A recent article in The Sun-Sentinel took a look at the phenomenon of sober living residences in Broward and Palm Beach County. As part of the research for this article the writer contacted The Solution for background information. After a forty-five minute conversation during which I was as helpful and sincere as I could be the writer culled out a comment that I had made, out of context, and presented it in a way that appeared that I was critical of the whole sober living concept. He also misrepresented the audience of The Solution. It was no surprise then when I heard from my good friend Dave DeOreo at The Florida House that he and others providing quality sober living had been badly treated in the article.
It is unfortunate that in this day and age of negative journalism, quick and dirty reporting and sensationalism that someone with no experience or understanding of the recovery movement can be put in a position to harm people who are out there in the trenches helping others.
There is an old program quote that says “there is a wrench for every nut in the program” and this concept applies to treatment centers and sober living environments. Where a large facility may be a good fit for some a small facility will work for others. Where a christian based house works for some a twelve step based house will work for others. Where a highly structured environment is good for some a less structured facility will work for others.
Anyone with even a limited knowledge of our program knows that one’s recovery is contingent on a contact with a higher power. This contact can be found at South County Mental Health, Hanley-Hazelden, DAF or any one of the dozens of treatment centers and sober living environments in our area. All provide residents a wonderful opportunity to connect with a higher power and to gain and maintain sobriety.
The Florida House was singled out by the Sun-Sentinal because of a report by a disgruntled active drug addict. All sober living residences have their casualties to the disease of addiction.Wouldn’t it be better to talk to the many men who have benefitted from the program or for that matter talk to the director or go and see the facility for yourself.
Every Friday afternoon Dave DeOreo has a sausage sub cookout at The Florida House. Many recovering people stop in an talk to the guys that live there about recovery. Even someone with no experience in recovery could see, in one moment, the spirit of love, support and recovery that exists there. Scenes like this are occurring all over South Florida where sober living and successful recovery go hand in hand. To paint a negative picture of this phenomenon is irresponsible.
On the flip side, Channel Twelve recently ran a feature on Born Anew in West Palm Beach. Born Anew was started because of the deplorable conditions in the ghetto where slum lords were ripping off recovering men. Gary McGarrity and Born Anew as well as all of the other sober residences have lessened this problem. Gary is non-profit and needs funds. The media will help with this coverage. There is a lesson here for the Sun-Sentinel: become a part of the solution rather than part of the problem.