Prescott House Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Men (866) 425-4673: November 2009

Andrew E.-Testimonial-Former Client Prescott House

My first week at the Prescott House was awful. I absolutely hated it. I complained to my parents that it was a dump and I wanted to go somewhere like my friend had gone, where they got to go on scuba diving trips and such. So, I did what I knew how to do; I found two other men that were not serious about recovery and got drunk. I stayed mostly drunk for four days, as it was Thanksgiving weekend so there were few groups to attend. Jerry kind of ruined that buzz when he requested a urine sample. I instead filled the cup with water and, when Jerry accused me of doing so, I said words to him that inspired him to call the cops. The cops arrived, but luckily for me one of my accomplices decided to start breaking stuff right when they got there. The cops arrested him, and I got put up in Motel 6 for the night.

The next day when I showed up at the House, Al and Byrnie, with persuasion from my primary therapist who had also drank at the House, informed me that I could either live on the streets or do everything that they said, including sitting on tables for a month straight. Convinced that living on the streets in a strange town was the inferior option, I chose the latter. I took the step before the steps shortly thereafter, as the Prescott House essentially forced me to become willing to go to any lengths to get sober. That was November 30, 2004, when I was 21 years old. I have been sober ever since. I did everything they said from there on out, except for maybe a few trivial things (in the interest of rigorous honesty). I realized about a month into my stay that those chance happenings (my accomplice freaking out so I didn’t get sent to jail, incredibly not being able to procure hard drugs in Prescott, and my counselor pushing for me to be allowed to stay) were probably a good indicator that I was where I was supposed to be. And it turns out that everything the people from meetings had promised would happen came true. I found I could have more genuine relationships when I was real rather than wearing a mask, that I could be happy, and that I could stop being a victim and start taking responsibility for my own actions.

Being in the House allowed me to learn some basic life skills that I had never learned and also afforded me the time to work on some issues that had contributed to my dependence on alcohol. But most importantly, it allowed me to stay in a safe place with strong support long enough to work the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and in doing so I developed a relationship with a Higher Power and realized that my life had a purpose. I decided after 15 months in Prescott that I wanted to go back to school in San Diego; with the House’s blessing, I did so.

Moving and leaving the incredible friends I had made was very difficult, but I made it through sober by implementing the tools I learned at the House and in meetings. I have since graduated from that school, earning a 4.0 after returning. I then decided that I might want to give law school a chance and was offered a full scholarship. I recently completed the first semester at the top of my class. My parents, who when they dropped me off at the Prescott House told me that it might be better if I never came back to Southern California, have since welcomed me back into their home. These are a few of the external gifts I have received in sobriety, but these don’t really compare to the internal gifts. My life has a purpose now, and the gratitude I feel as a result of being in and coming out of a dark place has made even the worst days feel like a blessing. It is a beautiful life, and I am forever grateful to the Prescott House for showing me how to build the foundation that led to this life.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Prescott House