Cedar House Life Change Center Blog

A Step-by-Step Guide to Residential Addiction Treatment

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:26:49 GMT

Entering residential addiction treatment can feel overwhelming. Many people wonder:

What will happen when I arrive?
What does a typical day in rehab look like?
How long does residential treatment last?

Understanding the process can reduce fear and help individuals and families feel more prepared for recovery.

At Cedar House Life Change Center, residential treatment provides a safe, structured environment where individuals can stabilize, heal, and develop the skills needed for long-term recovery from substance use disorder.

This guide walks through what happens in residential addiction treatment step by step.

Step 1: Intake and Assessment

Residential treatment begins with a comprehensive intake assessment.

During this process, the clinical team evaluates:

Substance use history
Physical health and withdrawal risks
Mental health concerns
Trauma history
Family and support systems

This information allows clinicians to create a personalized plan designed around each client’s unique needs and recovery goals.

A customized plan ensures that treatment addresses both addiction and any underlying issues that may contribute to substance use.

Step 2: Withdrawal Management (Detox)

For many individuals, the first stage of residential treatment is withdrawal management, commonly known as detox.

Cedar House provides clinically managed withdrawal management services (3.2 level of care) to help individuals safely withdraw from alcohol or drugs in a supervised environment.

During detox:

Clients are closely monitored, especially during the first 72 hours.
Staff perform observations every 30 minutes during early withdrawal.
Vital signs are checked six times per day and documented in medical records.
Medication may be prescribed by a licensed physician to safely manage withdrawal symptoms.

This stage focuses on stabilizing the body and preparing clients to begin therapy and recovery work.

Withdrawal management typically lasts 7–10 days or longer depending on medical necessity.

Step 3: Personalized Planning

After detox and stabilization, clients work with their case manager and clinical team to develop a detailed treatment plan.

This plan outlines:

Individual recovery goals
Counseling and therapy needs
Mental health treatment
Family involvement
Relapse prevention strategies

At Cedar House, treatment is person-centered, meaning each plan is tailored to the individual’s background, challenges, and strengths.

Step 4: Daily Residential Treatment Programming

Residential treatment provides a structured daily schedule designed to support recovery.

Clients participate in at least 20 hours per week of therapeutic programming, including counseling and structured therapeutic activities.

These services include:

Individual counseling sessions
Group therapy and process groups
Educational groups
Structured therapeutic activities

Of those hours, 10 hours are clinical services led by licensed professionals.

This structured approach helps individuals develop new coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and build a strong foundation for long-term recovery.

Step 5: Evidence-Based Therapy

Cedar House uses evidence-based treatment methods proven to support addiction recovery.

Clinical staff are trained in therapies such as:

Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Relapse Prevention strategies

The program also utilizes the Living in Balance curriculum, a nationally recognized evidence-based addiction recovery program.

Treatment groups focus on:

Managing cravings and triggers
Developing healthy coping skills
Improving communication
Healing trauma
Strengthening life skills

Clients may also participate in programs such as:

Trauma recovery groups
Parenting education
Life skills development
Recreational and wellness activities

Step 6: Family Support and Education

Addiction impacts the entire family, which is why family involvement is an important part of recovery.

Cedar House offers:

Family group therapy sessions
Al-Anon introduction groups
Education for family members about addiction and recovery

Family members are required to attend an Al-Anon introduction group before visiting their loved one, helping them better understand how to support recovery.

Step 7: Medication-Assisted Treatment (as needed)

Some individuals benefit from medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help manage cravings and prevent relapse.

Available options may include:

Vivitrol injections
Suboxone
Subutex (for pregnant women)

These medications are prescribed under the supervision of Cedar House medical professionals and are always voluntary and client-centered decisions.

Vivitrol, for example, blocks the effects of opioids in the brain, helping reduce cravings and relapse risk.

Step 8: Accountability and Monitoring

Throughout residential treatment, clients participate in ongoing monitoring to support progress and accountability.

This includes:

Drug and alcohol screenings at least twice per month
Additional screenings if substance use is suspected
Ongoing clinical evaluations and progress reviews

The Cedar House team also collaborates with families, referral partners, and support systems to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Step 9: Preparing for Life After Treatment

Residential treatment is only the beginning of the recovery journey. Plans for life after treatment begin at intake, so clients can be fully prepared to move forward once treatment is complete.

Before completing the program, clients and their treatment team will develop an aftercare and relapse prevention plan that may include:

Continued counseling
Recovery support groups
Sober living environments
Ongoing mental health care

The goal is to ensure individuals leave treatment with the tools, confidence, and support network needed to maintain long-term recovery.

Why Residential Treatment Works

Residential addiction treatment removes individuals from environments that reinforce substance use and places them in a structured, therapeutic setting focused on healing.

At Cedar House, the goal is not just sobriety. It is whole-person recovery that improves physical, mental, emotional, and social wellbeing.

Recovery is possible, and no one has to face addiction alone.

Get Help Today

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, support is available.

Residential treatment at Cedar House Life Change Center provides the care, structure, and support needed to begin a life of recovery.

Learn more about our programs or contact our admissions team to get started.

Missing One Christmas to Gain a Lifetime

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:37:05 GMT

In 2009, everything changed for Preston with a single accident. What began with prescription pain medication after a dirt bike injury slowly spiraled into a heroin addiction that would take hold of his life for years. But one decision made just days before Christmas would change everything.

The Road to Addiction

After a dirt bike accident in 2009 left him injured, doctors prescribed pain pills to manage the pain. At first, it seemed harmless, but like many people during the opioid crisis, the prescription slowly turned into dependence.

By 2012, when prescription pills became harder to get, someone at work offered a cheaper alternative. “They said, ‘I can get you something better and cheaper,’” he remembers. “You try it first, and then they tell you it’s heroin. I was like, ‘I don’t do heroin.’ And they said, ‘Yeah… you do now.’”

From 2012 to 2015 heroin addiction took hold of his life. The people around him were using too, and the lifestyle became normal. Eventually everything began to fall apart.

“I remember looking in a drawer one day and realizing there was nothing left—just pencils and random stuff. Nothing of value. That’s when it really hit me how empty my life had become.”

A Christmas Turning Point

In December 2015, just days before Christmas, he finally reached a breaking point.

“I told my mom I was fed up. I said, ‘Let’s figure this out. I need help.’”

He found Cedar House Life Change Center and entered detox on December 16, 2015. Originally, he planned to stay only the required seven days. But recovery rarely begins smoothly.

One night during detox he woke up and asked to use the phone. “I called everyone in my family and told them I hated them because they wouldn’t come pick me up. I didn’t want to be stuck there for Christmas.”

The next morning his counselor called him into her office. What she told him that day stayed with him. “If you stay,” she told him, “You’ll miss this one Christmas, but you won’t have to miss all the other Christmases.”

Lessons That Stuck

His counselor shared another lesson he still carries today. She explained that life is like a backpack. If you throw a bunch of heavy stones into it all at once, you won’t be able to walk. Just like if you try to tackle all of life’s problems at once, you won’t get very far. But if you add just a few metaphorical stones each day and deal with just the issues you can handle, you can keep moving forward and progressing in life.

Those simple ideas – taking life one day at a time and not carrying more than you can handle – became powerful tools in his recovery.

Although he had entered Cedar House only for detox, his counselor secured three additional days in residential treatment across the hall. At the time he admits he still planned to use again when he left. But during those extra days, something shifted.

At a recovery panel he heard a man speak about rebuilding trust with his mother after years of addiction. Preston could relate to that experience of taking advantage of his mom. Hearing him talk about earning her trust back made him realize that was possible for him, too.

Rebuilding a Life

He left Cedar House the day after Christmas, and his mom picked him up. On the drive home they stopped for food and talked about what came next. With guidance from his counselor, he made a list of everything addiction had taken away from him. Then he began slowly taking those things back. He started spending time with family again, accepting invitations, going to the river, and rebuilding relationships that had been strained by addiction.

“You can’t lie to the mirror,” he says. “At the end of the day, you have to do this for yourself.”

There were still challenges ahead – court dates, fines, and apologies to make. At one point a judge even rejected a handwritten apology letter he had written, crumpling it up in front of him and telling him it needed to be more sincere. So, he wrote it again.

A Future Restored

Recovery opened doors he never imagined. He began working in the oil fields in Montana, working one week on and one week off. During that time, he met the woman who would become his wife, and together they built a family with five children. He later returned to California, regained custody of his two older children, and continued rebuilding his life. Six years after leaving Cedar House, he returned to work with Teamsters Local 166 as an inspector on a military base. Today he is proud of the life he has rebuilt and grateful for the second chance he was given.

“If I could help even one more person, it would be worth it,” he says. “I wouldn’t wish that life on my worst enemy.”

Looking back, he believes the challenges he faced helped shape the person he is today.

“Without those struggles, I wouldn’t be who I am now.”

A Mother's Love

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:57:11 GMT

There is nothing quite as powerful as a mother’s love. From the moment her son was born, Sereeta knew she would do everything she could to protect him. She had already experienced the heartbreak of losing her children once, and she was determined never to feel that pain again.

Sereeta’s struggle with addiction began at the age of 19. She entered treatment and remained sober for six years, building a life she was proud of. But everything changed when she became a victim of domestic violence. The abuse eventually led to her losing custody of her five children -- a loss that shattered her world and led to relapse.

“I could not get away from him. He would try to control me.”

Desperate to escape the violence, Sereeta left and began living on the streets. She slept near a shopping center, searching for safety and resources wherever she could find them. One day, at a charity donations center, a woman noticed her and offered help. That connection led Sereeta to Cedar House, where she sought treatment for methamphetamine and marijuana addiction, and where her life began to change.

“I knew I wanted a change but didn’t know how.”

Years of trauma and loss had taken a toll. Sereeta struggled with anger and didn’t yet know how to process the pain she carried. What surprised her most was the compassion she encountered at Cedar House. Staff members didn’t give up on her. They believed in her, even when she struggled to believe in herself.

“I saw that different people had hope in me.”

Just one week after arriving at Cedar House, Sereeta was hospitalized. Over the next three weeks, she remained in close contact with staff, calling regularly for reassurance.

“I didn’t want to lose my son. I didn’t want to feel that pain again.”

After an eight-hour surgery and a blood transfusion, Sereeta gave birth to a healthy baby boy. But the next day, a police officer and social worker arrived at her hospital room with the devastating news that she would not be taking her baby home.

Four days later, Sereeta returned to Cedar House with 34 surgical staples, deep emotional wounds, and a renewed determination.

“That’s when I believe my journey started. I was fighting for that little boy. I never fought so hard for anything in my life.”

The first month was difficult. Sereeta continued to wrestle with anger, grief, and the trauma of her past.

“The first month was hard. It was a battle for me.”

Over six months at Cedar House, Sereeta did the work. She achieved sobriety, learned healthy ways to manage her anger, and began rebuilding her faith.

“I didn’t realize God had something else in store for me. I just had to trust in the process.”

After completing treatment, Sereeta transitioned into other supportive housing. Slowly, she began having overnight visits with her son. On August 22, those visits became extended stays. On September 5, she was granted full custody of her baby boy.

Today, Sereeta is a full-time Civic Engagement Specialist for a charitable foundation. She lives in her own apartment with her son and spends every other weekend with all of her children.

“I have established leadership skills, budgeting skills, and learned how to be a productive member of society as a mother.”

Looking back, Sereeta speaks of the “true, honest support” she found at Cedar House. The love and care she received from staff, and even something as simple as an Acceptance Prayer, carried her through moments when she felt overwhelmed.

“If it wasn’t for Cedar House, I would still be traumatized by the domestic violence. The staff members showed me love like I’ve never been shown before.”

Sereeta’s story is one of resilience, healing, and the power of believing in someone until they can believe in themselves. It is a testament to what is possible when compassion meets commitment, and when a mother is given the support she needs to fight for her future and her family.

6 Tips For Helping Your Loved One With Alcohol Rehabilitation

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:47:18 GMT

Supporting a loved one through alcohol rehabilitation can be a challenging and emotional journey. It's crucial to understand the role you play in their recovery and the most effective ways to provide support. This guide offers practical tips to help you assist them throughout this process. As you embark on this journey, keep in mind that your loved one's path to recovery will require patience, understanding, and commitment from both of you. This article will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make a positive impact.

1. Research and Educate Yourself

Understanding the complexities of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a critical first step in supporting a loved one through alcohol rehabilitation. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 29 million people aged 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past year. This staggering statistic highlights the importance of being informed about the nature of addiction and its pervasive impact on society as well as individuals.

Taking the time to familiarize yourself with the different treatment options available can empower you to assist in making informed decisions. There are a variety of alcohol rehabilitation programs, including inpatient and outpatient options, therapeutic counseling, and support groups that cater to different needs. Being aware of these choices can help you guide your loved one towards the most suitable treatment plan for their unique situation.

Moreover, understanding the withdrawal process and the challenges it presents is essential for providing empathetic support. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and daunting, which is why supportive friends and family play such an important role. Anticipating these challenges and being prepared can help you remain calm and supportive during difficult times. Stay informed about recent research for new insights or treatment practices that may aid in your loved one's journey.

2. Communicate Effectively

Effective communication is key to maintaining a supportive relationship with a loved one in recovery. Practicing active listening can provide your loved one with the confidence to express their feelings and concerns. This involves paying full attention to their words, signals, and facial expressions without interrupting or offering premature solutions.

It's also essential to avoid judgmental language which can discourage open communication and further stigmatize the individual's experiences. Instead, use language that emphasizes empathy, understanding, and support. Encourage your loved one to engage in open and honest discussions about their progress and challenges, fostering an environment where they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts without fear of criticism.

Patience and consistent support are invaluable during the alcohol rehabilitation process. Establishing trust and respect can help build a resilient foundation for communication and engagement. Remember that recovery is a journey with ups and downs, and your consistent presence can make a world of difference.

3. Establish a Supportive Environment

Creating a supportive environment can facilitate the recovery process and promote long-term sobriety. By establishing alcohol-free zones within the home, you remove temptations and potential triggers that could lead to relapse. This change helps to reinforce the decision to stay sober and minimizes exposure to environments that associate with old habits.

A safe and stable home environment further contributes to emotional well-being and security. Encourage healthy coping mechanisms that replace alcohol consumption as a means to deal with stress or challenges. Activities such as exercise, meditation, or creative outlets can serve as productive alternatives that uplift mood and focus.

Fostering positive relationships with friends and family who reinforce sobriety and minimize stressful situations is critical. Surrounding your loved one with individuals who support their recovery journey and share similar goals can be highly motivating. This network can serve as a source of encouragement and provide new perspectives on enjoying a healthier lifestyle.

4. Encourage Professional Help

Suggesting professional help can be a pivotal part of a loved one's recovery journey. Counselors and therapists provide guidance and therapies that address the root causes of addiction and alcohol use. These professionals can offer techniques and strategies tailored to the individual's needs, contributing significantly to long-term recovery.

Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) have been crucially effective for many in maintaining sobriety. They provide a community of like-minded individuals who offer mutual support and hold each other accountable. Sharing experiences with others who have faced similar challenges can be incredibly reassuring and beneficial for your loved one.

Alcohol rehabilitation centers often provide structured environments necessary for focused recovery. By discussing the benefits of these centers and introducing medical professionals who specialize in addiction treatment, you can help your loved one explore their options. Assisting in finding the right treatment program shows your commitment and dedication to their well-being.

5. Practice Self-Care

Supporting someone through recovery can be emotionally taxing, which is why practicing self-care is vital. Setting healthy boundaries ensures that you're not overextending yourself or sacrificing your own mental well-being. Participate in support groups for families of individuals with AUD, where you can share experiences and gain valuable insights.

Maintaining your own mental health allows you to be a more effective support system for your loved one. Engage in personal hobbies or interests to recharge your energy and promote a balanced lifestyle. Acknowledging your own limits is an important aspect of self-care that helps prevent burnout.

By caring for yourself, you model the importance of self-respect and well-being to your loved one. It's not selfish to take time for yourself; rather, it strengthens the support network that both you and your loved one rely on. Prioritizing self-care ultimately benefits both parties in the recovery process.

6. Celebrate Progress, Small and Large

Acknowledging milestones and achievements helps motivate continued sobriety and boosts self-esteem. Providing positive reinforcement and recognition of their efforts can rekindle determination, reinforcing their commitment to recovery. Celebratory activities can serve as joyful reminders of how far your loved one has come on their journey.

Practice gratitude together by reflecting on positive experiences and progress made. This mindful practice fosters an optimistic outlook, which is essential for facing future challenges with resilience. Remember to remain positively focused and encourage your loved one to do the same.

Celebratory moments don't have to be grand; even small gestures like words of affirmation or recognition of progress contribute significantly to morale. Acknowledging efforts, no matter how small, reinforces positive behaviors and attitudes. In celebrating together, you strengthen the bond and support essential for successful recovery.

Helping a loved one through alcohol rehabilitation requires a balance of support, knowledge, and patience. By understanding the process and implementing these tips, you can play an instrumental role in their journey towards recovery while also taking care of your own well-being. Celebrate each day of progress and remember that your support makes a significant difference. The path to recovery is not just about sobriety but about rebuilding and discovering a fulfilling life beyond addiction. Your commitment to their journey is an invaluable contribution to their healing and future success. If you're looking for an alcohol rehabilitation facility for you or a loved one, don't hesitate to get in touch with Cedar House Life Change Center. With more than 52 years of experience, we offer a compassionate approach to rehabilitation with individualized treatment plans and evidence-based therapies. Our dedicated team of counselors, many of whom have successfully navigated their own recovery journeys, work tirelessly to provide the support and guidance needed to achieve lasting change. Call us today.

What is Evidence-Based Treatment?

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:16:11 GMT

When someone is seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction, one of the most important questions to ask is: Is this treatment evidence-based? The answer can make a meaningful difference in recovery outcomes, safety, and long-term stability.

At Cedar House Life Change Center, evidence-based treatment is the foundation of everything we do. Our programs are designed using approaches that are backed by research, clinical best practices, and decades of real-world experience serving individuals and families in the Inland Empire.

What Does “Evidence-Based Treatment” Mean?

Evidence-based treatment refers to therapies and clinical practices that have been scientifically studied and proven effective in treating substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. These approaches are recommended by national health authorities and continuously evaluated to ensure they improve outcomes. Unlike untested or purely anecdotal methods, evidence-based care relies on:

Clinical research
Outcome data
Professional standards of care
Ongoing evaluation and improvement

In addiction treatment, this matters because recovery is complex, personal, and deeply impacted by mental health, trauma, and social factors.

Why Evidence-Based Treatment Matters in Recovery

Addiction affects both the brain and behavior. Effective treatment must address more than substance use alone. Evidence-based treatment:

Improves engagement and retention in care
Reduces relapse risk
Supports mental health and emotional regulation
Helps individuals build practical coping skills
Increases long-term recovery success

For families and referral partners, evidence-based care also provides confidence that treatment decisions are grounded in proven methods—not trends or shortcuts.

Evidence-Based Treatment at Cedar House

Cedar House has served adults seeking recovery for decades, and our treatment model continues to evolve based on best practices and community need.

Structured, Research-Supported Curricula

Cedar House uses well-established, evidence-based curricula, including:

The Matrix Model, a structured approach shown to be effective in treating substance use disorders
Living in Balance, a nationally recognized curriculum that addresses substance use, mental health, relapse prevention, and life skills

These frameworks provide consistency while allowing flexibility for individual needs.

Integrated, Whole-Person Care

Evidence-based treatment recognizes that recovery is not one-size-fits-all. At Cedar House, clients participate in therapeutic groups and services that address:

Substance use patterns
Co-occurring mental health conditions
Trauma and stress
Family relationships
Emotional regulation and coping skills

This integrated approach supports both short-term stabilization and long-term recovery.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

When clinically appropriate, Cedar House incorporates Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) as part of an evidence-based recovery plan. MAT is widely recognized as an effective tool for reducing cravings, supporting stabilization, and improving treatment retention, especially when combined with counseling and behavioral therapies.

Individualized Services

While evidence-based models provide the framework, treatment at Cedar House is always individualized. Clinical teams work with each client to develop a plan that reflects their history, goals, strengths, and challenges. T his balance between structure and personalization is a hallmark of effective evidence-based care.

Why Evidence-Based Care Matters for Families and Referral Partners

Choosing a treatment program is a significant decision. Evidence-based treatment offers reassurance that:

Care is aligned with clinical standards
Services are ethically and professionally delivered
Treatment approaches are supported by research and outcomes
Recovery planning is intentional and goal-oriented

For referral partners, evidence-based programs help ensure continuity of care and better outcomes for the individuals they serve.

A Commitment to Quality and Accountability

At Cedar House, evidence-based treatment is not a buzzword. It’s a commitment. Programs are continually reviewed, staff are trained in best practices, and services are delivered with compassion, accountability, and respect for each individual’s recovery journey.

Getting Help That’s Grounded in What Works

If you or a loved one is exploring treatment options, understanding whether a program uses evidence-based approaches is an important first step. At Cedar House, treatment is grounded in what works because recovery deserves care that is informed, intentional, and proven.

To learn more about Cedar House programs or to access services using private health insurance, explore the website or call 909-421-7120 today.

Staying Sober During the Holidays

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:28:04 GMT

Tips and Support from Cedar House Life Change Center

The holiday season can be joyful but also challenging. For many people, the holidays are a time of togetherness and celebration. But for those in recovery from substance use, this season can bring a mix of emotions -- joy and gratitude, but also stress, temptation, and pressure. Family gatherings, social events, and memories of past holidays can test even the strongest commitment to sobriety.

At Cedar House Life Change Center, we understand these challenges. Our mission is to help individuals and families build lasting recovery through treatment, education, and ongoing support. Here are a few practical ways to protect your sobriety and stay connected to hope this holiday season.

1. Plan Ahead for Triggers

Before attending a party or event, think about what might challenge your recovery. Bring your own non-alcoholic drink, drive yourself so you can leave early if needed, and connect with your sponsor or peer network before you go. Preparation gives you confidence and control.

2. Stay Connected to Your Support System

The holidays can feel isolating, especially if you’re making lifestyle changes. Reach out to supportive friends, family members, or recovery peers who understand your journey. Schedule a check-in or attend a support group before and after big events. Staying connected helps you stay grounded.

3. Prioritize Self-Care

Take care of yourself, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Maintain regular sleep, eat balanced meals, get outside, and make time for reflection or prayer. A calm and nourished mind is your strongest ally in maintaining sobriety.

4. Set Boundaries and Say “No” Without Guilt

You don’t have to attend every event or explain your choices. Declining an invitation or leaving early doesn’t make you antisocial. It makes you strong. Your recovery is your priority, and real friends and loved ones will respect that.

5. Keep Recovery at the Center of the Season

Stay consistent with meetings, counseling, or alumni groups. Cedar House offers aftercare support, relapse prevention programs, and peer connections that help clients stay engaged long after treatment. Recovery doesn’t stop after discharge. It’s a lifelong process of growth and renewal.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

If you or someone you love is struggling this holiday season, Cedar House Life Change Center is here to help. Our compassionate team provides evidence-based treatment, medical support, and recovery programs designed to meet each person’s unique needs. Reach out today to learn how we can help you or your loved one find peace, purpose, and sobriety this holiday season and beyond.

Homelessness Awareness Month

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:27:36 GMT

November is Homelessness Awareness Month, a time to shed light on one of the most urgent issues facing our communities. Every day, thousands of individuals and families across San Bernardino County struggle with the devastating cycle of homelessness, often intertwined with substance use and mental health challenges. At Cedar House Life Change Center, we believe that recovery and stability begin with compassion, connection, and comprehensive care.

For more than five decades, Cedar House has provided a safe haven for those seeking to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives. Many of the people we serve come to us after experiencing homelessness or unstable housing—circumstances that make recovery even more challenging. Through our evidence-based treatment programs, sober housing resources, and continuum of care, we help individuals find the structure, support, and self-worth needed to thrive.

Our services address more than substance use. We provide mental health counseling, case management, and referrals to permanent housing, recognizing that recovery is not complete until every person has a safe place to call home. For many, Cedar House becomes the bridge from crisis to stability—where individuals rediscover hope, rebuild family connections, and prepare for lasting independence.

This month, we invite our community to join us in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting efforts to end homelessness. Whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, every act of compassion brings us closer to a future where recovery and housing are accessible to all.

At Cedar House, we know that healing happens one person—and one home—at a time.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 21:19:31 GMT

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.

From Rock Bottom to Valedictorian

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 21:26:16 GMT

Nikki's Journey of Recovery and Hope

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.

3 Surprising Facts About Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Mon, 05 May 2025 14:22:17 GMT

The journey toward sobriety is as unique as the individual who embarks upon it. With countless myths and stereotypes surrounding drug and alcohol rehabilitation, distinguishing fact from fiction can be daunting. For those seeking a path to recovery or looking to support a loved one, understanding the realities of rehabilitation can provide both hope and insight. Below are some lesser-known, yet crucial, aspects of drug and alcohol rehab.

1. Programs Can Be Customized

While many believe rehab treatments follow a one-size-fits-all model, the truth is quite the opposite. Rehabilitation programs are often tailored to address the specific needs of an individual, taking into consideration their substance of abuse, personal history, and any underlying psychological issues. By customizing treatment plans, rehabilitation centers can offer more effective strategies for recovery, because what works for one person might not necessarily be effective for another.

2. Only 10% of Those in Need Receive Treatment

Another surprising fact is the staggering gap between the number of individuals suffering from addiction and those receiving help. Close to 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% of them receive treatment, according to Addiction Center. The reasons for this gap are multifaceted, ranging from societal stigma and financial constraints to a lack of awareness about available rehab options. Encouraging public discussion around addiction could potentially bridge this gap and drive more individuals toward seeking the help they need.

3. Relapses Aren't Considered Failures

It's a common misconception that relapse signifies failure. However, relapse is often a part of the recovery process and can provide essential learning experiences that contribute to long-term sobriety. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs often focus on equipping individuals with coping strategies to manage triggers and challenges. By viewing relapse as an opportunity to reassess and strengthen one's approach to sobriety, individuals are better able to maintain positive momentum in their recovery journey.

Breaking down the barriers and misconceptions surrounding drug and alcohol rehabilitation is critical for encouraging more people to seek help. By understanding the intricacies and dispelling myths related to rehab, individuals struggling with addiction and their loved ones can make informed decisions. Greater awareness and societal support symbolize the first steps toward healing and creating a community that embraces recovery.

At Cedar House Life Change Center, we believe recovery is possible for everyone, no matter where they start. Reach out today to learn how our personalized, compassionate approach to drug and alcohol rehab can support you or your loved one on the path to lasting change.

Guided By the Lighthouse

7000873882 — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:46:14 GMT

When Steven was in his final days of treatment at Cedar House, he took time to write about his experience and share his story with his group. This is his heartfelt reflection in his own words:

My name is Steven, and I am a recovering drug addict. Throughout my life I have used a variety of drugs from marijuana, cocaine, meth, and heroin to fentanyl. There would be times when I would hear people share and say that they are just like me. But I am not going to do that today, because I have no idea of what your stories are. What I would like to do is share a little bit of my story and what I have been through, and maybe you can relate to it.

In my story, I took a path with so much pain and adversity. I would hide the pain from everyone. At a very young age, I was molested. This started my journey of PTSD and drug addiction. I would hide and isolate from people because I was terribly afraid of what people would think of me. I felt ashamed for what had happened to me. So, when my sister offered me drugs at a young age, I did them with her, and I felt a sense of relief. It would numb the pain and embarrassment that I felt from what had happened. My self-pity drove me into doing more and more drugs. I would blame myself for what that person did to me. I was so angry that I had no control over what had happened. I was just a child. I bottled up my feelings and buried them deep down inside. It would eat at me every day -- day in and day out. Growing up, the pain would lurk its ugly head. The worst it ever got was when I was alone in the dark. I felt so much fear growing up. This is something I had to overcome and learn from.

Life is so interesting. It makes us walk through different paths of choices. We are unable to see the destruction and pain we are about to go through. These challenges mold us and makes us the people we are today. There are two experiences that I would like to share with you today. The first is my divorce and the second is the death of my sister. These events steered me into a life of addiction, and I hope my message can help change at least one life. I know that I felt exhausted from the life of chasing -- chasing for a cure that would never appear.

My divorce was not something simple. It ate at me every day. I got there through a series of issues that happened. I was fired from my job. I had to sell my home that I bought for my now ex-wife and my unborn son. I sat and cried in my son's room alone because I felt like a failure. During all of this, I was hiding my addiction until I couldn't handle it anymore. My wife found out and kicked me out of our apartment. I felt so angry, I felt like she threw me out like trash. I was acting like a child, instead of dealing with it like I should have. I was so hard on myself. I felt like I was losing control, but the lesson to this is to allow things to go. I needed to surrender to this. I also learned that I needed to ask for help instead of hiding from the issues. This takes me to my next lesson -- when my sister passed.

When my sister passed away, it was seven days of hell. She passed due to multiple abscesses, one on each arm and one in her stomach. I stayed up for seven days changing her bedding because she would either defecate or urinate on herself. I cleaned her and watched her as she tried to sleep but couldn't because of the pain. I tried to plead with her to let me call 911 because at the time, I had no idea what was happening. She would say, "No, I want to wait for mom to come home." Our mother was away on vacation visiting family out of the country and would return in seven days. I can still hear her cries of agony, day after day. She made me promise that I wouldn't call 911 until our mother returned. So, I kept that promise and kept her secret. I never knew what an abscess was and how serious it would become. After the 7 days were up, our mother returned home. The next morning, we called 911. My mother was frantic and didn't know what to do. Even in agony my sister lied to the EMTs; she said nothing about her use. My sister wanted our mother to not find out her secret. I couldn't stay quiet any longer, I told the EMTs everything, but it was too late. My sister passed away after two days. The doctors tried to take the contaminated blood out of her system, but nothing they did helped. It was just too late.

Prior to all of this, I would plead with my family to help my sister. They just did not want to believe that there was a problem. During her funeral, everyone was upset and saying they could have done this or that. I was so disgusted with my family that I didn't attend. I wanted to remember my sister by the good times and not the last seven days of her life. I felt so much guilt over what had happened. I had to deal with the pain. I had to let go of the resentment, anger, fear, sadness, judgement, secrets, hurt, blame, and guilt. I had to put my faith in something more. I had to put my faith in a higher power. So, I had to make some changes in my life. I started making commitments.

Making a commitment every day to stay sober requires faith. If I make the necessary changes, things will get better. I need to accept that some choices and things are out of my control, and I need to be okay with that. I will trust myself in making the changes that are needed and have pride in myself. My selfishness will be in my sobriety and not in negative actions towards people. Faith can be anything I desire it to be.

Cedar House has taught me to take responsibility in myself, my actions, my behavior and, most importantly, in my addiction. Throughout this journey, I have learned to love myself again, to work on my character defects, and to gain so many new brothers in sobriety. In life, so many people make mistakes, and you can choose to get up and make the necessary changes or get beat down. And I was beat down over and over again. I walked into rehab beaten, bruised, and broken. It was challenging, but over time the bruises healed and the bones that were broken started to heal as well.

I am grateful to overcome the mountain of rehabilitation. I didn't do this by myself. It took a brotherhood of men who were broken and beaten, too. We all faced our fears in our own time. It also took the patience and care of our counselors. They gave us guidance and advice that we desperately needed. They were the lighthouse to our battered ships. Without them we wouldn't know which way to steer. To my brothers in the war for sobriety, I say, my love goes out to you, to the ones who are healing, and to the ones who still need help. To the staff of Cedar House, no amount of gratitude will express how much I am thankful for. You revived my broken soul.

I will end with one final thing to my brothers, you're not alone.

The Company She Kept

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:39:10 GMT

As a teenager, Sabrina overcame the challenges of bouncing around numerous foster and group homes, frequently being rejected for her sexuality. She emancipated from the system and prepared herself to start school. The company she kept, unfortunately, led her down a dark path instead.

The young woman with whom Sabrina had a relationship since the age of 15 was a drug addict. She used meth on a regular basis and tried to convince Sabrina to join her. Sabrina wasn’t interested. As a matter of fact, she argued with her girlfriend time and again begging her not to use. But ultimately, there came a time when Sabrina lost that argument and was persuaded to try using meth herself.

She was living in a group home in Pasadena when it happened. Sabrina said, “I can’t count how many group homes and foster homes I had lived in.” Her girlfriend and roommate surprised her by using meth in her room while she was in the shower. She said, “I was scared of meth. I wouldn’t touch it.” When she entered the room and saw that they were using, they fought for a long time before her girlfriend finally said, “If you love me, you’ll try it.” And that was the final straw.

Shortly after that first experience with meth, Sabrina and her girlfriend, both addicted, were kicked out of the group home. She was homeless, hadn’t started school and was barely getting by with cash aid and food stamps. Even at times when Sabrina wasn’t interested in getting high, her girlfriend would manipulate her into using.

Sabrina lived under a bridge on a binge in Pomona for three years. During that time, she met up with an old boyfriend which led to an unexpected pregnancy. She said, “I didn’t even know I was pregnant until I went into labor. I was so high and so skinny.”

The paramedics immediately took the baby girl away, but that was a turning point for Sabrina. She said, “I fought tooth and nail to get her back.”

Her social worker asked if she would be willing to go to rehab in order to gain custody of the baby, and Sabrina wholeheartedly agreed. She called every day to inquire about getting into a residential program. In March 2018, she was admitted to the Maple House program. She simply wasn’t ready. During her stay at Maple House, she was rude, disobedient and angry. By May she had made very little progress, and her behavior led to her dismissal from the program.

A few months later, she entered another rehab program where she served as kitchen coordinator and began to make some progress toward sobriety. She got in trouble there for breaking rules and was dismissed from that program as well. Next, she tried an outpatient program and continued staying clean and sober. She moved into a sober living facility. When one of her drug tests came out questionable, she had to leave that home, too. She said, “I ended up losing my home and losing faith again. I went back to the streets in Pomona.”

On February 21, 2019, her social worker managed to get her back into the treatment program at Maple House. This time she was ready. She loved her counselors and learned so much from them.

Sabrina said, “They really helped me through it. Rosanna opened my mind. Rita taught me to cook and gave great advice. They were always there to listen, and they motivated me to do good. I could talk to them instead of getting angry.”

At Maple House, Sabrina learned the importance of surrounding herself with kind-hearted people who not only care about her, but also continuously build her up to be the woman she was born to be. She has been sober for nearly two years and is the proud mother of two young girls.

Just Enough

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:30:35 GMT

Eduardo checked the gas gauge of his green Honda and realized he was almost empty. With no cash, no home, no job, and no family, he knew where he needed to go. And he had JUST ENOUGH gas in his tank to get there.

From the age of sixteen, Eduardo had been abusing drugs and alcohol. In the summer of 2005, he began hanging around a rough crowd and started smoking cigarettes, then weed, then meth. Rock bottom came three years ago when he and his fiancé moved to Las Vegas.

“I started stealing and lying; spending all my checks on gambling and drugs. I lost my fiancé; I lost my brother’s, my sister’s and my parents’ trust.”

Eduardo ended up living on the streets with only his car and his luggage. That’s when his brother told him about Cedar House, and Eduardo realized he had just enough gas to get there. He arrived at 10 p.m. on June 27, 2017.

He said, “I was tired. I just wanted to stop and relax. I didn’t want a pipe in my mouth.”

The next morning, he learned that Cedar House had a waiting list to be admitted into the residential program, but Eduardo had no place to go. He stayed outside in his car waiting until a bed came available. He spent the next 45 days at Cedar House working on changing his life.

Eduardo said, “At first, I didn’t like going to group (meetings), but eventually I thought to myself, ‘I’m setting myself up for failure.’ That’s when I started doing the work, especially learning about my triggers.”

Between learning certain types of music that triggered his addiction to meeting individuals who would significantly impact his life, the Cedar House experience made an indelible mark on Eduardo. He said, “When you’re trying to recover, you’re so vulnerable, but there were some amazing gentlemen that really helped me along.”

One man in particular changed the course of Eduardo’s life in a way he never expected. He said, “I made the decision to leave (Cedar House) because I had reached the peak of my withdrawal. I had so much going through my mind and so many emotions going through me. If I left, I would have just gone straight back to doing the same things, and things would be a whole lot different right now. But Michael stopped me. He sat me down and had a powerful chat with me. He calmed me down and gave me the strength to continue the program. That man really cares about the people at Cedar House.”

We couldn’t agree more. Michael Rodriguez is the Men’s Residential Coordinator at Cedar House and an EPIC Life Changer. We’re thankful to him for his compassion and persistence. And we’re thankful that Eduardo took his advice and persevered.

After graduating from Cedar House, he went to work at his brother’s restaurant. Soon after, he reconnected with his fiancé and children in Las Vegas where he began working at a facility making plastic polymers for medical devices. It’s work that has been steady for him and his family even during these challenging months of the pandemic.

Eduardo says he would not even consider doing drugs again now that he has made so many positive changes in his life. Thankfully, he had just enough gas in the tank and determination to continue with his treatment to change his life.

Thinking Clearly

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 00:01:07 GMT

“What does Misty want?” That’s what Misty’s counselor asked as they worked through her addiction. With her judgement clouded by alcoholism, Misty struggled to pinpoint the answer. But over time, as she continued to work the program, she began to think clearly and discover the truth about what she wanted for her life.

Raised in a dysfunctional family, Misty was a lonely child. She was sexually abused as a young girl and fell into depression. During high school, her family moved around frequently, and she found herself using alcohol to numb her feelings. In her 20s, she was deep into the party scene, using alcohol not only as a comfort but also as a method to feel bold and glamorous. Misty said, “It was a comfort. It was my medicine. It gave me courage to talk and be bolder. I was wittier and prettier when I drank.”

But in retrospect, she said, “I didn’t realize how lonely I was.”

When her boyfriend went through AA, she discerned that her family had suffered with addiction when she was growing up but thought it would never happen to her. As she dipped deeper into her own alcoholism, she would lose her inhibitions and “confuse all kinds of things with love.”

Misty’s first husband was an abusive alcoholic. They had two children together, but Misty continued her drinking habits. She admits that she was a functioning alcoholic but didn’t realize it at the time. She was able to keep up with her job while drinking only after work and on weekends. She said, “It became an issue when I started having a drink before work. It became a necessity; my body needed it to keep going.”

That daily alcohol abuse lasted 4-6 years and did a great deal of damage in her life. But she wasn’t thinking clearly. Even when she lost her job, Misty did not worry. She said, “Drinking takes your cares away and becomes your life.”

She became homeless when the house she was living in was sold. She said, “I didn’t care as long as I had more alcohol.” She became a bartender and bounced from place to place for a place to sleep.

Finally, she began to feel miserable when she was drinking. She said that she became a “mean drunk” and that suicide became a tempting alternative. After a couple of failed suicide attempts, she said, “I knew I had to quit but didn’t know how.” Fortunately, a doctor told her about the withdrawal management program at Cedar House.

For six days, she detoxed from alcohol at Cedar House, followed by another 106 days in the residential program. During that time, she said, “I learned so much of myself and why we turn to alcohol. It wasn’t just three hots and a cot for me.” She learned that she had developed a mental disorder in connection with her alcohol abuse and worked with her counselors to heal.

About the staff at Cedar House, Misty said she was most impressed with “their understanding of the disease; their knowledge; their experience; and their ability to pinpoint where I needed to start.”

She felt safe at Cedar House and worried about “what’s going to happen when I get home.” After graduating from the program, she made an effort to rearrange her room and her life when she went home. When she found herself starting to get complacent, she went to a meeting her friend was leading. From then on, she has gone to a meeting every day. She said, “You can only take it one day at a time. You have to truly work the program. I am definitely a changed person.”

Misty’s Case Manager Salena gave her a packet with information on feelings and emotions when she was at Cedar House that Misty continued to refer to for answers. She knew that the question: “what does Misty want?” was an important one that she needed to learn to answer by understanding her own feelings. She said, “Those questions are hard when you’ve been clouded.” She is proud to say that, a year later, by taking it one day at a time, she is a changed woman who is thinking clearly.

Keep On Trucking

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:57:52 GMT

Robert’s story is unlike any other. With a dark, violent past, he struggled to see a future without drugs. But after 90 days at Cedar House in 2013, he has built a successful trucking business and is a proud father.

Eight years ago, Robert’s life was out of control. He said, “The addiction was a struggle for me. I couldn’t get up in the morning without doing dope.”

He was up to a quarter ounce of meth a day and couldn’t stop. His wife of 13 years was also an addict, and, according to Robert, their marriage was “nothing but violence and drugs.”

When Robert caught her cheating, he said he “went over the edge.” He received a felony charge for threatening to kill her, but, because of a mental health diagnosis, he was released into the care of Cedar House through the STAR (Supervised Treatment After Release) program. He said, “They welcomed me like I was part of the family.”

His experience at Cedar House truly changed him. He could finally see a way out of the dangerous lifestyle he had known for so long. Robert said, “They really cared for me. They showed me a different way of life that I really wanted.”

After completing treatment, Robert began working at a casino but wanted to pursue a different career path. He called a trucking company that was hiring and got declined because they saw a felony on his record. He went straight to the courthouse to prove that it was not accurate, and they hired him a few hours later. His life was on track until he re-married a woman who unfortunately was an alcoholic, and this marriage was also a struggle. He said, “I wanted so many times to do drugs again but didn’t.”

Finally, he made the decision to leave the relationship and move to Arizona. A few years later, he went to CRST Trucking School and earned his Class A license. Six months later, he bought his first truck. Robert is now an owner/operator of his own business. He bought a house in Laughlin, Nevada, and is in a new, healthy relationship.

Through his earlier challenges, Robert lost custody of his daughter, but, after eight years, he has re-connected and hopes to re-gain custody soon. His 21-year-old son pitches for his university’s baseball team, and Robert couldn’t be prouder.

He recently paid a visit to Cedar House to share his success and thank his former case manager, Michael Harang. He said, “I had been through life-long drugs before Cedar House. Michael was the best person. He lifted me up.”

A Collection of 60 Inspirational Quotes to Guide Your Recovery

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:48:40 GMT

Are you ready to get on the path to recovery? Maybe you've been sober for years and continue to work on your recovery everyday. Or, you might be suffering and feel unsure about whether you can even start battling your addiction. Wherever you are in your journey, Cedar House is here to support you along the way. Sometimes, simple words of wisdom go a long way in motivating you to pursue a better life. Please use the following collection of inspirational quotes to guide you along whatever part of the path you find yourself on today:

1. “If you can quit for a day, you can quit for a lifetime.” – Benjamin Alire Sáenz

2. “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

3. “I got sober. I stopped killing myself with alcohol. I began to think: ‘Wait a minute. If I can stop doing this, what are the possibilities?’ And slowly it dawned on me that it was maybe worth the risk.” – Craig Ferguson

4. “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

5. “We honor ourselves when we speak out for recovery. We show the world that recovery matters because it brings hope and peace into the lives of individuals and their loved ones.” – Beth Wilson

6. “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.” – Mahatma Gandhi

7. “I think that the power is in the principle. The principle of moving forward, as though you have the confidence to move forward, eventually gives you confidence when you look back and see what you’ve done.” – Robert Downey Jr.

8. “No matter how dark the night may get, your light will never burn out.” – Jeanette LeBlanc

9. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

10. “Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking of what we want to become. Sometimes we motivate ourselves by thinking about who we don’t ever want to be again.” – Shane Niemeyer

11. “One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovery.” – Demi Lovato

12. “Rising from the ashes, I am born again, powerful, exultant, majestic through all the pain.” – Shannon Perry

13. “Sometimes you’ve just got to give yourself what you wish someone else would give you.” – Dr. Phil McGraw

14. “Sobriety was the best gift I ever gave myself.” – Rob Lowe

15. “Recovery is all about using our power to change our beliefs that are based on faulty data.” – Kevin McCormick

16. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius

17. “Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” – Carl Bard

18. “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

19. “Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

20. “Don’t let the past steal your present.” – Cherríe L. Morga

21. “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking.” – Buddhist Proverb

22. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford

23. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” – Muhammad Ali

24. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

25. “It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” – Joseph Campbell

26. “If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome.” – Michael Jordan

27. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

28. “I understood, through rehab, things about creating characters. I understood that creating whole people means knowing where we come from, how we can make a mistake and how we overcome things to make ourselves stronger.” – Samuel L. Jackson

29. “Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

30. “My recovery from drug addiction is the single greatest accomplishment of my life… but it takes work — hard, painful work — but the help is there, in every town and career, drug/drink freed members of society, from every single walk and talk of life to help and guide.” – Jamie Lee Curtis

31. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

32. “Sometimes you can only find Heaven by slowly backing away from Hell.” – Carrie Fisher

33. “It is 10 years since I used drugs or alcohol, and my life has improved immeasurably. I have a job, a house, a cat, good friendships and, generally, a bright outlook… The price of this is constant vigilance because the disease of addiction is not rational.” – Russell Brand

34. “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese proverb

35. “I realized that I only had two choices: I was either going to die or I was going to live, and which one did I want to do? And then I said those words, ‘I’ll get help,’ or, ‘I need help. I’ll get help.’ And my life turned around. Ridiculous for a human being to take 16 years to say, ‘I need help.’” – Sir Elton John

36. “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

37. “If it wasn’t for that rehab center, I probably wouldn’t have been here. In terms of recovery, it has been very important for me to be a part of a recovery community, to actively be around my people because they understand me. They get it.” – Macklemore

38. “All the suffering, stress, and addiction comes from not realizing you already are what you are looking for. “– Jon Kabat-Zinn

39. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

40. “Every experience in your life is being orchestrated to teach you something you need to know to move forward.” – Brian Tracy

41. “Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.” – Bernard Williams

42. “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” – Rosa Parks

43. “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” – Audrey Hepburn

44. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

45. “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

46. “I dwell in possibility.” – Emily Dickinson

47. “Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you.” – Aldous Huxley

48. “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein

49. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

50. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

51. “As one goes through life, one learns that if you don’t paddle your own canoe, you don’t move.” – Katharine Hepburn

52. “Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

53. “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe

54. "I went to hell and back, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Then I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in, happy about life and comfortable in my skin.” – Drew Barrymore

55. “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” – J.K. Rowling

56. “Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” – Charlotte Whitton

57. “You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

58. "Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom." - Sharon Salzberg

59. "Recovery is hard. Regret is harder." - Brittany Burgunder

60. "If things go wrong, don't go with them." - Roger Babson

The Value of Community

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:17:57 GMT

Ten years ago, when Jen started residential treatment at Cedar House, she knew her addiction was spiraling out of control, and she needed help. What she didn’t know was what treatment was really all about and the true value of the community she would find at Cedar House.

As a young woman in her 20s, Jen liked to “work hard and play hard.” She earned her associate degree and worked in retail management. During that time, she began drinking heavily. By the age of 29, she had four DUIs. She said, “I would wake up and fixate on drinking. I realized that I was in the grips of alcoholism.”

After trying out meth to sober up enough to drink even more, meth became her drug of choice. Jen said, “Meth is evil. It’s the devil. It leads you to do things you would never do for that next high. I felt invincible, just didn’t care, and ended up losing friends and family along the way.”

From 2003-2013, Jen was in and out of jail and prison. When she got out, she would go back to drinking, using, and couch surfing, while never really admitting to being homeless.

In March of 2013, Jen’s parole agent told her that she needed treatment at Cedar House “or you’ll find yourself back in jail”. Jen said, “I didn’t really know what that was.” But she made the call and entered the Cedar House program three days later.

When she walked in and began the intake process, the admissions staff asked about her living arrangements, and she realized for the first time that she really was homeless. She said, “For me to admit that truth, I knew, this is it. This is my best effort for something different, and I was desperate for something different.”

Now, Jen considers that “the gift of desperation. It reminds you where you don’t want to be. Never forget day one.”

One day, when Jen was settling into life at Cedar House, she heard a group of women making noise in the TV room when one woman joked, “Can we quiet down and get some recovery in here?” Their conversation continued, and Jen listened as they talked about the program and the steps. She said, “They were on fire for recovery! I remember thinking, ‘That’s what I want. I want to follow that!’”

She spent the next 90 days absorbing as much as she could from the groups and people’s stories. She learned to set goals and create a timeline for her life in the next year. Starting with those three months of residential treatment, she mapped out the next three months for outpatient treatment, meetings, and a plan to go back to school for her drug and alcohol certificate after six months. Day after day, she fine-tuned the timeline, which would prove to be a crucial tool for her sustained recovery.

Someone special had come into Jen’s life at that time, but she wasn’t fully aware of her just yet. During the time Jen spent in and out of jail, speakers occasionally came in to address the inmates on a panel. One woman’s inspiring message stood out to Jen every time. One day at Cedar House, the same woman appeared on a panel addressing clients. Jen was excited to have the opportunity to approach the panel that day and meet the woman who would later become her sponsor and dear friend, Ernestine.

Starting with Ernestine and a few close friends she met at Cedar House, Jen built herself a community of like-minded individuals who support each other in recovery and in life. This group of men and women who would attend church on Sundays while in treatment has continued going to church and meetings together for the past ten years. They stay connected with a Facebook group chat and look forward to seeing each other at events. Jen wholeheartedly believes in the value of her community. She says, “We need to have and build community.”

With ten years of sobriety, Jen knows that it took a village to help her get to where she is today. After her time at Cedar House, she continued to follow her timeline with outpatient services, meetings and sober living. She earned her drug and alcohol certification at Valley College in 2015, an associate degree in human services, and her bachelor’s degree from Antioch University in Culver City in 2020.

Since finding recovery for herself, Jen has helped countless individuals learn to live a clean and sober life through various programs. In 2021, she came to work at Cedar House as a Case Manager and continues to be an EPIC Life Changer every day. She said, “The 12-step program teaches honesty and integrity. Learning those things is so important. That acronym EPIC (which stands for Cedar House’s core values of excellence, passion, integrity and compassion) means a lot to me.”

She continues to teach the principles of recovery that serve her well. She encourages clients to make a timeline. She said, “It just makes sense. What are you going to fill your time with? What are you going to do in the next 365 days?”

“Building community. That’s what we’ve done. You have to lose everything you think you know in order to start something better.” This is the message she shares with clients, learned from “a whole lot of life experience.” She said, "You’ve got to turn it around and use it for something good.”

The Power of Stories

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:10:31 GMT

When Tony walked into Cedar House years after completing treatment, he realized that his new perspective on life could save lives. He remembered the power of the testimonials he heard as a client and knew he should share his. What he didn’t realize was just how powerful telling his own story could be. After recounting all he had been through over the years, Tony said, “Thank you for the opportunity to tell you my whole story. I’ve never actually just gone through from top to bottom and told my full story. Wow! It’s just awesome to think how much this recovery thing really works. It’s pretty amazing!”

Think about that. Tony credits the stories he heard at Cedar House with planting the seed for his recovery. For the first time, he felt that he wasn’t alone in his battle with addiction. And now, the telling of his own is providing staying power for his recovery.

Tony’s relationship with meth was unrivaled in his late 20s. He said the first time he tried it, “It was like love at first sight. I knew we were going to have a relationship.” He felt that the chemicals in meth were his companion, giving him courage and defining who he was. After using only on weekends for a few months, he found his own dealer and became a daily user. When he found out it could be smoked, that was it. He said, “I went from being a social person to a recluse. I quit culinary school and spent a year using.”

Fortunately for Tony, he had friends who recognized he needed help. They came to his home and told his mother the situation. She was devastated, but together they helped him get into an outpatient program. For four years, he tried unsuccessfully to quit on his own or attempt different outpatient programs but continued using during that time.

In 2007, Tony was living in his car and deep in his addiction. He was frequently sick and barely remembers how he came to enter into treatment at Cedar House. He knows that he tried calling regularly to get in and was relieved when someone called to tell him there was a bed available for him. He spent the next 90 days at Cedar House learning about his disease and how to overcome it. He said, “They were brutally honest with me and asked the right questions.” That’s when he uncovered some of the childhood trauma that contributed to his struggles. He also learned to accept his higher power and to let people in to help him. Listening to fellow clients and staff share their testimonies empowered him to change his life.

Reflecting on other lessons he discovered during his time at Cedar House, Tony said, “I didn’t know that all I needed was to get some good life skills and give it an honest try.” Near the end of his residential treatment, Tony went with a group of clients from Cedar House to a job fair at Fairmount Park. It was there that he decided to join the Army. He served in the U.S. military for 10 years and moved up the ranks to Drill Sergeant.

Tony said, “Recovery is not just staying clean. It’s moving forward in life.” He is indeed moving forward with his, as he continues his education in pursuit of a human services degree next spring and eventually a psychology degree beyond that, in order to be able to serve people in a clinical environment. In that way, he said that he is “starting to use (his) skills and trust the process.”

Cedar House set me in the right direction. I wouldn’t have felt capable if it wasn’t for Cedar House. They primed me and prepped me to see my value and that my life is worth living.

Between his time in the service and his experience in rehab, Tony learned the importance of feeling empowered. He hopes to impart these lessons on other individuals in need: “Don’t tell me what you can and cannot do. I’m going to tell you. Empower you. You have no idea what you’re capable of. If it worked for me, why can’t it work for you.” He believes in practicing life skills, going to meetings, having a sponsor, meditation, prayer, not giving in to cravings, and believing in his skills. Those firm principles and the strength of his story will take him far in life and in his efforts to serve others in need.

Behind the Scenes

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:04:39 GMT

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.”

A Change to Cherish

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:27 GMT

“I cherished the program. Cedar House to me is sacred ground because it’s where I first learned the 12 Steps and the Serenity Prayer.”

Jerry struggled through years of challenges with addiction, crime, homelessness, relapses and custody battles. Once he came to Cedar House directly from prison for the first time in 2011, the initial foundation was laid for a lifetime in recovery.

At the age of 15, Jerry began hanging around of group of guys who used him to buy their beer. He was a quiet kid who happened to look older than he was, so they invited him to party with them. They convinced him to drink beer and try smoking weed. Although it made him sick, he still recalled the “overwhelming feeling” of being high for the first time and starting to get hooked. He said, “It was a classic, textbook case. It had a snowball effect. Marijuana really is a gateway drug. After that, I got into cocaine, which led to the criminal system.”

Every time Jerry got into trouble with the law, it was directly related to his drive to pay for more drugs and alcohol. He said, “To sum it up, I was a tore-up drug addict.”

By the time he turned 40, he had been in and out of the prison system for most of his life. The court system allowed him to move into a program called His House where he got accustomed to rising at 5:30 a.m. and having his morning coffee over prayers and self-help books with fellow clients. He was technically still in custody but starting to desire a real change in his life.

The Department of Corrections moved him to Cedar House for residential treatment. After 25 years, he was finally sober. He and four of his new friends kept up their early morning routine there. They learned more and more about recovery and started to understand how they could change their lives. The more he learned, the more he wanted to know more. He had so many questions! He would catch staff in the hallway and ask for their guidance to deepen his understanding of the recovery process.

After five and a half months of sobriety, Jerry relapsed. His mom had a stroke and became hospitalized. His case manager took him to the hospital to see her and reviewed the 12 steps on the way there. A few days later, he went with his cousin and stayed overnight. Since he was still in court custody during that time, he wasn’t allowed to return to Cedar House. He stayed by her side for another week, but the stress led to drinking, and the snowball effect began again.

Jerry moved from smoking crack to meth and even both at the same time on occasion, which caused dangerous behaviors and hallucinations. When he was arrested four years later in 2015, he asked to return to Cedar House. He said, “They had really impressed me. They got me sober. I knew the info they gave me was real. It was life changing.”

During his experience with mental health court in sober living, he had some time to think. He was 49 years old and knew he would lose everything if he didn’t commit to his recovery. He visited his counselors at court and perked up when they said his first 90 days would be at Cedar House.

In the Cedar House lobby as he awaited his turn for intake, Jerry noticed another client looking at him. This man ended up being his roommate. At night, Jerry would try to leave the door ajar to read the Big Book by that sliver of light, but his roommate would yell at him to shut the door so they could all sleep. Jerry said, “The Big Book became my bible. I went to groups, worked out, read the Big Book, and asked questions.”

He didn’t want to fight with his roommate, so Jerry would bring his book into the bathroom to read at night. This routine of reading and focusing on the program laid a solid foundation for Jerry. That roommate became his sponsor, and they have stayed close every since. After 90 days, Jerry moved into sober living. He attended Sunday night meetings and panels until 2018.

That’s when Jerry’s mother passed away. He had regained custody of his children, but after relapsing, they were taken back into the system. He said, “I was crumbling. By the grace of God, I realized I was going to lose everything. I realized if I keep drinking and using, my kids will stay in the system.”

He said, “I had to take a deep breath and deal with the disappointment of relapse.”

On Dec. 29, 2019, Jerry committed himself once again to his recovery. He reflected back on the staff at Cedar House and said, “I remember everything they said. I would call and talk to Mike (his case manager). Every time he told me something, it rang true or eventually it would come true.”

Jerry is proud of everything he learned at Cedar House and the fact that he’s been able to mend his relationships with his family. With the help up Step Up, Jerry and his son are in stable housing. Now, he has four years of sobriety and earned his certified peer support license to help others on their path to recovery.

An Eye-Opening Experience

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:26 GMT

“Cedar House opened my eyes to see that it’s okay to need help; it’s okay to be bi-polar; and it’s okay to grow through things.”

Sheri was brought into the world under the most difficult conditions. She was born in a hotel room to two addict parents. Her mother shot her up with heroin to quiet her as an infant which resulted in a lifetime of physical and mental disorders to overcome. But Sheri was strong. Even as a young child, she overcame the adversity. She was blessed to be adopted by loving parents at the age of five. They were LA County police officers and cared for her deeply the best way they knew how.

Sheri always had a strong urge to use drugs and alcohol. She wanted to experiment and explore as a teenager. She said, “I was just wild!” At the age of 16, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but didn’t begin treatment until she was 22. She married her first husband when she was 18, and he was 35. During their first few years of marriage, she suffered through four miscarriages and her husband’s abuse. She said, “I just felt so alone. I wanted to try and get sober.” Sheri ended up getting arrested during this wild streak as she battled her addiction, fear, loneliness, and the shame she felt from years of sexual abuse.

Fortunately, the STAR program was an ideal fit for Sheri. When she completed her time in jail, she went directly to Cedar House for three months through that program. She said, “The staff at Cedar House opened up my eyes. You guys helped me so much.” She recalled that she related to case manager Salena’s personal story and knew that she would learn from her. She said, “Someone was finally going to help me get my mental health right.”

Cedar House opened Sheri’s eyes to the 12-step program, and she began to understand that it’s okay to ask for help. She said, “The atmosphere was warm, comfortable, and it felt safe to open up.” During her time in treatment, the Cedar House staff also counseled Sheri’s parents to understand how to support her through the challenges she was going through. She said, “They were just so angry, but they learned, ‘It’s okay. Let’s pick ourselves up. We can do this together.’”

The last time Sheri used was 12/23/12. She worked the program, got a sponsor, got re-married and had a son. To this day, when using comes up, she reminds herself to play the tape all the way through. She said, “I tell myself that I don’t want to go to jail, and I don’t want to be like my birth mother.”

Today, she continues to go to therapy once a week; she takes the right medication for her condition; and she thanks God every day for the program at Cedar House. She loves to give back and proudly donates clothes to Cedar House and Maple House on a regular basis.

She said, “If I wasn’t sober, I wouldn’t be alive. I’m so grateful for my family, the STAR program, and Cedar House. I just want to give back.”

The STAR Program helped Sheri find sober living after treatment. Once she got on her feet, she found employment with Amazon as a packer where she worked her way up to the human resources department.

Cedar House laid the foundation for Sheri’s life in recovery. She said, “I don’t feel shameful anymore. I feel safe to open up. I was there to work the program and take care of myself. Now, I just try to stay a good human – to always be as kind as possible to anyone I meet. They might be going through it.”

Five Ways to Get Involved with Mental Health Awareness

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:22 GMT

During the month of May, join Cedar House in participating in Mental Health Awareness Month as we strive to raise awareness about mental health topics to decrease stigma and equip people with helpful, lifesaving information and resources. Here are 5 ways to get involved with Mental Health Awareness Month:

1. Educate Yourself on Mental Health Topics

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It is the way we think, feel and act. Our mental health also determines how well we are able to handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. The goal of mental health awareness is to allow the people who are suffering to know that they are not alone and that help is nearby. To start, it can be helpful to take the time to learn about mental health topics including different conditions and their warning signs, ways you can incorporate self-care into your routine, or how to help a loved one who is experiencing a mental illness. The National Institute on Mental Health, The National Alliance on Mental Illness and the American Psychological Association are all reputable sources and great places to start.

2. Take an Online Mental Health Screening

The Mental Health America website offers free online screening questionnaires that you can take if you suspect you may be experiencing a mental health condition such as depression, substance use disorder, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, ADHD, or an eating disorder. If the results suggest you might be living with one of these conditions, we recommended that you connect with a licensed mental health professional next for evaluation and treatment. Cedar House specializes in recovery from addition and co-occurring disorders, and our admissions specialists are just a phone call away.

3. Create A Self-Care Routine

Just as habits like eating well and getting enough sleep can help us preserve our physical health, there are certain habits that can help us preserve our mental health, too. Self-care related to mental health looks different for everyone, so you may need to spend some time figuring out what works for you personally. For instance, you might find that taking regular breaks from social media helps you feel less anxious, that practicing gratitude makes you feel more optimistic, or that regularly journaling about your feelings helps you feel more balanced. Research suggests that maintaining good physical habits, such as exercising regularly, can promote mental health. In addition, meditation can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and may also be beneficial for those facing challenges related to addiction. Mental Health Awareness Month could be an opportunity for you to look up free videos or try an app to help you learn how to meditate to see if it offers mental health benefits for you. Once you find the activities that seem to bring you positive benefits, try to incorporate them into your regular routine.

4. Check In On Those Around You

One way to raise awareness about mental health illnesses is to talk about them openly. Share your knowledge and information with the people around you in order to keep the conversation going and create a safe space for others to talk about their struggles. People who suffer from mental health issues tend to keep these struggles to themselves. Sending a message to let your loved one know you're ready to listen can go a long way. When someone does consider in you, remember the importance of paying close attention to show respect and concern, since they've shown their trust in you. This May, commit to being more intentional about checking in on your loved ones to see how they’re doing. If they seem to be coping with some mental health challenges, you can offer support by telling your own story, offering resources, or simply providing a listening ear.

5. Support A Mental Health Organization

There are countless organizations out there that aim to support the mental health of the public in various ways. This Mental Health Awareness Month, consider getting involved with one of these in some way. Cedar House is always looking for new supporters. You can help us grow and serve more individuals in need by visiting our website to learn more and make a donation, or by simply following us on social media. Leverage your own social media to educate and raise awareness for mental health by sharing some of the information and inspiration you’ll find on our pages. You never know when your message might reach someone in their time of need.

Becoming Reliable in Recovery

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:20 GMT

“Cedar House has a special place in my heart,” Mike fondly recalled his experience in the Cedar House residential program more than ten years ago when he learned to be reliable in recovery. He said, “They gave me the ability to show up, be responsible and be consistent.”

Although he had a stable upbringing, Mike remembered summers spent at his uncle’s house witnessing the drinking, smoking and gambling lifestyle that seemed so appealing to him at the time. When his dad decided to quit drinking, Mike took up the habit around the age of twelve. Gift baskets with alcohol that his father had received over time had collected in the cabinet, and Mike took the opportunity to start bringing the bottles with him when he left for school in the morning. He would buy a coke to mix with whiskey or sprite to mix with vodka, and managed to get away with this behavior for some time. Next, he began smoking weed with friends. He said, “If you had it and you were offering it, I was trying it. I started buying more often and in greater quantities.”

When he tried crack cocaine, he was hooked. He said, “Once that got thrown into the mix, that’s when the story really shifted.” He was able to keep a job for a few years despite his addiction. He became a father and decided that he needed to “tone it down, taper it down, get it under control and be a father.” But it wasn’t that simple. He said, “I just didn’t know what I was up against.” Finally, he got to a point that he stopped showing up for work and lost his job.

Thankfully, Mike had started looking for a solution. He went to a few meetings and even tried entering a treatment center for thirty days. But once he completed treatment, he didn’t make much of an effort to maintain his recovery. Instead, he ended up “back at the dope house five months later.”

In May 2013, he entered treatment at Cedar House. He said, “My life was at zero. I was broken, lost, confused.” During his ninety days at Cedar House, Mike was re-introduced to the 12 Steps and met a group of people that became lifelong friends. They attended church together and found a solid connection during their treatment process that propelled them to change their lives.

He attended panels and listened to speakers who stressed the importance of building a support network. The people he met kept him accountable to attend meetings and work on his personal recovery. He said, “I was able to see the results of people not taking it seriously and how they would fade off. I know a couple of people who are no longer with us because of addiction.”

One experience that truly resonated with Mike was when he snuck a phone into the facility, knowing that this was against Cedar House rules. He let his roommate use the phone one night and immediately regretted it when the roommate began packing his bags as he hung up the phone. The family member he called had convinced him to leave on that phone call, which meant Mike’s rule breaking contributed to his roommate walking away from the treatment he needed. He said, “I understood clearly then that my problem wasn’t only drinking and drugs. My problem was behavior and not accepting simple directions.” His case manager had him write an essay about the experience, and Mike began to learn a crucial life lesson in following directions.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas that year, Mike relapsed on meth, which had never before been his drug of choice. He realized that while he had been blaming cocaine, the city, and everything else in his life, the reality was that he needed to change himself. A friend from Cedar House told him that they couldn’t hang out anymore if he didn’t sober up. He said, “My whole circle of friends from Cedar House was sober, and they were being productive.” At Christmas, when he visited his children with no gifts to offer them, he made a decision to commit to his recovery. On New Years Day, he went to a meeting at noon and hasn’t stopped going to meetings since then.

“At Cedar House, a lot of seeds were planted for me,” Mike said. Participating in groups and the experiences he had during treatment all contributed to his ten years of recovery, but he attributes his success to the group of people he met there.

Now, Mike is a supervisor for a distribution company in the City of Industry. In a recent review, his boss told him that he’s “the most reliable person” he knew. Mike said, “That’s because of the principles Cedar House introduced me to.”

Mike also shows up reliably for the people who count on him. He reunited with his sons and built a solid relationship with them and their mother. He also has a good relationship with his parents and sisters. He said, “They were skeptical at first because they didn’t know the extent of what was going on with me. But now we’ve found peace.”

Through his involvement with Cocaine Anonymous, Mike has been part of convention committees, served as a sponsor, participated in groups, and even ran a regular panel at Cedar House on Friday nights. Reflecting on his experience in treatment, he said, “The panels that came in and shared their experience, strength and hope gave me glimpses of hope and something to strive for. Then I build networks off of that. To be on the opposite end of that panel – that’s a privilege.”

Fierce Encouragement

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:18 GMT

The harsh reality of Zehara’s upbringing came to light when she came to Maple House. She said that her “inner child was crying out for help.” She recalled that, at the age of 11, a classmate noticed bruises from the abuse she was receiving at home. A teacher got involved, and, before she knew it, Zehara and her siblings were taken away from their home. Throughout middle school and high school, she fought with other students and got into trouble frequently. By the age of sixteen, she was pregnant with her first child. She had another child when she turned 21 and moved into a home for single mothers. The second baby’s father asked her to move in with him in Barstow, and so she did. His mother, a drug addict, also lived with them. Even when Zehara and her boyfriend broke up, she still spent time with his mother. One day, Zehara said she was “bored and curious,” and this woman introduced her to meth. " She handed me my first pipe. From that moment, I was hooked."

She started smoking meth every day. Soon after, she got involved with a man who was nearly 50 years old. He was an addict and a dealer. Her addiction escalated, and she went from smoking to needles. She would leave her kids with his mom and spend all her time on the streets with him selling and using drugs.

After she gave birth to her third child, she was able to stay clean for a couple of months. One day, the newborn had a seizure, and they rushed him to the hospital. The doctors found meth in the child’s system, and he was taken into CPS custody. Zehara suspects that his grandmother must have smoked near the baby because she was staying sober at the time. Next, CPS took her other two children, and Zehara started using again.

When they took my kids, I went downhill. She confessed that she used drugs continuously during this time. Even when she had to pass a drug test to continue visitation with her children, she used someone else’s urine to get by. Eventually, she stopped going to get tested altogether. She said, “That’s when the once-a-week visitation turned into once-a-month because I kept messing up.”

When she got pregnant again, she said, “Time was ticking. They were going to adopt my kids out. I was still using drugs, but I’ll be damned if they’ll take my baby.” With that newfound determination, Zehara came to Maple House, but she feared that she had waited too long to get her kids back.

"I had it in my head that they were going to take my baby. So what’s the point of getting help. What am I doing this for?"

The more discouraged she got, the more her case managers would push her to stay focused on her goals. They reminded her that she needed to get sober for herself. She said, “I lost hope, but Maple House kept encouraging me. I learned so much about myself. My inner child was crying out for help, and my inner self got help. I got a lot of things answered about myself. Maple House really pushed me. I didn’t give up.”

After completing 118 days of treatment, Zehara moved into a transitional home for six months. Now, Zehara lives with two of her children in her own apartment in Redlands, and she has reconnected with her family who have been a strong support system for her in recovery. She will receive her high school diploma in two weeks from Redlands Adult School and hopes to one day work at Cedar House.

Zehara reflected on her experience: “I was young, dumb, naïve. I dated a drug dealer for 6 years. I didn’t pay attention to my kids. Maple House gave me a whole different view of life and taught me to keep moving forward.”

"If it wasn’t for Maple House, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t think I was worthy. Maple House changed my life."

What is MAT?

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:15 GMT

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications, in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, to provide treatment for substance use disorders (SUD).

First and foremost, it’s important to note that Cedar House treats each client as an individual. At the start of treatment, clients sit down with their case managers and determine a treatment plan that works best for them. In some cases, MAT is used to prevent or reduce overdose. In others, a combination of medication and therapy can successfully treat the SUD. In most cases, MAT works to help sustain recovery.

How does it work?

MAT is primarily used for the treatment of addiction to opioids such as heroin and prescription pain relievers that contain opiates. The prescribed medication:

- normalizes brain chemistry

- relieves physiological cravings

- blocks the euphoric effects of alcohol and opioids

- normalizes body functions without the negative and euphoric effects of the substance used.

MAT is clinically effective because it provides a comprehensive, individualized combination of medication and behavioral therapy that addresses clients’ needs. Ultimately, the goal of MAT is full recovery with the ability to live a meaningful life free from addiction. Research shows that this approach:

- reduces overdoses

- increases retention in treatment

- decreases illicit opiate use and other criminal activity among people with substance use disorders

- improves birth outcomes among women who have substance use disorders while pregnant

- increases a client’s ability to maintain employment after treatment

What medications are used?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several different medications to treat alcohol and opioid use disorders. These medications do not just substitute one drug for another. Rather, they relieve withdrawal symptoms and psychological cravings that cause chemical imbalances in the body. Cedar House’s MAT program offers evidence-based treatment options that are clinically driven and tailored to meet each client’s needs. We also provide assistance in connecting clients with Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTP’s) or Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP’s) in the area they will be transitioning to in order to ensure a smooth transition and prevent any lapses in care.

For Alcohol Use Disorder, acamprosate, disulfiram, and naltrexone are the most common medications used. While these do not provide a cure for the disorder when used alone, they can be effective when used with behavioral therapies.

Buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone are used to treat addiction to short-acting opioids such as heroin, morphine, and codeine, as well as semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone. These MAT medications can be safe for clients to use for months, years, or even a lifetime if necessary. In addition, naloxone is used to prevent opioid overdose by reversing the toxic effects of the overdose.

Interested in learning more about MAT at Cedar House? Give us a call at 909-421-7120.

A reminder about child safety

It’s important to remember that if medications are allowed to be kept at home, they must be locked in a safe place away from children.

Quality Problems

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:13 GMT

“It’s a lot of work and a lot of stress to get things back that we lost, but these are quality problems to have.”

Nowadays that is the message Jim shares with clients at the recovery center where he works. He enjoys interacting with the clients and sharing his experience because of his great appreciation for how far he has come in his own recovery journey.

Jim’s struggles with addiction started about ten years ago. After long days at a stressful job in the medical field doing lab work frequently from a coroner’s office, he would drink to unwind and erase the disturbing images he had seen throughout the day.

“It progressed to a more constant thing. It really took hold after a while. I needed it every day.”

As his alcoholism worsened, his relationships became strained. He attempted treatment for the first time in 2011 but only maintained his sobriety for about nine months. The next year, his wife left him. After that, Jim managed to “keep it together for the most part” as a single dad, but drinking continued to be a part of his life.

Another pinnacle came in 2017 when Jim got a DUI. He went back to treatment for thirty days but immediately returned to his old habits. His wife came back and took their kids with her. This sent Jim back into treatment hopeful that a different facility would make a difference for him. It did not. After 90 days of treatment, he got out in September and started drinking again a month later.

The following year when his kids came for a visit, he drank the whole time. He had gotten to the point of drinking a gallon of whiskey a day. When he showed up in his parents’ driveway one afternoon, he was inebriated and said things that led them to call the sheriff’s office and have him admitted in Arrowhead Regional Psychiatric Ward. After eight days there, his social worker through the Department of Behavioral Health had him admitted in the Men’s Residential Program at Cedar House.

November 2, 2018, was Jim’s first day at Cedar House. He stayed for 111 days and has maintained sobriety ever since.

After his other failed attempts at treatment, why was Cedar House different? He says it was the caring staff and family atmosphere he found there. His case manager Michael connected with him and even nominated him to be “Res. Pres.”

“I’ve always been a people person but was never really given the opportunity. I started to really care about the other guys.”

He followed his case manager’s example. He respected his approach to treatment and could see that being of service in recovery was a key to sustaining it.

“I really took to heart all the tools I was learning.”

He sought out a sober living facility after graduating from Cedar House on February 2, 2019. He became House Manager a few months later then began working as a landscaper for a children’s foundation. When he got a phone call from a childhood friend offering him a job at a treatment center in Corona, he knew it was the right move. Now, Jim is happily employed as an Admissions Coordinator where he can give back to the recovery community. He has been reunited with his daughter after several years apart. With 22 months clean, Jim still has daily stress and struggles, but now he perceives these challenges that life hands him as “quality problems” to have as he holds tight to his loved ones with gratitude and dedication to recovery.

A Life-Changing Year

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:05 GMT

“When I look back at 2020, it wasn’t a bad year. It was life changing for me.”

With no real support structure or authority figure in her life, Erica dropped out of school in 8th grade. A few years later, when her mother was $49 short on rent, they were evicted from their apartment and became homeless. At the age of 18, Erica moved from place to place with her mother seeking shelter anywhere they could find it.

“The environment was bad. I tried to adapt to it, trying to fit in.”

That’s when her addiction to meth began. She said, “That drug destroyed my life.”

Erica tried numerous times to get clean. She entered different rehab programs but always returned to the same people and the same bad habits. When she gave birth to her first baby, and the baby tested positive for meth, she managed to stay clean for a few weeks. But it didn’t last. After having another baby born positive for meth, she knew she had to make a change. She knew that one more dirty drug test would mean she would lose her girls permanently.

After 25 days of staying clean in outpatient, she was able to enter the Cedar House residential program on February 28.

“I went in knowing I had to survive 90 days. I did it with my head held high.”

Erica maintained a positive attitude during treatment. She knew this time needed to be different. She learned that “30 days can change a habit, but 90 days can change your life.”

Six months later, Erica was reunited with her baby girls. Now, she lives in transitional housing and owns her own car.

“I’m a whole person now. Cedar House taught me to move forward and accept the consequences.”

Erica has been clean for a year now. Yes, that means she got clean during the pandemic. What a remarkable challenge! It’s one that Cedar House has helped hundreds of people take on and conquer over the past 12 months.

“I think it’s a blessing that Cedar House never closed because there are a million people out there in need.”

Understanding Addictive Drugs

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:03 GMT

Everyone is aware of how prolific dangerous drugs are on the streets of California. But do you really know what’s out there and what makes them so dangerous? Understanding addictive drugs that are being distributed in our community is essential. The more we know about these drugs, the more we can work to prevent addiction and overdoses among our friends and family.

Methamphetamine is an illegal and highly addictive stimulant. The short-term effects of Meth include alertness and euphoria which can cause users to become immediately addicted. Long-term use of Meth can lead to problems such as violent behavior, psychosis, severe dental problems, and paranoia. In 2020, 2.5 million Americans aged 12 or older reported having used methamphetamine in the past year, according to the CDC.

Cocaine is an illegal and highly addictive stimulant made from the leaves of the South American coca plant. It commonly comes in a powder form that is snorted or injected. It can also be smoked or administered to the skin. Street names for Cocaine include blow, bump, coke, and snow. Crack is the more pure and potent form of Cocaine, which typically comes in solid blocks or crystals. It is typically smoked or injected, allowing it to reach the brain more quickly and result in an intense high. In 2020, more than 19,000 people in the United States died from an overdose involving cocaine.

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive substance that is synthetically derived from the Opium poppy plant. It comes in the form of white or brownish powder, or as a black and sticky substance known as “black tar.” Heroin is most commonly injected though it can also be snorted, smoked, or consumed orally. In 2020, more than 13,000 people died in the United States from an overdose involving heroin. Prescription opioids, which are sometimes prescribed to treat moderate-to-severe pain following surgery or injury, are also highly addictive and often lead to Heroin use. From 1999 to 2020, more than 263,000 people died in the United States from overdoses involving prescription opioids.

Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic man-made opioid. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) is non-pharmaceutical fentanyl made illegally and sometimes mixed into other drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin. In 2020, more than 56,000 people died from overdoses involving synthetic opioids, including IMF.

Ecstasy is an illicit drug often used by high-schoolers and young adults. It is considered a party or rave drug and is dangerous because it can lower inhibitions. Its psychoactive effects include enhanced sensory perception. Ecstasy is most commonly taken orally in pill form or dissolved in water but can also be snorted or injected.

Hallucinogens, like LSD, PCP, Mushrooms, and Salvia, are all examples of psychoactive or mind-altering drugs. While an addiction to this type of drug is less common than other drugs, use and abuse of these substances can cause dangerous consequences and severe negative side effects.

Inhalants include household items such as spray paints, markers and cleaning supplies which are inhaled through the mouth or nose in order to achieve a high. Inhaling certain types of these substances can lead to heart failure, resulting in death.

Marijuana is one of the most commonly abused addictive substances. The main psychoactive ingredient, THC, causes temporary euphoria followed by drowsiness, slowed reaction time, and increased appetite. Synthetic Marijuana refers to the growing number of manufactured substances that contain a chemical similar to THC. Its effects can be unpredictable and intense.

While the decision to use one of these drugs for the first time is usually voluntary, an unexpected addiction can make the decision to quit much harder. Addiction changes the way a person’s brain operates and, consequently, the way that person behaves.

The good news is that Cedar House is here to help. As long as these deadly drugs are on the streets, people in our community will be susceptible to them. The dedicated staff at Cedar House is committed to empowering those who are suffering with substance use and co-occurring disorders through the challenges of addiction. Support our mission today. Together, we can make a change. We can combat the drug culture and bring about a safer, healthier community.

Blessed by the Program

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 00:16:02 GMT

When Tammy reflected on her Cedar House experience, she said that she has been “blessed by this program since day one.” The program took her from a deep addiction to methamphetamines and opiate pills to a new life where she is able to support other women suffering in a similar way.

Tammy grew up around drugs and alcohol. She entered the foster system at age 13 and spent her teenage years in and out of foster homes and juvenile hall. She started using meth and drinking every day. For more than 37 years, Tammy suffered with substance use disorder. During those years, she not only spent time in county jail and prison, but she also lost her children which drove her deeper into her addiction.

Tammy came to Cedar House on April 15, 2019. She said, “This was the best decision I have ever made for myself.” After two weeks in the withdrawal management program, she began residential treatment for 90 days. At Cedar House, Tammy learned about her addiction and how drugs affected her brain. She learned about the release of dopamine and endorphins and about how long it takes to recreate new neural paths in her brain. She learned coping skills and grounding techniques as well as how to identify red flags in her life. In addition, she was able to reconcile her trauma and PTSD from childhood. She said, “Today I have 2 years 3 months and 18 days clean and sober.” Before treatment, she had not been able to stay clean for more than 18 months which was during the time she was incarcerated.

Cedar House hired Tammy as a Perinatal Support Specialist in 2021, and she enrolled at San Bernardino Valley College to become a certified drug and alcohol counselor. Since graduating she has taken her recovery very seriously by regularly attending Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and staying connected to her sponsor and sponsor family. She said, “I have taken what I have learned from this program and have changed into a positive and responsible woman who loves living life clean and sober. I have found a new way of living. I love Cedar House and all the staff here. I have been blessed by this program since day one.”

She found a new life in her recovery and was happy to share, “Today my children and three beautiful grandchildren are in my life, and we all have a beautiful relationship. My children have forgiven me for my past and are proud of me. We now go bowling, camping, amusement parks, and fishing together. I am so blessed with where I am in my life today. I am thankful to my higher power and to Cedar House and to the rooms of Narcotics Anonymous.”