Family and Interventions

One of the most important aspects of recovery is having the support of family and friends. You have to have a strong support group inside and outside the recovery world. A family that supports you is not going to put you in situations where alcohol or drugs are present. This is extremely important in early sobriety because you may not have built up a strong enough defense against taking that first drink or using that first drug. It is important for the family to realize that you need time to work on yourself before you can work on other relationships. This is why we have a 30 blackout period from anyone outside of our program. People outside the program can become a distraction which means you wont be focused on working your program.

For the family who supports recovery it is important to practice tough love. This means not giving the alcoholic or addict money and taking a strong stance on them completing a program. This may be the first time the alcoholic or addict has completed anything in years and when they do complete they earn a sense of self-satisfaction for being able to do it. The family needs to work with the program and enforce the fact that the alcoholic or addict is not welcome back home or as a part of the family until they have completed a program. Many times it takes the realization that there is nothing left out there for them to finally get them to stay put and build a foundation that will give them long-term sobriety.

We offer intervention services to our clients families. We bring the client and family into our main facility and work with the family to bring the client into recovery. We prefer to meet with the family beforehand so that everyone who is part of the intervention will be on the same page. We work with the family to set up healthy boundaries and create a contract with the client that say they must complete the program to become part of the family again. It takes a whole community recovery and outside to help a person stay sober and we work with families on a daily basis to help create this community for each and every client that comes into our program. For more information on intervention services and family support call (949) 678-0761 today.

Website Update and Staff Changes

Over the next few weeks our site will be undergoing some more changes and updates. We have brought someone in to design banners and work on cleaning up the look of the website. We will probably also be making a theme change. Toning down the colors to make it a little more subtle. We will be updating and adding pages throughout the site. We will be adding a page specific to the mountain retreat in running springs and a page on Dual Diagnosis treatment as we expand our programs to help more people overcome their disease. We have also overcome the hurdles to billing insurance and are now able to help those who have insurance enter our program. We still have trouble with a few of the companies but we are working to iron out these kinks. So stay tuned for the upcoming changes.

We wish to congratulate a number of our staff members for taking on new roles in the program. Stephen has become our new Senior Administrator, working with accounting and intake to move forward and maintain integrity in both departments. Stephanie has joined our intake staff and has become an integral member of our company, she is great at working with the residents and their families. Computer Paul has joined us as not only our IT and all around office guy but also as a house manager. Rob has taken up the role of SASCA Representative and in 3 weeks has been able to work with Parole’s new NSG (Non-SAP Graduate) Program to fill all of our SASCA beds which were starting to empty out at an alarming rate.

Last but not least is Nikki who has accepted the position of Clinical Director of California Recovery. Due to her previous work experience she has made all our insurance billing possible. Without Nikki we would still be in the dark as to where we should even start.

Other News: We have submitted our first Certification application for the Boston House in an effort to get our houses Probation approved we hope to see the Certification approved in the next 2 months and to be probation approved by the end of this year (earlier if all goes well.)

So please stay tuned for the upcoming changes and interviews with some of our new staff members.

California DUI Laws

California DUI laws were  very  different  20  years  ago.  It  was  not  unusual  to see

someone in court with 5, 6 or even 8 DUIs that was not sent to jail. But  California DUI laws have changed. Now, most drunk drivers go to jail. The second DUI already has a mandatory jail sentence. MADD tries to help, but drunk driver are increasing. As a result, California DUI laws have increased the penalties for even the first DUI.

Over 80% of drunk drivers in California get a second DUI. California DUI laws now include stiff fines, court costs and restitution. The solution is not easy to see for an alcoholic. That is, do not take the first drink, then there is no possibility for a DUI. Alcoholics do not understand that the first drink is the problem. Many believe they can drive better. That the laws do not apply to them. This is a disease of denial.

The solution is recovery. Treatment Programs, like Yellowstone Recovery, offer the important answers: how to get and STAY sober. California DUI laws will continue to increase in severity. Our jails and prisons are filled with alcoholics and drug addicts who felt compelled to drive. The obsession to drive is directly connected to drinking. A normal person who has a drink will have some caution about driving. Most often they will find a designated driver. An alcoholic will get behind the wheel. When he takes a drink the drink takes him.

The California DUI laws were designed to protect innocent drivers. Now, the courts charge drunk drivers with murder or attempted murder. While the courts may not recognize the disease, they do recognize the damage to innocent people. More often California courts are granting alternative sentencing to treatment. Typically, court orders are at least 6 months and require progress reports from the facility. We measure the first step of recovery at one year of sobriety. Most true alcoholics cannot stop drinking for a month, a week or even a day. This is where a program of recovery comes in. Treatment is critical for alcoholics. Rehabilitation is the answer. Recovery from alcohol is possible for all of us. Unlike other diseases alcoholism effects everyone the alcoholic comes in contact with even complete strangers.

This is a family disease, the family suffers most of all. The California DUI laws are designed to help ease the families pain. A family harmed by a drunk driver may want more severe penalties than California DUI laws provide. Particularly if a family member dies. Recovery from alcohol insures that we will never get a DUI again. That families of our victims will never suffer again. That California DUI laws will protect us from practicing alcoholics that ignore sobriety as a solution. The California DUI laws protect the community from drunk drivers. The California freeways are not a safe place anymore. More and more drunk drivers are arrested. They are filling jails and prisons that are already full.

At Folsom Prison over 500 men are waiting to be transferred to outside recovery centers. They are young and for many, the only charges were drinking or drug use. The problem is that California DUI laws do not teach them how to stay sober. They are simply confined. They must start a new journey, or they will return to incarceration. 80% of inmates return to jail or prison within one year. Treatment is designed to start them on a new journey: Recovery.

Many think the California DUI laws do not do enough. Imprisonment is only a stall. Some prisons however have their own substance abuse programs. These last from 3-6 months, as inmates learn how to qualify for outside programs. SASCA is a solution for drug addicts and alcoholics in prison who want to change they help inmates by providing a place to go and funding for up to 5 months. Only 20% of inmates return to jail or prison if they complete treatment.

Unfortunately, the programs of the California DUI laws will become more putative. In some states mandatory prison time is a requirement for drunk drivers. For example the penalty in Texas can be up to 10 years.

In California we have a solution: Treatment. It is known that alcohol ultimately turns everyone down the wrong path. This in turn will lead the alcoholic to jails, prisons or death. Every alcoholic or addict needs treatment. What keeps them away is the belief that their case is different. It is always exactly the same. Alcohol and/or drugs completely destroy their lives. We all want a sober community and the California DUI laws try to ensure this for all of us.

We can do something to protect our community. Insist that addicts and alcoholics get treatment before they hurt someone else.

For more information on treatment for someone you love call (949) 678-0761.

The annual Yellowstone Halloween party was a hit. We would like to thank everyone for attending. There were over 200 of you that came to enjoy the night and dance to the sets of The Anonymous Band.

The Yellowstone Thriller dancers did an amazing job. Last years leader jumped in and joined at the end! Everyone also enjoyed the special alumni performance thank you for always supporting Yellowstone and our events without you they wouldnt be possible.

We would like to congradulate the Newport House for winning the Pumpkin Carving Contest and Jeannie Wiley for having the best costume of the night. We appreciate everyone getting involved and making the night a success.

Further congradulations go to:

Computer Paul, Monica and Regina H. for being the Yellowstone Volunteers of the Year.

Tiffany W. & Gerry A. for being the Yellowstone Alumni of the Year.

Little Leslie & Tran (S.T.W.) N. for being the Yellowstone Residents of the Year.

We appreciate the hard work all of you have put in so that the next person who comes in also has a Safe Place to Recover just as all of you did.

Last but not least we want to thank the residents from other programs for coming & sharing the night with us. We are grateful for all of your support.

Stay tuned for an announcement about our upcoming Silly Christmas Party as soon as we pan out the details we will post them here and on our facebook.

Come join us for a ghoulish night of fun: Saturday October 29, 2011

The party begins at 6:00pm.

Featuring:

The Anonymous Band

Pin the Tail on Honey

Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contests

The Thriller Dancers

50/50 Raffle

Yellowstone Jail