I guess a staff member coming from front row to the front of the group was supposed to have a positive impact on us. I believe the philosophy at the time was ?peer-to-peer counseling? and the thinking was who else could understand a druggie better than another druggie. Were we supposed to put peer counselors on a pedestal and revere them as counseling gods and goddesses? I remember when I was at the Austell Road location Straight got some sort of accreditation, which I believe meant the program met certain medical standards and that licensed, educated & trained therapists were going to be running the show. Now, I wonder, was Straight more fucked up when peer counselors were at the helm or when these so-called professionals came in?
