Liberty Graduate Testimonials
My name is Alfredo B. and I am an alcoholic. I arrived at Liberty House on April 4, 1996. I had one week of sobriety, so my Birthday is March 29, 1996. I felt that I needed to detox before I turned myself into an unknown environment, but I was ready to get sober and I believe Larry new I meant business.
I am so grateful to have been pointed into the direction of Liberty House by MAP founder Buddy Arnold. These two men saved my life. Buddy was very instrumental in my sobriety, but Larry taught me how to live, how to think and how to act. Simple things like hygene, common sense, setting boundaries and respect for others were introduced back into my life once I arrived at the house. It was a very difficult transition, but the benefits . . . they continue to be incredible.
Today I am happily married, we own a brand new house and we also have an eleven month old baby boy. His name is Zachary Max, and he is a direct gift from Liberty House. (Without Larry and all the guys at the house, I wouldn't be where I am today) I am a Branch Manager of a large financial firm and I am fortunate to be able to continue on my artistic path. I am a performing and recording artist and that is the icing on the cake. On March 29th of this year, God willing, I will celebrate 12 years of sobriety. Thank you so much Larry. Thank you Liberty House.
Fredo
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As parents, we are truly grateful to Liberty House for saving our son from the addiction that plagued his life, and ours, for nearly 10 years.
Shortly after graduating from high school our son began a cycle of drug use, rehabilitation, periods of sobriety, and relapse. As a result he experienced many of the problems that accompany drug abuse, including the inability to hold a job, poor physical and mental health, multiple arrests, jail time, periods of homelessness, and numerous stays in drug rehab facilities.
Then, about three years ago our family hit rock bottom when we received a phone call in the middle of the night from the manager of the latest rehab house.
Our son had used drugs in the facility, overdosed, and slipped into a coma. The paramedics were able to save his life, but we were in despair because, by this time, we believed that there was no hope that things would ever get any better. We had become convinced that it was only a matter of time until the addiction would take our son’s life.
Finally, after several days of heavy using and homelessness, following his release from the hospital for the overdose, our son had his “moment of clarity” and agreed to try rehab once again, this time at Liberty House. That decision was the beginning of the process that brought about the changes that have enabled him to maintain his sobriety for the past 26 months. He now leads a normal life and is a pleasure to be around. He also supports himself through meaningful employment.
We are thankful to the staff and “the guys” of Liberty House for restoring sanity to our lives. Their approach to rehabilitation provides the inspiration and motivation that addicts need to address the character flaws and behavioral problems that underlie drug and alcohol abuse. Just as important, it also addresses the needs of parents and family members through Family Group meetings that are held each Saturday morning at the house.
The success our son has experienced as a result of his stay at Liberty House is not unique. Through our involvement in Family Group we have been privileged to witness many troubled young men turn their lives around, evolving from chronic abusers of drugs and alcohol to outstanding individuals ready to make their way in society.
Gary and Carol
Westlake Village, CA
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Dear Larry
It is my pleasure to write to you regarding my son Will Sturgeon. On 2/7/08 Will celebrated 4 years sobriety and without Liberty House I do not believe that would be the case. As far as we are concerned as his parents we have our son back. We speak usually several times a week and I always ask him how Larry is? Because without your vision and strength many men would not be sober. You and Liberty House is a credit to society and we thank God for both.
We feel that since Wills stay at Liberty House we now have a real relationship, when he first went in it was most difficult and the regime appeared to be very harsh, but after attending family group every Saturday we realized that it was a necessity to be able to reach the men there. Just this last week we went out of state with Will to visit his 84 year old Grandma and he wanted to know how he could be of service to her, Praise God! That would not have been the case before his sobriety.
If there is anything that we can do for you or the house please let us know, thank you again for all of your hard work and effort, lesser men would have thrown in the towel as many times it is a thankless job, but it is also a gift and a vision from God.
You’re the best Larry!
God Bless
Teri and Paul Mann
Wills Parents
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Dear Larry,
I have been associated with Liberty House since May, 2001. At that time my eldest son David went into the house as a resident. He was almost 18 years old; he had a drug and alcohol problem and he was failing school. He could care less if he graduated or not. I had really no experience with chemical or alcohol dependency and came upon Liberty House quite by accident. It was the best accident that ever happened to me and my family. I didn’t know it at the time but Liberty House by far is what the standard should be around this country. It is owned and run by a recovering alcoholic; their standards in the industry are very high as well as their success rate. My son stayed there for 18 months, he is now almost 24 years old and 6 years sober. His commitment to sobriety is very high and he works a great program. Liberty House taught him how to live as a sober member of society, with integrity; which he didn’t have before Liberty House. The house also addressed the problem of the “family disease of alcoholism” and what we should do to support our alcoholic and each other. I believe this has helped my family members the most. We are all part of the cycle of alcoholism and in order for the family to recover, we must all get well. I wouldn’t have learned this any other way. This house is so special.
Unfortunately, my youngest son Daniel also has the disease. He to went into Liberty House and graduated last May and is currently 3 years sober. I am so proud of him. This disease is so pervasive that even with all of my time around the House and at Al-Anon, I couldn’t save him. But the House has by their structure, discipline and values. This program isn’t easy, but I believe it has saved both of my son’s lives. Liberty House makes each of its residents responsible for their own behavior and actions. They learn and follow the 12 step program of AA, attend meetings daily, are responsible for house chores and writing words as a form of discipline. It teaches them integrity and accountability.
I highly recommend Liberty House.
Sincerely,
Tina G.
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Dear Liberty House,
We are grateful parents of a now 2 ½ year sober graduate of Liberty House. If we had found the ‘House’ before submitting to a local substance abuse awareness program, a local university psychiatric adolescent center, an inpatient ‘Adolescent Treatment Center’, numerous psychiatrists and family therapists, if, if, if. Well, we would have saved years of emotional, psychological and financial hardship.
Our son graduated after 18 months in the Liberty House program. He entered of his own volition, at the age of 19. When he began the program, our son was suffering from a meth amphetamine induced psychosis. We were helpless.
His High School years consisted of chronic substance abuse, horrible grades, not graduating from High School, being on the verge of expulsion several times, running away from home twice and suicide attempts, to say nothing of the girl friend.
At Liberty House, we were immersed in a community of families with similar struggles, disappointments and tragedies. The ‘House’ has a brutally honest approach and gives tough love new meaning.
Letting go, close the door, ‘news, weather and sports’. These are some of the ‘phrases’ we remember from the weekly ‘Family Group’ meetings.
At the ‘Family Group’ meetings, we slowly learned about letting go of our pre-conceived expectations for ourselves and our son, and closed the door on our ‘old’ relationship with him to allow him and ourselves room to change. We practiced a dialogue with no emotion or previous baggage for about one year. ‘News, Weather and Sports, perhaps not literally, but these were the issues we confined our conversation to.
We stopped mingling in his recovery and started trusting in a network of parents struggling together to change. We attended Al-Anon meetings, independent of Liberty House. Al-Anon is a recovery program for people with family members addicted to alcohol or drugs and family member participation is highly encouraged by Liberty House. It helped us discover a new perspective.
The Liberty House structure we experienced invited and really mandated, family discussion of relevant interpersonal issues in the open to the ‘Liberty House’ community. Frequently, sharing would be raw, emotional, embarrassing and challenging to us as parents. Our dialogue resulted in the reward of a new perspective and understanding that we were not alone in our struggles and in many cases were solely responsible for them.
Our most important lesson over the past four years of association with Liberty House and recovery is accepting the independence of both ourselves and our son and accepting that addiction is a disease which requires implementing relevant coping skills.
With gratitude, Trey & Michelle E
