Adolescent Drug Treatment Alumni Softball Game

This last Sunday was a great day for meeting up with old friends and celebrating our collective gift of recovery at my Adolescent Drug Treatment Center Alumni softball game. Staff and past residents competed for glory while sharing our common bonds and this year, for the first time ever- clients beat the staff! Yay! It was such a blast to see staff members who had made such a difference in my early recovery experience and to see other residents who had shared the beginnings of the recovery journey with me. It was truly inspirational to see all of the young people who had benefited from Treatment and to hear about the awesome things they are doing with their lives now that they have escaped the perils of adolescent addiction.
Keeping in touch with my treatment center has been part of the unique recovery experience I received there. Being in adolescent drug treatment is a fairly sheltered experience; you don’t have the constant temptation of being exposed to drugs and alcohol. You are separated and safe in early recovery. The gradual transition from teen inpatient treatment to the adolescent outpatient program allows for a “soft landing” upon entering the outside world again; you are back in the world, but with a strong sense of structure and support. As teen outpatient treatment phases out, the program is still a supportive and loving force. Alumni activities allow ex-residents a chance to celebrate their new freedom while sharing their hope with current residents. When I was in treatment, seeing ex-residents having fun in adolescent recovery and enjoying a full life inspired me to embrace what the program offered. Who wants to be stuck in teen drug treatment? I wanted what they had and I worked for it! So even with my massive sunburn, I am so grateful for the fun had yesterday in celebrating my teen recovery- and our recovery. I can’t wait to see who’s joined us next time. Teens do recover, and we’re doing it together.