"We can’t send you into a war with just a knife"

The Unity Group, nestled in the hills of Jeffersonville in Sullivan County, offers a free and voluntary-admission shelter that provides support and steps toward recovery. “It all starts with saying: ‘I need help,’” explains Jamel Guerra, the group’s secretary. “The person has to call us themselves and tell us in their own voice that they want help.”

Drogadictos Anónimos is a nonprofit organization, part of a network that began in Mexico and crossed into the United States in 2001 thanks to volunteers and the community. “We started in a basement in Queens, and today there are nine groups in the U.S. and over 38 in Mexico,” says Guerra. While the group has grown steadily, Guerra emphasizes that entry must be voluntary: “What I can do is give you a pamphlet.” Unlike Alcoholics Anonymous, DA does incorporate support from third-party organizations, but the process is similar.

Once someone joins the group and system, the process begins with a 90-day stay. They follow a 12-step recovery model focused on communal living. Members cook, clean, attend meetings, and support one another. “It’s full-time,” says Guerra. “They eat, live here, and we hold meetings throughout their stay. It’s a community that separates itself from society for a while.” Guerra stresses that this initial isolation is crucial: “Addiction takes everything from you—the ability to think for yourself, to be productive. Here, people gradually relearn how to get that back. Every day we work to improve our daily lives.” After 90 days, each person decides whether to return to society or stay longer. Each year, about 500 people pass through the doors of Drogadictos Anónimos, and 76% complete their recovery process.

For the group, success isn’t measured in numbers, but in actions: someone who wakes up early to clean the bathroom, someone else who takes the initiative in a meeting, or the person who finally dares to share their story. “It’s not just about quitting drugs, it’s about getting to know yourself, pushing yourself to be better every day,” says Guerra.

Their work goes beyond the shelter walls. The group engages in community service, collaborates with churches, assists at food banks, and seeks active integration. All services provided are free. They’ve received some support from Sullivan County, but face ongoing financial challenges. “We survive on donations. It’s enough, but there’s always room for more,” admits Guerra.

Social stigma is also a major obstacle. “People ask: ‘Why are you there for five years? Why don’t you get a job?’” says Guerra. But he explains that recovery is a lifelong process. “It’s like a chronic illness. It doesn’t go away, but it can be managed. And you have to take it day by day.”

Guerra came to the group after a long struggle with addiction that began at age 16. After years of drug use, legal trouble, and family breakdown, his mother gave him a pamphlet she had kept for three years. “I took the information and said: take me.” Since then, he’s spent five years in the program. Today, he’s the Unity Group’s secretary and devotes his life to helping others.

For those who know someone at risk, Guerra’s message is clear: offer the information, without pressure. “We don’t help by force. But if the person is willing, we’re here.” The group accepts people between the ages of 18 and 50, regardless of nationality, race, or sexual orientation, and 82% of participants are immigrants or children of immigrants. Most of the administrative members are bilingual. “If two out of the 35 people here are saved, then God is already doing his work,” Guerra concludes.

RESOURCES
 Unity Group of Drogadictos Anónimos: daamerica.org/facilities-directory/group-unidad-2

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