People Need People

“AADAP helped me achieve my goals”
By Asonja W., Graduate of AADAP’s Youth Outpatient Treatment Program

Hello, my name is Asonja W. I attended AADAP’s Youth Outpatient Treatment Program in 2006. Back then my drug of choice was Marijuana. At that time in my life, I was going through severe behavioral issues at home and school due to my drug use and the painful loss of my brother. I continued getting into trouble so often that I was eventually put into anger management classes at Gardena High School. This was where I met Ray Padilla, a Counselor at AADAP’s Youth Outpatient Treatment program. He told me he wanted to talk with my parents see what he could do to help us. Ray brought my family into the Youth Outpatient Treatment program and counseled me for half a year. He taught me what I needed to do to stay focused and how to be a better person. During this time my grades improved, and I was even able to get onto the varsity football team.

The 6 months that I was with AADAP made a big change in my life. AADAP has helped me to achieve my goals and opened my eyes to all that I am capable of accomplishing. Currently, I have been clean from drugs for three years. I am attending Westwood College for my Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Thanks to AADAP and my parents staying behind me and supporting me, I will continue to set higher and better goals for myself.

The Asian American Drug Abuse Program


Coordinator: Miriam Ruiz, MSW
13931 South Van Ness Ave., Gardena, CA 90249
Tel: (310) 768-8018; Fax: (310) 768-4170

The Youth Outpatient Treatment Program collaborates with Joint Efforts and NCADD-Long Beach to treat youth with substance abuse problems.

Languages: English, Spanish, Armenian, and Russian

Programs And Services:

  • Intake Screening and Assessment
  • Individual, Group, and Family Counseling/Therapy
  • Urinalysis Testing
  • Case Management and Referrals
  • Psychiatric Medication Management Services
  • Sober Activities and Field trips
  • Community Education Presentations
  • Mental Health Services: for children and youth age 5-21 with Medi-Cal insurance experience behavioral, mental, and/or substance abusing
  • Inglewood Juvenile Drug Treatment Court: for substance abusing youth age 12-18 on probation
  • CARE Voucher Requests and Assessments: for substance abusing youth ages 12-20 with no Medi-Cal

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