The Company She Kept
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.
Each October, Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that recovery and healing are possible for everyone. At Cedar House Life Change Center, we understand that mental health and substance use are deeply connected. Many people who struggle with addiction are also coping with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma—and each affects the other. Treating both together is essential to lasting recovery. For more than 52 years, Cedar House has been helping individuals and families throughout the Inland Empire rebuild their lives through compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Our staff empowers people to overcome addiction and mental health challenges with respect, dignity, and hope. Tips for People Seeking Support If you or someone you love is struggling, here are a few ways to start your journey toward recovery: 1. Reach out for help early. You don’t need to wait for a crisis to ask for help. Early intervention can prevent harm and improve long-term success. 2. Get a professional assessment. At Cedar House, licensed clinicians assess each individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health to create a personalized plan. 3. Find community support. Recovery grows in connection. Peer support, counseling, and family engagement help build resilience and accountability. 4. Create stability. Safe housing, structured routines, and supportive care environments help lay the foundation for recovery. 5. Commit to ongoing care. Recovery doesn’t end after treatment—it continues through outpatient services, counseling, and ongoing connection to support systems. How Cedar House Life Change Center Can Help Cedar House offers a continuum of care designed to meet people wherever they are in their recovery journey: Withdrawal Management and Residential Treatment — Structured programs for men and women addressing both substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Maple House Perinatal Program — Family-centered services for mothers and children to recover and thrive together. Outpatient and Aftercare Programs — Continuing care, therapy, and relapse-prevention strategies for lasting stability. Family Support — Counseling and education to strengthen families and rebuild relationships. Our integrated treatment model ensures that every client receives comprehensive, coordinated care. You Are Not Alone This Mental Health Awareness Month, Cedar House encourages everyone to talk openly about mental health and seek support when needed. Recovery is not a solitary journey—it’s a shared path toward healing, strength, and renewal. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use or co-occurring mental health issues, contact Cedar House Life Change Center today. Together, we can help you find hope, healing, and a fresh start.
When Nikki first realized alcohol was destroying her life, it was 2012 — the year she nearly lost it entirely. On May 12, 2012, she made the decision to stop drinking. That same day, her body collapsed under the weight of years of alcohol abuse. She began bleeding heavily, vomiting stomach acid, and was rushed to the hospital. Her heart stopped. Medical staff performed CPR for 6 minutes and 38 seconds before bringing her back. Nikki survived, but her road ahead was long. She spent two months in the hospital, then entered Alcoholics Anonymous and worked the program. She stayed sober for two years — but like so many battling addiction, she relapsed. Over the years, her drinking escalated to 4–6 liters of vodka a week, often leading to hallucinations, psychosis, and dangerous detox episodes. Legal troubles, family struggles, and her son’s complex medical needs weighed heavily on her. Her breaking point came after her young son — who had cerebral palsy — faced a series of health crises. Despite staying sober for two years, the mounting stress and heartbreak eventually pushed her back into the cycle of drinking. Nikki tried multiple recovery programs, but medical complications and relapses kept pulling her back down. She knew alcohol was destroying her, but the pull was relentless. Then came Cedar House. Nikki says the outpatient program there changed everything. It gave her structure, accountability, and—most importantly—nonjudgmental support. Even during relapse, she knew Cedar House would welcome her back with compassion and encouragement. While in treatment, Nikki endured one of the most devastating moments of her life — the loss of her son in November 2022. In her grief, she had the tools and the people to help. She leaned on therapy, grief counseling, church, her sponsor, and the fellowship of AA. She refused to give up. With encouragement from her Cedar House counselor, Nikki pursued a lifelong dream: becoming a psychiatric technician. She enrolled at Mt. San Antonio College and not only completed the program but graduated valedictorian in June 2025. She is now preparing for her state board exams and continuing her personal growth, sobriety, and service to others. Nikki knows that recovery is a lifelong process. “When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, you have to get the right tools in place,” she says. “The people at Cedar House believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. They gave me a safe place to come back to—without judgment—every single time.” Today, Nikki is living proof that with the right support, a person can come back from even the darkest moments and build a successful life.
Breaking down the barriers and misconceptions surrounding drug and alcohol rehabilitation is critical for encouraging more people to seek help. Read more now.
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