TreatmentTalk – 2010 October

Thought I would move some things around on the site, so here is the information on Passages to Recovery.

My daughter attended Passages to Recovery in July 2005. This a clinically integrated 12 Step addiction and substance abuse treatment program. When my daughter attended, it was co-ed, but is now a men only (“wilderness”) program for people over 18 years of age. She flew to Salt Lake City with her father and went from there with the counselor to Loa, Utah, which is about 3 hours south of Salt Lake City.

The program consists of hiking and camping in the wilderness each day. Two llamas were with the group to carry some of the heavier equipment, which was definitely an added attraction for my daughter, who is an animal lover. Each attendee carried their own backpack. We had weekly conference calls, and flew back after the five weeks to attend the two day parent workshop. She has told us that she really enjoyed her time there, and it truly changed her life.

After leaving Passages, she then went to Safe Harbor in Costa Mesa, CA. I would highly recommend the program. The daily outdoor living was challenging, rewarding and a supportive, safe recovery experience with people close to her age.

“I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time.”
– Anna Freud

“How come YOU need a loy-ah?”

“Failure is a signpost to turn you in another direction.” — Oprah

For those of you who do not live in the SF bay area or cannot get KGO newstalk radio, there is a great show hosted by Len Tillem. I believe he comes on around noon on weekdays and also I know I hear him on my way to my Al-Anon meeting on Sundays at about 4:10. There are interesting stories with people calling in to ask legal advice from Len, as he is an experienced radio personality and practicing lawyer. He provides free legal advice for KGO listeners. His sense of humor is wonderful to listen to, but he also gives important advice. Not having needed legal assistance lately, I don’t have any personal experience, but all of it is good to know, just in case you ever need it.

I was sitting outside Peets during my lunch while working today, and heard on his show, another sad alcohol related story. A women with two young children had been in four rehabs. Her husband was calling in because she had just been arrested for a DUI hit and run, and there was some injury to the other party, but he wasn’t sure how much. Her bail was in the neighborhood of $35,000. So the poor husband’s question was, would his wife have to spend jail time, and Len said most likely, yes, possibly a year or so, even though she had not had any other DUI’s. It is just so hard to hear these stories. The husband sounded very concerned, as I am sure, anyone would be. The kids are caught in the middle of this mess, and are the victims of their mom’s drinking.

Len, then mentioned his 20+ years of sobriety. I now, not only will enjoy his show, but will view him in a new light of respect.