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Minnesota Now with Nina Moini
Cathy Wurzer and Lindsay Guentzel

Turning Point founder honored with national recognition for his work in addiction services

After finding his own sobriety, Dr. Peter Hayden founded Turning Point in 1976 and was honored last month by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers for his work in North Minneapolis.

Peter Hayden
Dr. Peter Hayden started Turning Point in 1976, an African American agency that focuses on providing culturally-specific substance use disorder treatment, as well as offering housing and support services.
Lindsay Guentzel

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Dr. Peter Hayden's return to the United States after serving in Vietnam is, sadly, a tale many have heard before. The young man said he found himself back in Minneapolis without a home, no plan for his future and a drinking problem. And then, as Dr. Hayden says, God took over. A drinking-and-driving accident in front of a police station found him in treatment and while the 12 steps worked for him, he also noticed he was always the only person of color in the room. He wanted to change that.  

The Veteran now had a path forward. Dr. Hayden said used the G.I. Bill to help pay for his undergraduate degree and went to receive a master's in public administration and a doctorate in psychology. Then in 1976 he started Turning Point, an African American agency that focuses on providing culturally-specific substance use disorder treatment as well as housing and support services in North Minneapolis.

To date, Turning Point has helped more than 24,000 people.

Last month, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers announced that moving forward, the Diversity, Inclusivity and Racial Equity Award will bear his name. He joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer on Minnesota Now to talk about the honor.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.