Published: September 03, 2007 11:41 pm      

Anti-drug group expands mission

CARROLLTOWN — Just short of a decade ago, Debbie Fowler found her teenage son, Adam, on the floor of his bedroom, dead from a heroin overdose.

Through her grief and desire to prevent other children and their parents from going through similar pain, Fowler formed Remembering Adam Inc.

The nonprofit organization has grown by leaps and bounds since Adam’s May 1998 death – and it continues to provide substance-abuse-prevention education to anyone who wants it.

“We developed all of our programs ourselves, and we don’t sell any of our programs,” Fowler said.

For their efforts, Fowler and her organization have received local, state and national acclaim.

Just a few weeks ago, Fowler testified at a congressional hearing for the Office of National Drug Control policy.

“I speak for them ... for funding of the president funding student drug testing programs,” Fowler said. “I’ve done quite a few things for them.”

She also is active in Harrisburg and is working with Moms Tell – an organization working for more accessible drug treatment across the state.

“This will be a three-year effort to gather findings from across the state,” she said.

“We’ll send the findings to the state Department of Health to show what problems families and those in need of services face when they are trying to access treatment services.”

But one of Fowler’s biggest successes has been her volunteer drug-screening program, geared to “catch kids being good.”

Fowler said the program encompasses thousands of students in five school districts in Cambria and Blair counties, most recently including Blacklick Valley School District in Nanty Glo.

Students sign up to volunteer for random drug testing.

“It’s all about positive reinforcement about the statement that they want to be drug-free,” Fowler said.

“All schools have programs for kids who need extra things, like study aids. But there’s nothing going on for the kids who are doing the right thing,” she continued. “This program encourages them to continue their healthy choices and celebrate their sobriety.”

The program is free to the school districts and students.

Fowler, who operates the organization from her home, recently hired Debbie Baker of Northern Cambria as a full-time prevention specialist, making Remembering Adam a contracted prevention counselor for Cambria County Drug & Alcohol.

“We’re very excited about that,” Fowler said.

And while Fowler says that nine years have passed quickly, she remains focused on her mission. “We hoped (Remembering Adam) would be where we are today.

“We always had a mission and a vision, and we stuck to it. We’ve changed very slightly over the last nine years.”

Remembering Adam will launch its updated Web site this week: rememberingadam.org.



Remembering Adam Inc. was founded by Debbie Fowler nine years ago to increase awareness of the destruction caused by substance abuse. Fowler’s teenage son, Adam, died of a heroin overdose.



Fowler’s vision is for every community to have comprehensive education programs that provide prevention tools for parents, communities and schools, to decrease substance abuse.



To schedule speakers, volunteer to help, receive more information or send a contribution:

Address:

Remembering Adam Inc.

P.O. Box 665

Hastings, Pa. 16646

Telephone: (877) 767-ADAM

E-mail: contact@rememberingadam.org.