Bridge to Recovery

FROM RICKY UNDERWOOD (PRESIDENT)

There are many programs dedicated to helping those with alcohol and drug problems.
New Life House sees a distinct difference between abstinence and recovery.
• Abstinence – Being drug and alcohol free
• Recovery – Regaining a meaningful life without drugs and alcohol

Many programs concentrate on abstinence only. There is a great need for these programs to give the addict a beginning in recovery. However these programs only begin the recovery process. What happens to the addict when the program has been completed and there is no continuing financial support and no where to call home?

This was me 12 years ago. I was abstinent (drug free) thanks to the treatment facility but I had no where to go and I knew if I went back to my old playground it wouldn’t be long before I would be using again. This was not an option for me. I knew I had what it took to be successful in society but I had burned so many bridges that I had to start over and - society didn’t owe me anything. I was once a distinguished UPS driver. I now had to prove that I was responsible and was very happy when I landed work on an assembly line making much much less for a lot harder job.

There is a strong need for programs that teach how to live in recovery – regaining life not just existing, living as a productive citizen. As a matter of fact, my life became much fuller when I became productive again. I lived in a recovery house like this for 3 years. This meant working a program, getting a fulltime job, paying rent and being responsible for chores at a place I could call home living with people just like me. I was able to maintain a savings account which not only lead to my being able to purchase a car and getting my CDL license but most importantly lead to regaining the self-esteem I had lost. I was then able to give back to newcomers in recovery and learned to live with “normal” people in society

New Life is my dream and has been the bridge from abstinence to recovery for men and women who have stopped using and want to stay stopped. It is not for everyone but I truly believe it is the program for anyone like me who know that there is more to life than just being drug and alcohol free. They want to be able to live in recovery going on to being productive citizens regaining healthy relationships with families and friends.

W O R K = R E S P E C T
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO CROSS THIS BRIDGE AGAIN!!!