Kris (2004 Graduate)
On June 15th, 2004, Kris Shipley, a recent graduate of Second Genesis, testified before the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on behalf of the Therapeutic Communities of America. The hearing, “Providing Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services to Adolescents,” highlighted the need for continued dedication to treatment, aggressive education/treatment for our youth, and the need for Federal support and funding.
Now a 28 year-old man, Kris began using alcohol and drugs at age 11. Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Anne Arundel County, he dropped out of school at age 16 with a drug abuse habit and supported himself with proceeds from selling drugs. He wove his way through the court systems in his youth; and, at age 24 he was arrested on assorted charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison. During the first three years of his sentence he obtained his GED. In his fourth year, he was sent to Second Genesis’s Residential Treatment Program. Kris took treatment seriously and worked hard in the program. He is now gainfully employed as an administrative assistant and plans to attend college in late 2004, where he will begin working on his undergraduate degree in criminal justice along with obtaining his certification and licensing (CAC) as an addiction counselor.
Today, Kris Shipley is a living example of how treatment can save a life and completely change a person.This summer, Kris stood before the United States Senate Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Subcommittee to testify about his life experiences as a teen addict, in efforts to work to prevent America’s youth from following his tragic path. By sharing his life story detailing his childhood addiction, active addiction and drug dealing in his youth and early adulthood, and finally his transformation into a sober productive member of society; Kris painted a vivid picture for our lawmakers. His overriding message: Never give up on trying to keep America’s youth free from substance abuse through prevention and treatment. Outreach and education in the schools and community-based programs, peer counseling, tutor and mentoring programs can all help to prevent a youth from starting or sustaining a lifestyle of drug use.
Kris regrets that as a youth he was not mandated to a level of treatment and care similar to Second Genesis’s Adolescent Programs that are currently offered. According to Kris, “With the resources available today to our nation’s youth, I feel confident that we can reach kids before bad habits are started. Together with Federal support, we can attack addiction before it strikes. It is my firm belief that if we teach kids about the real dangers of alcohol and drug use and abuse, that they will be able to make the right choices to avoid the horrors of the path I have taken. Together, we can empower youth, like my son and generations to come, not to start a life of drug use and abuse.
Kris ended his testimony with a plea for the Committee to continue funding substance abuse treatment and educational programs. He recommended that intervention start at an early age for youth through mandated prevention. He also added that the goal is to support adolescents to develop necessary skills and self-confidence to be drug free. Just like adults, adolescents need structure and support to develop their personal growth from the freedom of drugs and/or for achieving lasting recovery.
