Edward Mudre Flowers, 72, a drug counselor and retired director of Second Genesis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addiction recovery, died July 4 of renal failure at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria.

Mr. Flowers was born in New York City, and his own early drug use led to years in and out of New York penal institutions, including Attica, Sing Sing and Hart Island.

His recovery began in 1967, when he discovered the Phoenix House Therapeutic Program. He completed treatment in 1968 and in 1971 joined the staff of Second Genesis, founded in Alexandria by Sidney Shankman, a psychiatrist.

In his 37 years at Second Genesis, Mr. Flowers held a number of positions, including program director and counselor. As director emeritus in recent years, he ran relapse prevention groups, counseled clients about personal growth, directed anger management classes and assisted with self-esteem groups.

"Eddie had a talent for being able to help pull clients out of the vicious cycle of addiction, so that they would be able to return to their communities as productive citizens and loving family members," said Lucy Lowenthal, a Second Genesis colleague.

While working at Second Genesis, Mr. Flowers received his general equivalency diploma from the Virginia Board of Education in 1973 and received his undergraduate degree in human services from Governors State University in Illinois in 1976.

A son, Edward J. Flowers, died in 2000.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Dorothy S. Flowers, and another son, Michael Flowers, both of Fredericksburg; a sister; a brother; and two grandchildren.