AADAP | Prevention Unit

“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.

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

Yvette's Recovery:

It was only five years ago, that Yvette found herself in some serious trouble. She was 13 years old and in the 7th grade when she tried crystal meth with a friend. As she stated in our interview, she "tried it, and liked it." Thus began her journey with drugs. What initially started as her only using crystal meth, soon turned into her also selling it. Yvette shared that she used to sell it in school in order for her to be able to buy it. This eventually led to her being caught with a considerable amount in her purse while she was in school, which resulted in her getting expelled and on probation.

This is where AADAP comes into the picture. Yvette first came to YOT in 2005, when she was 14 years old. She shares about her initial experiences at YOT with some nostalgia. Yvette remembers how she was upset and cried when the counselor told her that someone would be going into the bathroom with her when she got tested. She felt violated, and did not like to be treated that way. Yvette also confesses that she had problems opening up to her counselor in the beginning. It was difficult for her because she had always been used to keeping things to herself. Eventually her counselor, Maria, helped her to open up. Yvette shared that she felt that Maria listened, and this was something new for Yvette, since she felt that her mother never listened to her. Another challenge that Yvette faced in terms to opening up was that she did not want to participate in the group sessions. Again, with the help of her counselor and Yvette's determination, she finally began to be a part of the group and to make friends. Yvette feels that this made a considerable difference in her journey, since she was able to meet and interact with others who shared similar issues, and understood what she was going through.

Throughout the time that Yvette attended YOT, she had to deal with other struggles as well. She did not drive and no one could drop her off, so she had to take the bus. She had very little support from her family, but she was persistent and never missed a session. This is one of the reasons that the counselors were always impressed by her behavior. Even though she was very young, she was also very responsible. Yvette does admit that initially her motivation to keep coming was to "keep her mother's mouth shut," but eventually it became about her wanting to change.

As the months started to pass by and she continued her treatment, she also continued going to school and doing her school work. Yvette modestly recalls being recognized by a school teacher for doing a good job in school. Her teacher told the entire class that Yvette would be graduating from 8th grade, and this made Yvette feel proud. Not only was Yvette doing well in school, she also saw a change in how she handled previous situations. For example, Yvette recalls that around the time that she was about to graduate, a girl from her school was trying to pick a fight with her. Yvette avoided the fight, which is something that she would have never done beforehand. Due to all of her progress and her hard work, Yvette was able to graduate from YOT. Not only did she get her family back after she stopped using drugs, but she also gained her mother's trust and her life back.

Yvette is now married and living in Mexico. She says that now she takes care of herself. She still parties, and has fun, but without the drugs. When asked what she would tell young teens, she says "if they offer you, don't try [it] because you will like it." Her advice to anyone who is starting the program is to "listen and talk." Yvette ends our conversation with "I really love my life, life is only one."