La Crosse Tribune: Helping others fight addictions for 35 years

Like rings on a tree, periodic name changes reflect how the Coulee Region Council on Addictions has grown over its 35 years.

The agency, 921 West Ave. S., started out in 1969 as the Western-Central Council on Alcoholism, said Jeff Schroeder, its current director.

"It was created to simply provide information on alcoholism and referral services," Schroeder said.

The name changed three years later, but alcohol abuse remained the focus: It became the Coulee Alcoholism Center.

By 1973, it was renamed Coulee Council on Alcohol and Other Chemical Abuses, to indicate its work dealing with an increasing drug problem.

In 1976, another new name - Western Wisconsin Chemical Dependency Services.

"Over time, we've expanded to address other addictions," Schroeder said.

The agency's current name was adopted a couple of years ago to more reflect its mission, which "encourages prevention, early intervention, effective rehabilitation and provides a supportive environment for recovery."

Said Schroeder, "When a person has one addiction, they may have others because they have an addictive personality."

While the majority of the agency's clients have alcohol or drug abuse problems, Schroeder said help is available for other addictions as well, such as gambling.

In addition to individual and group counseling, the agency also offers crisis assistance, assessments, information and educational programs, including a speakers bureau.

In the building's lower level is the Coulee Council Recovery Center. "People come for meals, to play pool or cards, watch television or a movie, or for a cup of coffee and a chat," Schroeder said. "Its a safe place for them."

The agency's newest program is Coulee Council Harm Reduction Use Model, or CCHUM, a program that targets chronic alcoholics who are homeless and living on the streets, Schroeder said.

"The goal of CCHUM isn't to stop them from drinking, but to reduce it so it's not such a drain on the county's resources," said Schroeder, noting that La Crosse County had been spending a lot of money to place people in hospitals for detoxification.

"We help them get meals, housing and clothing to help them over the hump and keep them out of the hospitals," he said. Money saved through the program can be used in other areas.

The council, a private, nonprofit organization, has two parttime and six full-time employees and a number of volunteers, Schroeder said.

It is funded by the Greater La Crosse United Way and by contracting services to the county. For more information, call (608) 784-4177.