KITTANNING -- Recovering drug and alcohol clients at ARC Manor are writing their own report cards and they're giving themselves a grade of "B" for better. "Are you "B" for better, "S" for same or "W" for worse?" counselors at the addiction recovery center in Kittanning ask clients to answer in a series of questions about changes in their lives. The results help ARC Manor respond to elected officials, funders and members of the community who want to know, "What is your success rate?" In the first quarter of 2004, ARC Manor interviewed 41 clients. The data from that report showed that: -- 83 percent said their ability to avoid using alcohol or other drugs was better; 15 percent said same; and 2 percent said worse. -- 59 percent said their ability to avoid involvement in serious crimes was better; 41 percent said same; and no clients said worse. -- 63 percent said their relationships with family and friends was better; 37 percent said same; and no clients said worse. "I can tell you from years of looking at this data, the things they say impact their lives the most are their ability to avoid drugs and alcohol, their ability to avoid legal involvement and improvement in their family relationships," ARC Manor Executive Director Kay Detrick Owen said. "Which are the three things that we're going for in treatment." Clients also graded themselves in the areas of overall physical health, diet and nutrition practices, exercise programs, living conditions in their house or apartment, ability to maintain scheduled activities such as work or school, sleeping habits and ability to manage household tasks and pay bills -- all with similar results -- a "B" average. According to data from the same quarter, 90 percent of clients said they participate in aftercare. That percentage has been lower in the past. Nobody said they needed emergency medical treatment due to drug and alcohol use since being discharged from ARC Manor. A small percentage of clients in the past have answered that they have needed such care. "Go to other agencies and ask them their success rate and see if they have numbers or a report like we do," Owen said. While the numbers to some degree prove ARC Manor's success, Owen measures the agency's accomplishments in other ways too. Counselors can tell if treatment is successful by how someone responds, by the change in their demeanor and by the change in their appearance, she said, adding that if an addict comes in who hasn't been eating or taking care of themselves, they're skinny and malnourished and by the time they leave they look better. Owen said a successful recovery process starts with a client deciding treatment is needed, information is provided, seeds are planted, treatment is cumulative, things change a little, they come back and do more, you wonder will this person ever put it all together and then it finally clicks. "Based on the fact that we impact on everyone that comes through our door to some degree, I would say our success rate is 100 percent," Owen said. Owen is prepared to fire back at those who hold drug and alcohol recovery providers to a different standard than other health care providers. A doctor is not asked the success rate in dealing with someone with high blood pressure or the success rate for fixing a broken bone, she said. "That's because there is still a belief in society that drug and alcohol addiction is a social problem and is something people do to themselves so treatment programs should be able to fix them," Owen said. "By asking us what our success rate is, that makes it sound like someone comes into treatment, you do a certain thing and they're fixed. "The very nature of addiction is that it is a chronic condition, you never get cured, you can only be in recovery." Adding to the misconception that drug and alcohol treatment is a failing endeavor is the fact that the public hears only about those who are still struggling with addiction, the ones who end up in the crime section of the newspaper. "You never hear about the majority who are doing well," Owen said. "They are out there quietly going about the business of living their lives, paying their taxes, going to work and raising their families. "We make an impact on people's lives." Outside agencies monitor ARC Manor's track record as well. The center has received full licensing from the state upon every review. Insurance companies hold ARC Manor to their guidelines. Recently the center scored 100 percent during a compliance visit from Value Behavioral Health. ARC Manor's largest funding source, the Armstrong-Indiana Drug and Alcohol Commission, regularly conducts fiscal reviews and case management reviews. "They do an excellent job," Armstrong-Indiana Drug and Alcohol Commission deputy director Kami Anderson said. "The quality of care is good, everything is done accurately and timely. Counselors are well-trained. "The public should be confident," Anderson said. ARC Manor has not only passed all of the tests but has done well enough to be used as a training site for other drug and alcohol centers. "We're at a point in our history where we're ready for anyone on any day to come here and monitor us," Owen said.

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