West Coast Recovery is very proud to be able to reach out and do our best to help the community by helping others. We honestly are very humbled yet proud of our achievements. By Kelly McCartney Award Committee  West Coast Recovery has been selected for the 2012 Best of San Jose Awards in the Alcoholism Information & Treatment category by the San Jose Award Program committee. Our selection of your company is a reflection of the hard work of not only yourself, but of many people that have supported your business and contributed to the subsequent success of your organization. Congratulations on joining such an elite group of small businesses. In recognition of your achievement, we offer a variety of ways for you to help promote your business. You automatically receive the complimentary digital award image from this email and a copy of the press release publicizing the selection of West Coast Recovery which is posted on our website. The San Jose Award Program hereby grants West Coast Recovery a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, and display this press release and the digital award image in any media formats and through any media channels. The San Jose Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the San Jose area. Each year, we identify companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

 

Sober living homes are one of many sources of ongoing treatment offered to those who have abused drugs and/or

alcohol. It is not their first step towards recovery. By the time they have selected a sober living home, they already

are aware of the costs that the disease has done to their own bodies and minds and are also aware of the effects

on their families. They have already been through more intense treatments and are now willing to take the next

step towards continuing their recovery.

Those who go to a sober living home realize that they are not yet ready to face the questioning of parents,

spouses and their friends. The ignorance of those of us who haven't faced this disease is part of the problem. We

may tell them, "It's not so bad", I can put the drink down", "All you need is willpower". These statements are not

conducive to their recovery. The family's lack of knowledge often causes the drinker to postpone their treatment.

Newly sober persons need the continuing encouragement of others who have preceded them in recovery. The

sober living environment provides peer influences, teaching and camaraderie while they keep each other focused

on how to live without drugs and alcohol. As stated in the mission statement of one sober living home's web page,

"Our mission is to provide a sober living environment to our residents which will lead to a life free of drugs and

alcohol. This will be accomplished by structure, education and mutual support. Our friendly homes work in a family

type environment. We all work together supporting each other emotionally and spiritually while sharing our

responsibilities. After sharing and experiencing our program you will be equipped with the necessary skills to meet

life's demands alcohol and drug free."

We may think that the majority of those who are in a sober living home are criminals, but most don't have any

criminal history at all. Many individuals go to a sober living home voluntarily after a course of intense in-patient or

outpatient treatment - as suggested by a medical professional and/or a counselor. Others who have entered

through the court system are criminals only because they have violated laws dealing with possession or related to

being under the influence. Patients of certified sober living homes are screened by the district attorney's office for

violent individuals and sex offenders. These people are not eligible for sober living homes in neighborhoods.

Those who led the fight for Proposition 36 noted that a majority of those who are arrested for possession of drugs

or for driving under the influence are not otherwise breaking the law. The solution proposed in proposition 36 is to

require that these people have the alternative of treatment, including sober living homes, rather than jail

sentences. Given that we, the people, overwhelmingly voted for this proposition, it seems necessary to increase

the number of sober living homes to handle the increase of these patients. Treatment is effective and successful.

One year after treatment, 53% are completely abstinent and an additional 35% have reduced their use of alcohol

and drugs. Interestingly, these statistics are similar to diabetics who fully adhere to their medication schedule

(60%) after one year. In a speech in Phoenix on November 1st at a national conference of the affiliates of the

National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), the President, Gordon Scheinhauer, stated that

treatment outcomes are quite predictable. "The longer the treatment is, the higher the chance of complete

recovery."

Should a sober living home be in my neighborhood? I think the answer is yes. The people attending the treatment

offered by a sober living home could include my spouse, my parents, my children, my neighbors and my friends,

maybe even me. Almaden Valley residents are not immune from the disease of alcoholism or drug abuse. Our

relatives and friends need to recover where they live, not be driven to other neighborhoods or communities. I have

a friend (a long-time math teacher in San Jose) whose wife abused medical prescriptions. She was judged a

criminal by the courts, but instead of sending this 65-year-old person to jail, she received the option of treatment

and long-term living in a sober living home. Because of the gentle treatment by a sympathetic judge, this

productive neighbor has successfully returned to society. Can we not help our neighbors recover?