Military Specialization Program in Bladen County helps service members struggling with addiction

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A ribbon cutting held Wednesday in Elizabethtown officially marked the opening of a center designed to help current and former military members struggling with addiction.  

The center offers a new Military Specialization Program that was launched by ‘Adult and Teen Challenge.’ It’s a faith-based organization offering addiction recovery services.  

Chairman of the Board, Larry Caddell, said it’s time to serve those who have served us.  

“The cost of freedom is not cheap. It comes at a big price and some of these military people have paid the supreme sacrifice,” Caddell said. 

The center offers a 30-day short-term residential recovery program for active service members and a 16-week program for veterans.  

Those in the program will receive the support they need through counseling, group therapy, and continued fitness training—as they make the transition into civilian life.  

Jeff Gautier is the Center Director for the Elizabethtown Campus. He said he wanted to play a role in helping soldiers because he once wore the boots that walked through addiction alone.  

“When I came out, there was a lot of shame and a lot of guilt. It wasn’t until I came through this program that I got the help that I needed to deal with the trauma,” Gautier said. “I wanted to give back and help serve others.”  

Gary Blackard is the President and CEO of ‘Adult and Teen Challenge U.S.A’. He said he and his team were strategic in choosing this location.  

“The ability to get these men out of their environments and into an area where they can just focus on themselves, focus on one another, and be able to enjoy the nature around them,” Blackard said. 

This Military Specialization Program was created in honor of Nathan Horvatich who served 20 years in the United States Army.  

His family attended Wednesday’s ribbon cutting to honor him and all who have battled addiction.