I guess the best way for me
to describe my impression of Next Step Recovery is
to start with the fact that it had never occurred to
me that after rehab, my son would not be coming home.
When it came time to discuss
our son's recovery plans and the idea of a "halfway
house" came up, it sounded like a good plan—he
would still be with people he had developed close ties
to that could help with his support. Our son's reaction also
helped tremendously as we watched him visit each of
his "buds" at Pavillon, holding the Next
Step brochure high and exclaiming, "I'm going!"
When my husband and I got home
from our visit and I sat down to read over the guidelines,
it all hit at once. The only concept I had of Next
Step was like most people who haven't dealt with addiction issues
before: a halfway house was something less than normal;
a place where you go when you don't measure up. I cried.
A lot.
After several lectures from
my husband about not having anything to cry about and
how much we had to be thankful for, I opened myself
up to the idea that this must be the right choice for
our son or his counselor wouldn't have recommended
it. When I called Next Step to confirm the time that
we would be bringing our son, the person I spoke
with was very kind and reassuring. Still, doubts remained.
Drop-off day came, and I still held
on to my doubts. We were greeted by Susan and Mick
as soon as we pulled into the drive. I knew from previous
telephone conversations that Susan was the director
of the house. We sat in the office as one of the house
managers, Mick, explained their policies and what would
be expected of our son to qualify to stay as a resident
of Next Step, and I realized just how much this could
help.
I was an "enabler," and
if you are at this point, I am sure you have heard
this term before. I had managed to let my son get by
without making him do any of the things they called
"life skills," and this was what my son had to do to
stay here. Being a productive person while staying
clean was really going to take effort on our son's
part
but, to my relief, he appeared anxious to take this
step.
I came out of that meeting feeling
confident that this was going to have good results.
It was all up to our son now. Mick took us on a tour
of the facilities and showed our son his room then
offered to help him move some of this things. It was
time for us to leave, and I was feeling more encouraged
about our son's chances of recovery. These seemed like
good people.
It has now been seven months,
and our son is clean and attending technical school.
Our family has developed a close relationship with
the staff at Next Step. Susan, Mick, Toney and Terry
have all, in their own ways, helped us through this
process. They have been there for our son, and they have
helped with any need we had to get here.
Our son calls Next Step home
now instead of "the house" in our conversations.
He has fit in well and is comfortable with the staff
at Next Step because they all know what it is like
to be an addict. They know how to react to the residents'
ups and downs and how to support them through hard
times without being a crutch. They have helped our
son help himself.
For our family, it has been
a blessing to know that our son is living with people
that he can discuss his issues with that won't judge
but offer realistic solutions. These are the people
who have seen it all and know what he is going through.
They know what to watch for to determine when extra
guidance is needed, and they are willing to work closely
with us if we have concerns about his care.
I am truly grateful we were
able to get our son in the Next Step program, and I
am sure he is as grateful to know he can stay as long
as he needs. All he has to do is work the program day
to day, and he can get through this. I don't think
we could have asked for more.
I offer heartfelt thanks to
Susan, Mick, Toney and Terry for all they do each day
for the residents and their families.
—B.S.
