ROSES to the Horizons program at UNC, which has helped countless women leave behind the nightmare of addiction and build healthy and productive lives.

The program, an element of the UNC School of Medicine, offers women with addictions access to an integrated treatment plan that involves medical care, mental health care and substance abuse treatment.

It's that holistic approach that makes Horizons so effective. Treating any one or two of those three elements might produce some short-term gains, but all three need attention in order for lasting health and recovery.

Horizons provides treatment and support including child care, a residential program, support groups, counseling and classes in areas including nutrition, finances and job preparation.

Perhaps most important, Horizons treats its clients without judgment, but purely and simply as human beings struggling and in need of help.


ROSES to Daisy Diaz, who earlier this month took her oath as a citizen of the United States.

Lots of people do that, of course; the day Diaz gained her citizenship she was among about 1,000 people who did the same thing at the same ceremony in Raleigh. Every one of them has a unique story.

Diaz' tale is one of a 22-year-old struggle that has involved fear, heartbreak, joy and gratitude.

She and Jose Frederico Campos fled war-torn El Salvador in the 1980s and came to the U.S., where they were granted temporary protected status.

They made a life here in Chapel Hill, raised their children and became respected, productive members of the local community and their children's school.

In 1998, Campos was summoned to Charlotte for what he thought would be a granting of permanent residency. Instead he was arrested -- for failing to attend a hearing, on the advice of an immigration counselor, 10 years before Ñ jailed and put on a plane back to El Salvador.

His deportation left Diaz behind with no insurance, little income and five children to care for, including one with a serious neurological condition.

Residents and the Seawell Elementary School community rallied to the family's aid. An indefatigable local woman named Molly McConnell led an all-out campaign to get Campos back (among other things, she called Rep. David Price at his home on Christmas Eve; "He wasn't real thrilled about it," she said. "But he helped.")

Faced with unrelenting pressure from McConnell and others, federal authorities finally gave in, agreeing that Campos' absence was a significant hardship for his family. Six months after he had been deported, he was reunited with his family. The staff and students at Seawell held a joyful, tearful ceremony to welcome him back, and Esquire magazine ran a story about the family's struggle to remain together and the community effort that made that possible.

Even after Campos was safely back with his family, Diaz herself faced possible deportation until late 2000, when the INS finally dropped its case against her and she and Campos both were granted permanent residency.

A few weeks ago, Diaz went to Raleigh to take the final step and truly put that long, arduous journey behind her.