Outreach event helps people overcome addictions

Chattanooga, Tenn. (WDEF) — A local faith-based non-profit is working to help people overcome their addictions.

Teen Challenge held an outreach event today at the Bethlehem Center.

Organizers gave a pep talk.

Participants also enjoyed food, basketball, face painting and crafts.

Benjamin Cook, who later joined the program, started using heroin as a teen for four years.

He says he started because he was dealing with deeper personal issues.

“Having my life as a drug addict; being full of addiction. I eventually got into a place where I got tired and realized that the only thing that was going to change my life was an encounter with God and Teen Challenge,” says Benjamin Cook, a counselor with Teen Challenge.

This is the first combined outreach event.