On August 29, 2012, we had our first Alumni Friends and Family Dinner. This was the first Alumni Social that was open to friends and family of Stepping Stone graduates. We had a terrific turnout and it was a wonderful opportunity for our alumni who have completed treatment to come back to mix and mingle with those currently in treatment at Stepping Stone.

Please help us continue to celebrate moving forward in our life of recovery by joining us at our next alumni social, November 15, 2012, from 6-9 p.m. at Stepping Stone. Your presence is proof that treatment and recovery work through good times and bad. Remember, your attendance is a form of service and encouragement to others who are newly sober and clean. If you have more than a year in recovery you may speak to the community, if you wish. Your involvement in alumni events is critical to the ongoing success of our program and for those who have gone through treatment who might need help.

For information about transportation or lodging, please contact our alumni department. RSVPs are requested to ensure everyone has plenty of food. Please call Patti at 1-800-833-9057 or email her at ptompkins@steppingstonecfr.com. We look forward to hearing from all of you!

Stepping Stone Center for Recovery's Alumni Program believes in the idea of community and helping another stay clean and sober. You can play an important role in helping others stay sober by sharing your own experience, strength, struggles and hopes. Sharing your story might just help another struggling alcoholic or addict to enter or re-enter treatment. It might also give another addict or alcoholic the strength to maintain his or her recovery.

If you would like to share your story, please call Patti Tompkins at 1-800-833-9057 or email her at ptompkins@steppingstonecfr.com.

When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile. Alumni, let's support one another!

Alumni group meetings are a time to share your experience, strength and hope with fellow alumni of SSCR. We encourage our newest alumni to attend these meetings and meet with other alumni who have put time and effort into their recovery. This is a way to inspire, motivate and support one another in maintaining abstinence. Sharing our journey in recovery, including the ups and down of living, provides each of us with a different perspective and the hope to keep moving forward as recovering addicts and alcoholics. Whatever your sobriety date is, come join your fellow alumni as we travel the road of recovery!

Jacksonville, Florida

We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Lakeview Health North (in the game room) from 7-8 p.m.

Lakeview's address is:

1900 Corporate Square Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32216

Please join us on the following dates:

• Wednesday, October 24th**
• No November Meeting
• Wednesday, December 19th**

**Starbuck's coffee and sweet treats will be provided.

1. Name & age
Freddie M. 58 years old

2. What is your sober/clean date?
January 4, 2009.

3. What are you recovering from?
Heroin and alcohol addiction

4. Why did you decide to go to an inpatient treatment program?
I decided to go to treatment because I was tired of living the way I was living. The decision to go to treatment was made by my church family, my family, and me.

5. What did you learn about yourself and your disease while you were at SSCR?
Negative Consequences:

• D.U.I., New Year's Eve 2008.
• Removal from prison ministry
• Removal from deaconship in the church
• Removal from the choir

What I really learned about myself in treatment was my total self-centeredness, and in order to start the recovery process I must listen, and stop thinking I know everything. I was very close-minded and needed to become open-minded.

6. While in treatment you were introduced to the idea of changing people, places and things. What changes have you had to make on your journey of recovery?
The most important change that I made in recovery was the changing of people, places and things that would harm or put my recovery in jeopardy.

7. How do you maintain your sobriety today?
I maintain my sobriety today by having worked the 12 steps with a sponsor. Attending the Celebrate Recovery Program, and working their 12 steps and 8 principles. I go to meetings, I have a home group, and a service position at my home group. I have an awesome network of positive people who want nothing but the best for me. Another important part of my recovery is not taking on more than I should.

8. What would you say to someone to help them make the decision to go to inpatient treatment?
I would tell them my story and how inpatient treatment helped save my life. In my life before inpatient treatment, I cared nothing about my family and friends nor myself. My whole life was centered around nothing but using, in the end, that did not even work anymore.

9. Give an example of a situation you have done differently since maintaining your recovery.
At this time in my life, relations with my wife and 16-year-old daughter are being restored. I still attend the same church, and they welcomed me back with open arms, and love. Before I would have never gone back because of shame, but recovery taught me to face my wrongs and make amends whenever possible.

Stepping Stone Center for Recovery was indeed a stepping-stone for getting my life in order. After leaving, I have completed Catholic Charities Professional Counselors Education Program, a six-month program. I have just completed my first full-time year at The Catholic University of America, Metropolitan School of Professional Studies. I have my classes for the fall semester 2012, full-time, which starts August 28. My first year at the university, I obtained 4 A's and 4 B's.

Stepping Stone Center for Recovery played an intricate part in my recovery process, in my staying clean, and getting sober. They also were a big plus in my becoming a productive person and citizen in society. They gave me all the information that was needed to be successful in recovery; all I had to do was implement it into my life.

There are many forms of addiction, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping and food. We all know it is very difficult to break the pattern of addiction, no matter what it is. Sometimes an addict will switch addictions and not realize it. It is imperative for people, especially those in recovery, to be aware of their addictive traits.

Behaviors such as eating, shopping, gambling and sex can easily become substitute addictions for one another. With addiction you are not in control of your choices due to chemical changes that take place that are both physical and psychological. It is important to be aware of your behaviors and learn to recognize if you are participating in addictive patterns or not. For example, if you are a drug addict in recovery and find yourself shopping to change your feeling or mood, you may be substituting shopping in place of using drugs.

Always keep in mind that just about everything in life has to be approached with moderation, with the exception of a few things. If you feel you are becoming addicted to something and would like to seek help, please call 1-800-833-9057.

This program is designed to connect newly discharged patients with recovering alumni. The buddy system will help those just out of treatment stay focused while building their local support group. If you are interested in becoming a buddy volunteer, you must have at least one year clean and sober, attend meetings and work the 12-step program.

If you are interested, please contact Patti Tompkins at 1-800-833-9057 or email her at ptompkins@steppingstonecfr.com.

Your participation will help you and others stay clean and sober. "You have to give it away to keep it!"

Help support long-term recovery and use our Alumni Support Services help line to refer others to Stepping Stone Center for Recovery. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Alumni Support Services at 1-800-833-9057. There are resources available.