommodate young men struggling with addiction who face 
incarceration by providing the alternative of treatment in group homes. 
The remarkable services that Project 90 provides include a work-
training program, transitional housing, clean and sober environments, a 
strong alumni program, and services for men with mental illness and 
addiction.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, the benefits of this program include not 
only the men who have received help, but also their spouses, children, 
employers and communities. Children have fathers again, domestic 
violence is reduced, and homes are strengthened. Communities are 
strengthened as these men become productive members of society and 
increase work place productivity.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join with me in congratulating 
Project 90 on its success and wish it continued achievement in helping 
substance abusers win against their fight with addiction. The 
organization has shown extraordinary vision and innovation in drug 
rehabilitation, and it has strengthened our community.

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