Behind the Scenes
As a carpenter on set for the Los Angeles Ballet, Richard knew a thing or two about building a solid foundation. Board by board, he helped set the stage behind the scenes for beautiful performances. But, back home, his marriage was falling apart, and he didn’t seem to have the tools to repair it. He fell hard into a dangerous lifestyle of drinking heavily every day “to kill the pain.” The habit spiraled into eight years of alcoholism, suicide attempts and homelessness.
Richard recalled his first suicide attempt and the four-day stay in the hospital that followed. He said, “It was the best few days because I was taken out of the world and put in a safe place.” One of his nurses recommended Cedar House to him, and he agreed to go into treatment. That’s when his foundation was initially laid for recovery. He said it took him two weeks to truly sober up, but then he synced into rhythm for the next 90 days in residential treatment.
He said, “I am definitely not the same Richard.” At Cedar House, he got answers about how to deal with his fear and anger. He implemented what he learned and stayed sober for 13 months. Unfortunately, he relapsed and ended up in the hospital again a few years later. He thankfully returned to Cedar House where he was welcomed with open arms. He remembered a staff member encouraging him and telling him then that “this time you’ll hear something you didn’t hear last time.”
When he stumbled, he knew he could call on Cedar House to help him get back up. After another 90 days in treatment, Richard returned home and maintained his sobriety for 16 months. He cared for his ailing mother and managed a challenging relationship with his brother who had a drinking problem of his own. He admitted, “My relapses happened at home. Each relapse, my determination got stronger to not die an alcoholic’s death.” So, he returned to Cedar House.
During that last stay at Cedar House, Richard learned that his brother died in his sleep. He thought, “He died my death. That hit me hard. But I thought about the tools I got from Cedar House.”
Richard learned a new way to live at Cedar House. He said, “I was rescued, and Cedar House was part of the rescue plan. They taught me a new way to feel about myself. Someone told me, ‘You’re gonna find out you’re a pretty nice guy.’”
At Cedar House, he proudly served as a volunteer behind the scenes in the multi-purpose room, staging the flag every morning and taking it down in the evenings. Since he had worked in carpentry and theater his entire life, he wanted to serve the community that he had such great appreciation and admiration for. He said, “My case manager Mike is such a wonderful man. Very supportive and awfully bright. Cedar House is the fertilizer for my recovery. It’s my roots and my foundation. Mike is on a pedestal. That’s how much he affected me.”
From then on, Richard continued to live a clean and sober life. He found work, housing and a better way to live. He said, “I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Now, if I get invited to a party, I bring a sober buddy.”
He spent the past seven years in recovery serving his community with outreach to the homeless who suffer with addiction. He said, “I went to meetings, prayed a lot. I had to do it. I couldn’t go backwards to a life of drugs, crime, and mayhem. I can’t save everyone. I just help. I share that my story is one of determination, tenacity and the will to live. Everyone deserves to be a success story.”
Each October, Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that recovery and healing are possible for everyone. At Cedar House Life Change Center, we understand that mental health and substance use are deeply connected. Many people who struggle with addiction are also coping with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma—and each affects the other. Treating both together is essential to lasting recovery. For more than 52 years, Cedar House has been helping individuals and families throughout the Inland Empire rebuild their lives through compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Our staff empowers people to overcome addiction and mental health challenges with respect, dignity, and hope. Tips for People Seeking Support If you or someone you love is struggling, here are a few ways to start your journey toward recovery: 1. Reach out for help early. You don’t need to wait for a crisis to ask for help. Early intervention can prevent harm and improve long-term success. 2. Get a professional assessment. At Cedar House, licensed clinicians assess each individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health to create a personalized plan. 3. Find community support. Recovery grows in connection. Peer support, counseling, and family engagement help build resilience and accountability. 4. Create stability. Safe housing, structured routines, and supportive care environments help lay the foundation for recovery. 5. Commit to ongoing care. Recovery doesn’t end after treatment—it continues through outpatient services, counseling, and ongoing connection to support systems. How Cedar House Life Change Center Can Help Cedar House offers a continuum of care designed to meet people wherever they are in their recovery journey: Withdrawal Management and Residential Treatment — Structured programs for men and women addressing both substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Maple House Perinatal Program — Family-centered services for mothers and children to recover and thrive together. Outpatient and Aftercare Programs — Continuing care, therapy, and relapse-prevention strategies for lasting stability. Family Support — Counseling and education to strengthen families and rebuild relationships. Our integrated treatment model ensures that every client receives comprehensive, coordinated care. You Are Not Alone This Mental Health Awareness Month, Cedar House encourages everyone to talk openly about mental health and seek support when needed. Recovery is not a solitary journey—it’s a shared path toward healing, strength, and renewal. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use or co-occurring mental health issues, contact Cedar House Life Change Center today. Together, we can help you find hope, healing, and a fresh start.
When Nikki first realized alcohol was destroying her life, it was 2012 — the year she nearly lost it entirely. On May 12, 2012, she made the decision to stop drinking. That same day, her body collapsed under the weight of years of alcohol abuse. She began bleeding heavily, vomiting stomach acid, and was rushed to the hospital. Her heart stopped. Medical staff performed CPR for 6 minutes and 38 seconds before bringing her back. Nikki survived, but her road ahead was long. She spent two months in the hospital, then entered Alcoholics Anonymous and worked the program. She stayed sober for two years — but like so many battling addiction, she relapsed. Over the years, her drinking escalated to 4–6 liters of vodka a week, often leading to hallucinations, psychosis, and dangerous detox episodes. Legal troubles, family struggles, and her son’s complex medical needs weighed heavily on her. Her breaking point came after her young son — who had cerebral palsy — faced a series of health crises. Despite staying sober for two years, the mounting stress and heartbreak eventually pushed her back into the cycle of drinking. Nikki tried multiple recovery programs, but medical complications and relapses kept pulling her back down. She knew alcohol was destroying her, but the pull was relentless. Then came Cedar House. Nikki says the outpatient program there changed everything. It gave her structure, accountability, and—most importantly—nonjudgmental support. Even during relapse, she knew Cedar House would welcome her back with compassion and encouragement. While in treatment, Nikki endured one of the most devastating moments of her life — the loss of her son in November 2022. In her grief, she had the tools and the people to help. She leaned on therapy, grief counseling, church, her sponsor, and the fellowship of AA. She refused to give up. With encouragement from her Cedar House counselor, Nikki pursued a lifelong dream: becoming a psychiatric technician. She enrolled at Mt. San Antonio College and not only completed the program but graduated valedictorian in June 2025. She is now preparing for her state board exams and continuing her personal growth, sobriety, and service to others. Nikki knows that recovery is a lifelong process. “When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, you have to get the right tools in place,” she says. “The people at Cedar House believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. They gave me a safe place to come back to—without judgment—every single time.” Today, Nikki is living proof that with the right support, a person can come back from even the darkest moments and build a successful life.
Breaking down the barriers and misconceptions surrounding drug and alcohol rehabilitation is critical for encouraging more people to seek help. Read more now.
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