Michael Abraham, center, director of the Warren-Yazoo Mental Health’s Chemical Dependency Service, shows a diagram of the expansion at the facility during groundbreaking ceremonies Thursday. At left, Margie Morgan, who works in the main building for Warren Yazoo, steadies the diagram while executive director Steve Roark looks on. (Jenny Sevcik The Vicksburg Post)

[11/14/03]Michael Abraham has a special place in his heart for bipolar alcoholics and drug addicts with depression.

In about a year he hopes to have four extra beds for them.

Abraham, director of the Chemical Dependency Center at the Warren-Yazoo Mental Health Service, 3442 Wisconsin Ave., is ready for construction to begin on a 3,300-square-foot expansion on the building.

The center has maximum space for 15 men and six women who have drug or alcohol problems.

When the expansion is complete, four beds will be added for people transitioning back into a stable life of working and contributing to society. They will be free to go to work, but they will continue to live at the center’s supportive environment.

The expansion will also improve the group counseling room, the dining area, the kitchen and add office space.

People with alcohol and drug problems enroll in the 30-day treatment program modeled after the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous approach. Many times, people in the program have psychological problems, which is also treated at the Warren-Yazoo Mental Health campus.

After the program some of the participants aren’t ready to face the world alone, Abraham said.

“They’re not ready to just go to work and A.A.,” Abraham said.

Construction for the expansion is estimated at about $300,000, and new equipment will be about $150,000. Also, annual pay for new counselors will be an annual expense.

The cost of the building has been raised, but no money has been provided for new counselors.

At a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning, Sen. Mike Chaney, R-Vicksburg, said even during this time of tight economic times, Warren-Yazoo facilities in Vicksburg shouldn’t see any budget cuts from the state.

“We’re taking a leap of faith here,” said Steve Roark, CEO of Warren-Yazoo Mental Health Services based in Vicksburg and Yazoo City. “We’re hoping we’ll come up with the money.”

Herbert Loving, director of the Division of Drug and Alcohol Abuse with the Mental Health Department, said he’s optimistic funding will come.

“If we can get the building up, we can gradually work to get everything in place,” Loving said.

Abraham said he welcomes anything that will help those who are on hard times.

“If they want to come in and get clean I want to help them,” he said.