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COLUMBUS, Ind. — Plans are being finalized for a large celebration marking the 20th anniversary of one of Bartholomew County’s longest-running substance abuse disorder support groups.
Entertainment, live music, free food, special honors and remembrances will help mark the milestone reached by “Moms Off Meth.” The free celebration will be from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Salvation Army, 2525 Illinois Ave.
In 2003, ‘Moms Off Meth’ was founded with the cooperation of the Lincoln Central Neighborhood Family Center. The group met weekly to offer support, as well as education and encouragement.
Instead of offering a 12-step program, “Moms Off Meth” welcomed a variety of individuals ranging from those seeking help to return to sober living to others seeking more information about methamphetamine and what they can do to help friends and family members recover, current group facilitator Vicki Axsom said.
At first, the support group had 10 members. But this year, “Moms Off Meth” has a membership of 47 individuals assisting one another in a variety of ways, Axsom said.
“If somebody came in and had a child they didn’t know what to do with, we’d help them with that,” Axsom said. “I also work with young kids on developing exit strategies if they are approached by someone trying to get them to use illegal drugs.”
Over the past 20 years, the program was expanded into other south central Indiana counties, and served as inspiration for a men’s group called “Dads Against Drugs.”
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
