When Blount County resident the Rev. Charles Mozley started using drugs in the late '60s, it was because he thought they looked like fun.

"I saw it as harmless and something that enhanced the party life," Mozley said.

But drugs proved to be dangerous indeed, and landed Mozley in a federal prison. He has been sober for 18 years and out of prison since 1987. Now Mozley teaches classes and offers counseling in hopes of helping others with the same problems that brought him down.

Mozley will teach Intensive Transformation Ministry classes in Cullman from Feb. 6 to March 1. The program, which will be held at East Side Baptist Church, will include four weeks of Christian-based classes that meet three nights each week.

Mozley's life changed while he was in prison.

"It was there that I started searching for freedom from drugs and alcohol," Mozley said. Through that search, Mozley gave his life to Jesus Christ.

While he was still in prison, a chaplain at a federal penitentiary in Kentucky encouraged Mozley to seek training in becoming a counselor.

"It seemed as though I had a knack for it," Mozley recalled. After he was released from prison, he sought training and became a board certified addictions counselor. He then began his ministry in 1989, and named it Christian Counseling Services in the mid-'90s.

Mozley, a Marshall County native, has offered Christ-centered counseling in Birmingham for 16 years. During that time, he has seen many people drive to his classes from Huntsville, Walker County, Guntersville and other cities in north Alabama.

"My heart being in north Alabama, I felt led to come out here" and offer counseling in this part of the state, Mozley said. He hopes to save people the burden of driving to Birmingham. He said a non-residential program like this allows people to work and spend time with their families even as they seek help for their addictions.

"I believe we've got to address this issue in our local community," Mozley said. "Everybody can't go out somewhere."

Programs similar to this in Birmingham cost as much as $4,000, Mozley said. But ITM offers their classes free of charge.

"Our interest is in the care of people's souls," Mozley said.

Students in the classes will work through a workbook Mozley authored, which includes 12 specific discipleship lessons, addressing addiction and freedom from addiction through the power of Jesus Christ. Other lessons include education on relapse prevention and controlling emotions using biblical principles.

Teens are welcome to attend the classes if accompanied by a parent or guardian, but family attendance is encouraged regardless of age, Mozley said.

"That helps you understand what the loved one is going through ... It puts everybody on the same page," he said.

Last year, 59 people registered for the ITM course in Birmingham, and 41 of those completed the program, which requires students to attend all 12 sessions to graduate. The ministry follows up with program graduates in the years following course completion. Mozley said that when he last checked with last year's graduates, about half of them were still doing fine.

"We like to talk to family members to see how they're doing," he said. "A family member usually gives you a more accurate report on how the person is doing than the actual person. We try to hook them into their local church as a support system. We've found that those who stay in attendance and fellowship at a local church do much better. That seems to be the best support system that they can have."

<b>THE DETAILS</b>

<b>What:</b> Intensive Transformation Ministry, breaking the spell of methamphetamine and other sinful addictive habits

<b>When:</b> 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Feb. 6-March 1; All 12 sessions required for graduation

<b>Where:</b> East Side Baptist Church, Cullman

<b>Registration:</b> Request an application from East Side Baptist Church at (256) 734-6144 or Christian Counseling Services at (205) 410-6649. No walk ins will be accepted.