[Something Positive] Bush discusses addiction during visit to Baltimore program

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/bush

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer Tue Jan 29, 1:50 PM ET

BALTIMORE, Md. - President Bush on Tuesday referred to his former struggles with alcohol as an "addiction," a blunt characterization of his less disciplined adult days before a reliance on faith help him turn his life around.
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"Addiction is hard to overcome," Bush said in speaking at a faith-based center that helps former prisoners get job training and other help.

"As you might remember, I drank too much at one time in my life," Bush said. "I understand faith-based programs. I understand that sometimes you can find the inspiration from a higher power to solve an addiction problem."

Increasingly, Bush has reflected in candid terms about his days of drinking. Last month, he told some young recovering addicts to stick with their fight against drugs and cited his own experiences with alcohol years ago. He said then that "addiction competes for your affection ... you fall in love with alcohol."

Bush, 61, decided to quit drinking alcohol after a boozy night in 1986 celebrating his 40th birthday. He went on to win election and re-election as Texas governor before bidding for the White House.

The president spoke Tuesday at the Jericho Program, which helps former prisoners get their lives in order and contribute to society. The stop came as Bush sought to keep some attention on his faith-based programs, one of the themes from his final State of the Union address on Monday night.



http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-bush0129,0,6389022.story

Bush discusses addiction during visit to Baltimore program
President visits city organization that finds jobs for released prisoners

By David Nitkin

Sun reporter

1:04 PM EST, January 29, 2008

President Bush spoke about his own addiction battles during a visit today to a Baltimore organization sponsored by the Episcopal Church that finds jobs for released prisoners.

"I drank too much at one time in my life," Bush said as he was flanked by two participants in the Jericho Program, having spent a half-hour talking with them and program administrators. The president said he knew firsthand that people "can find inspiration from a higher power" to fight addiction.

Bush gave up alcohol at age 40 and became increasingly involved in his church in Texas at the same time.

The president's visit to Jericho, located in a rowhouse in the middle of an East Baltimore block, was timed to coincide with the seventh anniversary of an executive order creating the Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives.

Jericho, a project of Episcopal Community Services, has received annual grants of more than a half-million dollars to help nonviolent offenders learn such skills as resume writing and anger management. Many are battling substance abuse problems, an affliction the president said he understood.

Group leaders said they are working to improve the lives of some of the 9,000 city residents released from prison each year, who nearly always have few skills and bleak prospects. About 375 ex-inmates have been through the program, and officials say the recidivism rate for those clients is less than half of the city average.

"If they get out and there is no hope, they will return to what is comfortable," which is a neighborhood life where drugs and crime are rampant, said Buddy Jones, an associate director of the Jericho Program.

In his State of the Union address Monday night, Bush called on Congress to make permanent a federal effort that he said creates a "level playing field" for faith groups applying for federal grant money.

"Our government should not fear the influence of faith on our society," Bush said.

Jericho has received more than a half-million dollars in grants yearly under the Bush program.

"It was the first large grant this organization had ever applied for," said Jean Cushman, executive director of Episcopal Community Services. "It would have been harder for us to get it" without the Bush faith-based initiative, she said.

As snipers stood on the rooftop, Bush met with about nine members of the program, accompanied by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.

Bush's helicopter landed at Fort McHenry about 10:30 a.m., and many streets were barricaded and traffic halted as the presidential motorcade zipped through the city.

david.nitkin@baltsun.com

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