SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Christine Drabek, Acadia Family Center’s new executive director, has seen people in the deepest throes of homelessness, disease and addiction. Her ability to engage with others who are in these terrible situations is founded on an optimistic, strength-based philosophy, both personal and professional, that change is possible, “watching change in myself and [...]

Kip Young is “a pretty happy, single, 51-year-old guy.” He’s got a job he loves, as a drug and alcohol counselor with the Acadia Family Center in Southwest Harbor. He has a daughter to whom he is devoted, and a great gig on the side as a rock musician and songwriter. Young is also a [...]

Kip Young was at Pemetic Elementary School, setting up a PowerPoint presentation for one of his weekly meetings with the eighth-grade class. Young is a drug and alcohol counselor with the Acadia Family Center in Southwest Harbor. He is also a former substance user who got sober 24 years ago and, since then, has built [...]

The use of the synthetic drug commonly known as “bath salts” has not been the epidemic on Mount Desert Island that it has been in other Maine communities. But MDI has not been immune to its presence, and there is some concern that, with the coming influx of seasonal employees and tourists, abuse of the [...]

Julia is a friendly, fit, athletically inclined person in her 40s who has a professional background, comes from a prosperous family, has a high IQ, and is a devoted mother. Julia (not her real name) was raped when she was 5 years old. In her teen years, she was recruited by an older sister to [...]

Annually, the Acadia Family Center treats between 100 and 120 clients for addictions and related mental health disorders at its outpatient facility in Southwest Harbor. On top of that, the center’s clinical staff also provides prevention and education services for more than 1,300 students in Mount Desert Island schools, on the outer islands, and in [...]

A year ago, “Susan” was 23, hooked on drugs and trying to raise her 1-year-old daughter. Susan began using drugs when she was 16. She said she was sober when she was pregnant, and her baby was born healthy. About three weeks after her baby was born, though, Susan succumbed once again to the lure [...]

A year ago, John realized that his daughter, Jane, was addicted to powerful prescription drugs used to alleviate pain, depression and anxiety. John, who is in his late 50s, leads a “back to the land” lifestyle and runs his own organic products business. Jane is in her 30s and has two young children. Jane had [...]

People who suffer from drug addiction and alcoholism did not intend, at any point in their lives, to have either of these diseases. Some experimented as youngsters. Others had pain issues that required powerful medications. Still others have trauma or mental health issues, and were simply seeking some relief. “They’re people like you and me. [...]