At one point - 23 years ago - it used to be tough to get away. And when I did leave there was a certain amount of anxiety involved. Did the bills get paid? Was the money getting put in the bank?
And that was back in the day when we used pagers. And the internet wasn't quite as advanced as it is today. But now I can go to my office computer online and work just as if I were at the office.
Aside from the technology, we have a staff of over a hundred people who keep things functioning. They keep new clients coming in and take care of those who are serious about recovery. And those who aren't serious, either get serious - or move on to another program where they can do what they want.
One area where we are especially blessed is that most of our staff has come up through the ranks. As they start assuming more responsibility they’re given more to do. We actually have managers who've been with us longer than 20 years.
And for most of them we've become an extended family. Though we also have those whose families have followed them to Arizona and into sobriety because they've noticed the positive changes in their lives.
The only place we use professionals in the program is with those who work in the counseling program and some who come in to help us keep the accounting straight.
This makes me really proud of our addicts and what they're capable of doing when they set they minds to it.
