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The History of
Alcohol and Drug Services

The Beginning
1971

Greensboro Drug Action Council

history

Greensboro Drug Action Council (DAC) was founded in 1971 to address the emerging variety of drug problems that were affecting the Greensboro community. Often referred to as "DAC", Greensboro Drug Action Council was one of the first steps in a long journey that would eventually lead to today's ADS (Alcohol & Drug Services).

Along the way, Greensboro Drug Action Council added the Switchboard Crisis Center and TASC to its range of services.

During the 1970's, several other entities also emerged to address alcoholism including Alcoholism Services of Guilford, the Alcohol Education Center, and the High Point Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Some of these would be merged into SASG (Substance Abuse Services of Guilford) years later.

1972

High Point Drug Action Council

historyHigh Point Drug Action Council was formed in 1972 to address High Point's local drug & alcohol problems. Nearly 20 years later, High Point Drug Action Council merged with Greensboro Drug Action Council to become Greenpoint Chemical Dependency Centers of Guilford in 1991.

High Point Drug Action Council added LINKS Adolescent Services prior to its merger with Greensboro Drug Action Council.

1970's

Opioid Detox & Treatment

historyDuring the early to mid 1970's, Greensboro Drug Action Council (DAC) began to treat local residents who were struggling with heroin and other opioid addictions. Methadone was FDA approved in 1947 and had almost a decade of successful use in the United States specifically as a treatment for opioid dependency.

DAC began to utilize methadone to help local individuals deal effectively with their powerful opioid addiction. In the early 1980's, Greensboro's Sycamore Center was formed and would oversee the local opioid treatment program that would eventually become a core component of ADS (Alcohol and Drug Services) in 1994. Prior to ADS, Sycamore Center was absorbed into Greensboro Drug Action Council in the late 1980's.

1978

Crawford Treatment Center

historyGuilford County funded the construction of the Crawford Treatment Center in 1978 which was established to provide detox & residential treatment services to those people with more severe forms of alcoholism and drug addiction.

Crawford Center would eventually come under the management umbrella of SASG (Substance Abuse Services Guilford). Crawford Treatment Center was closed in the mid-1990's when the newly constructed Guilford County Residential Treatment Facility was launched on West Wendover Avenue.

1980's

Walker Treatment Center - Randolph County

history

Walker Treatment Center is located in Asheboro, NC. While obviously not a Guilford county locale, it is mentioned here because it is the current home of ADS in Asheboro and our center for SA services in the Randolph County area.

Walker Treatment Center was an active detox and residential treatment program in the 1980's and 1990's. Those services were discontinued around year 2000, and ADS was shortly thereafter granted a contract by Randolph County to provide comprehensive outpatient substance abuse services out of that location.

1988

Construction of the WEST Treatment Facility

historyHigh Point Drug Action Council (through a collection of community donations) constructed a new outpatient drug treatment facility in 1988 on Chestnut Drive in High Point, NC. That facility has often been called WEST over the years due to its physical location in Guilford county.

High Point Drug Action Council (and the WEST facility) would eventually undergo several mergers before ultimately becoming part of ADS (Alcohol & Drug Services).

The WEST facility is now used as the administrative headquarters for ADS as well as offices for the Prevention & Early Intervention component of ADS.

1991

Greenpoint Chemical Dependency Centers of Guilford

historyGreenpoint was the result of a merger of the Greensboro Drug Action Council and High Point Drug Action Council in 1991. At that time, it was concluded that a number of services between the two organizations were being duplicated and that a merger would save the county money while also streamlining local substance abuse services.

The organization name, Greenpoint, was actually chosen from a contest to name the merged agencies. The winning name was the resulting combination of "Green" and "Point" taken from Greensboro and High Point.

1991

SASG (Substance Abuse Services Guilford)

historyAlcoholism Services of Guilford and several other alcohol programs became SASG in 1991 making it the largest single substance abuse services provider in Guilford County. SASG was responsible for the vision that led to the 1995 opening of the county funded residential treatment facility at 5209 W. Wendover Avenue which is still in operation today.

1994

ADS (Alcohol & Drug Services) Is Formed

history

In late 1994, SASG and Greenpoint merged to form what is known today as ADS (Alcohol and Drug Services). Since that time, ADS has had three acting CEO's: Ms. Diane Franco, Mr. Chuck Fortune, and the current President & CEO, Mr. Ron Rau, Jr. Mr. Rau was selected as the new CEO in 2006 by the ADS Board of Directors.

Since 1994, ADS has weathered dramatic changes in the structure and delivery of substance abuse services across the state of North Carolina. The organization has adapted to the times and accepted many challenges along the way to maintain a high standard of quality care for the people that it serves.

1995

ADS Implements Computerized Records System

history

ADS implements a computerized records system that gives staff access to important client information from any ADS location.

This new system integrated clinical records with event tracking and billing processes, and represented a significant step forward for the agency in its modernization efforts and record keeping.

1997

ADS Achieves CARF Accreditation

history

ADS applies for CARF accreditation and achieves this milestone. ADS has successfully maintained its CARF accreditation since its first award in 1997.

2001

ADS Launches Its First Internet Website

historyWith the growing popularity of the internet as an information resource, ADS publishes its first website to inform the public of its mission, services, and various programs.
2003 -
2013

Revolution, Restructuring & Adaptation

historyYes, quite a decade of tumultuous change. The State of NC mandated a long term change process in the structure, funding & delivery of mental health and substance services. This, coupled with the U.S. economic crisis of 2008, created an amazing turn of events resulting in the statewide consolidation of mental health centers (also known as Local Management Entities) and the elimination of many treatment providers & programs in both substance abuse & mental health services across the entire state.

The ripple effects have been nothing short of amazing as well as extremely challenging for the providers of treatment services and their local customers.

During this period of high pressure & constant change, ADS diligently endeavored to serve those suffering with addiction. ADS continued to work hard to establish and maintain positive working relationships with many other human service organizations in the region and across North Carolina.

During this period of frequent & pervasive funding cuts and dramatic statewide restructuring, ADS continued to fulfill its mission of serving those in the community who were struggling with the terrible disease of alcohol and drug addiction. It has not been easy as many can attest.

A large number of human service organizations in Guilford County, once viable and important, are sadly no longer in existence. With funding cuts, excessive workloads, and modern high technology demands, many agencies closed their doors. With this loss of services, Guilford County residents felt the impact and still do today.

Through these turbulent years, ADS sustained a constructive working relationship with many helping agencies past and present. While the future is never certain, ADS remains poised to do great things and has remained resilient through the collective efforts of its many dedicated staff, professionals, partners, and community patrons.

The important services which ADS provides today include outpatient and intensive outpatient substance abuse programs, specialized judicial services, opioid treatment, and an extensive prevention and intervention department.

2013

ADS Launches New & Improved Internet Website

history

ADS develops & launches a modern website which provides improved functionality and future expansion capability.

Internet technology was progressing rapidly and it had become increasingly important that human service agencies keep up with the wide variety of Federal and State organizations that oversee and fund substance abuse & mental health services.

ADS also recognized the immense opportunity to better utilize the internet as a means of reaching its consumers and interacting with the many ADS stakeholders and supporters throughout North Carolina.

2015

ADS Adopts New Electronic Health Record (PIMSY)

history

After a thorough examination of electronic health records for behavioral healthcare, ADS adopts PIMSY (Provider Information Management System). PIMSY is the most complete and cost effective EHR on the market. PIMSY integrates many functions necessary for ADS' daily operations while offering expansion capabilities that will allow ADS' medical record to integrate with other Health Information Exchanges and which will provide clients access to parts of their ADS healthcare record online.

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