This month, Turning Point residents and Support Staff members loaded up the Suburbans and headed off to Hogan‘s Alley Paintball in Wallingford, Connecticut. Paintball has been a favorite activity among the residents of Turning Point since its inception and Recreation Coordinator Casey Olayos likes to schedule a trip at least once per month when the weather permits.

“The guys love the competition of paintball,” Casey said. “They split up into teams and have a chance to form bonds among their teammates and cover Support Staff in paintballs. I remember when I went paintballing in Phase I and some of those guys are still my best friends.”

Nate B, a resident now in Phase II, had a great time at Hogan’s Alley. “Paintball was a lot of fun,” said Nate. “It was a cool bonding experience with my team. I think it brought us closer together as peers and as friends.”

At Turning Point, recreational activities play a critical role in the program. It is crucial for young men in early sobriety to realize that it is possible to have fun without the use of drugs or alcohol. Activities such as paintball provide residents with a perfect opportunity to form close relationships with one another, and with staff members, while having fun and trying new things.

Next month, Casey Olayos has organized a ski trip to Killington, Vermont, which is always an exciting adventure.

Jeff S. is a resident currently in Phase III of Turning Point’s Preparative Care program.

As is true with most addicts and alcoholics, Jeff’s addiction has put him in some trying situations, but his path in recovery has led to healing and change.

Jeff began smoking marijuana and drinking at age 12, which almost immediately became part of his daily routine. He experimented with other substances through high school, but was able to keep up appearances until being introduced to opiates in college. Once out of his parent’s house, the drug use escalated quickly while attending the University of Albany. Jeff was introduced to prescription opiates after a kidney infection, most likely a result of his drinking and drug use, allowing Jeff to legally obtain the drug Oxycodone. Not long after, he became physically addicted to the drug and began doing anything he could to get it. It did not take his parents long to realize that Jeff was struggling with a drug addiction. When confronted, Jeff confessed everything to his parents and a therapist and was given the opportunity to attend a treatment center in Florida.

He spent thirty days at the treatment center and left unconvinced that he was an addict. “I didn‘t believe that addiction was a disease,” says Jeff. “I just thought I got addicted to opiates because they’re a physically addictive substance and I only stayed thirty days in treatment because I was convinced I was cured.” Jeff got drunk in the airport on the way home.

For the next few months, Jeff began a cycle of part-time jobs and failed outpatient programs, until a car accident and subsequent arrest brought things to a head once again. He was court mandated to an outpatient program and this time the situation was dire. Jeff’s parents were on their last leg and there were heavy consequences hanging over his head. He had every intention of staying sober. Despite his best intention, Jeff was unable to stay sober for more than a few days and was kicked out of the outpatient program. He was given one final ultimatum: lose all financial support or long-term treatment.

He entered a treatment center in Statesboro, Georgia, and in March of 2014, Jeff came to Turning Point. “I struggled with some things when I got here,” Jeff confesses. “I didn’t really buy into [12-step recovery] at first, but that has completely been lifted. I tried it out, and too many good things started happening to me that totally reinforced that this was the right path for me.” Jeff has had a steady job since getting to Phase III and has a close group of friends who have helped each other out through the difficulties of early sobriety.

Jeff plans to move in with a few of those guys when he graduates the Turning Point program in March. He has also enrolled in an Addiction Recovery Counseling program and plans to use his experience to help others in the future. “I have seen how a good counselor can save someone,” Jeff explains. “I have been saved by some, and I think I can be helpful to young guys who are struggling.”

JP H. successfully completed the Turning Point program, and graduated at the end of September 2014.

JP came straight to Turning Point after finding himself in a Williamsport, Pennsylvania jail cell with several drug-related charges hanging over his head. At 25 years old, JP’s road to recovery has already been long and trying for himself and his family. However, since coming to New Haven, JP has dedicated himself to living a life without drugs and alcohol, and has accomplishing things he never thought were possible.

JP’s issues with substance abuse began at age 14, when he began experimenting with alcohol and marijuana. In high school, JP began using harder substances, such as cocaine, while at parties on the weekends. Then, like many others, JP was introduced to prescription opiates after an injury forced him to undergo surgery. “I was prescribed a lot of narcotic pain medication and pretty quickly became addicted,” JP explains. “After a few years, doctors stopped prescribing narcotics for the pain, and I turned to heroin to fill that void.” JP’s heroin addiction, along with heavy alcohol use, led to a string of arrests that kept him in constant trouble with the law and put enormous strain on his relationship with his parents.

At age 21, after an arrest for Driving While Intoxicated, JP entered his first treatment center. “It was a 30 day treatment center,” says JP. “When I got out, I stayed clean for maybe two or three days and went back to my old ways. I wasn’t done. I started hanging out with the wrong crowd and picked up right where I left off.” Although he heard a message of recovery, JP wasn’t willing to admit that he was an addict and thought that he could manage and control his drug use. He was living at home and working various jobs to give the appearance of productivity, but was typically fired for missing work.

“That was definitely rock bottom,” JP confesses. “I had absolutely nothing left. I had no desire to continue the way I had been. Something happened in that jail cell and I knew at that point I was done.” After fifteen days in jail, he received a call from his parents, who explained that they were willing to help one last time. He was taken straight from jail to Connecticut, and was enrolled at Turning Point.

“I was happy to be at Turning Point,” JP says. “I was ready to change and willing to do everything that was asked of me.” He didn’t immediately buy in to the program and he encountered his struggles in Turning Point, but JP took the suggestions given to him and persistently worked a daily program of recovery. Slowly, everything began to sink in and his outlook for a sober future became more positive. “I did not like looking for work and sticking to the routines,” JP admits. “But I kept doing what I needed to do and finally got a job. From there, everything started to go well. I found a good group of guys that I am still close with and a sponsor that I talk to almost every day. All in all, it was a great experience.”

While in Phase III, JP began taking real estate courses at Gateway Community College and in January he hopes to become a licensed real estate agent. After graduating from Turning Point, JP decided to stay in the New Haven area and moved into a house with a few sober friends. “Some things have happened recently that I thought would never be possible,” says JP. “I have a house today. I have an honest job. I have strong relationships with my family. Fifteen months ago I had no idea any of that was possible.”