This past month the Turnbridge Women’s Program attended a two-day camping and adventure program in Bantam, Connecticut called Adventure Recovery, facilitated by renowned outdoor educator and recovery coach, Tim Walsh. Rock-climbing, paddle boarding, and kayaking are just a few of many activities that the weekend entailed.

“The camping trip not only challenged me but helped me find some of my true friends here at Turnbridge,” said Sophie D., a client in Phase II. “I overcame a lot of my fears emotionally and physically. It was overall a very rewarding trip.”

Many clients had some initial apprehension about this trip, but came away from the experience with profound gratitude that they had gone. “The camping trip was an enriching trip and helped me learn that sobriety can be fun and thrilling,” said Neha S., a Phase I client. “Rock climbing was exhilarating. I loved the trip and would definitely do it again.”

One of the phase three clients that went with the group saw it as an opportunity to engage with the girls that were much earlier in their Turnbridge journey, Talicia M., stated “The camping trip gave me the opportunity to get close to the newer girls in the earlier Phases and made me so grateful to be a part of a community like the one we have at Turnbridge,” said Cia M., a Phase III client. “Not every day does one get to escape from the world into a group of sober, strong, hilarious, and powerful women.”

“It was wonderful to see both clients and staff work together to set up camp, cook together and learn new things,” said Turnbridge staff member, Kristen Fetchick. “Between rock climbing, paddle boarding and hiking we had so many opportunities to push ourselves and overcome fears. After the first few hours outdoors, there was a tangible change in the energy of the group. Everyone came together to help and encourage each other. It was incredible to witness and be a part of.”

Noah B. is a current client in Phase III of the Turnbridge Men’s Program.

Growing up in New Jersey, Noah’s difficulties with substances began to come to a head in late adolescence. “I struggled in school and I blew a lot of solid opportunities,” said Noah. “For some reason all I wanted to do was use.” After finishing high school, Noah enrolled in a community college. “Even when I did go to classes I never did any of the work because I was busy getting high.”

The consequences of Noah’s lifestyle extended into his home life as well. “I was making my parents life a living hell,” said Noah. “I was ghost. I would be gone for 12 hours a day. I would come home to eat and then just leave again. All of my money was going to drugs. I was literally just dying.”

During this time Noah realized that there might be a problem, but was unsure of how to go about getting help. “There was a part of me that wanted to stop, but I just didn’t know how to,” said Noah. Noah recalled trying to limit his benzodiazepine and opioid use, but found that he was making up for it by numbing himself in other ways. “I would try to stop pills, but then I would just drink a lot, or I would smoke,” said Noah. “Eventually I would always go back to the harder stuff.” As Noah’s addiction progressed, his relationship with his parents was becoming more estranged and toxic. “I would get kicked out of my dad’s house, then I would go to my mom’s house, then she would kick me out,” said Noah. “I would stay with friends but then they would eventually kick me out because I was just a mess.”

Eventually, Noah was given an ultimatum by his mother to get treatment or leave her home. “I had been using since I was 14, but my first stint in rehab wasn’t until I was 20 years old,” said Noah. “At the time, I didn’t think I was addicted,” said Noah. “I just thought kids my age partied really hard.” After completing his first residential treatment, Noah went to a sober house in Northern New Jersey. “I wasn’t really working a program,” said Noah. “I was just white knuckling it. I relapsed pretty badly and after a short while I was in a motel room, alone.” This relapse was a monumental turning point in Noah’s story, “I overdosed multiple times. I eventually just realized that I didn’t want my life to be like that.” Noah called his stepmother and gave her all the money he had left, and asked for help. “I went to Caron in Pennsylvania, did a month there, and then they recommended Turnbridge.”

Noah arrived at Turnbridge ready to engage in recovery. “I didn’t have any of the tools, I just knew I wanted to be sober,” said Noah. “I was a really angry person. I had a lot of anxiety, shame, and self-pity for blowing all the opportunities I had and hurting all of those people I cared about. [At Turnbridge], I just decided to start listening to people. I made a lot of really good friends here. There have been so many valuable and important friendships I’ve made here and I was really tight with my case manager, Steve.”

“The fact that I was able to come here - you know Turnbridge is really luxurious and it’s easy to be here -- and that my dad was willing to help me after all the times I had burned him... I just didn’t want to disrespect my dad and not work hard. This was a huge motivator for me,” said Noah.

In Phase III, Noah started working for a construction company. “It was a really humbling experience,” said Noah. “It taught me so much about how to manage my time and still go to meetings and work my recovery program while showing up every day for work.” He realized then that he wanted more from his life and that he needed to finish his education. He eased back into it with a single college course. “I had never given myself a fair shot at school, because I was always so inebriated,” said Noah. “So, taking this one class was really important because I had to learn how to be a student again. I ended up doing really well in that biology class and decided I wanted to pursue a career in nursing and help people. I am just really excited about where my future is going.”

Noah plans to stay in the New Haven community when he graduates from Turnbridge. “My life is headed in the right direction for once.”