Sunsets, Sand and Serenity: The First Step Toward Long-Lasting Recovery
The data doesn't lie. A recent survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMSHA) reveals that 18.6 million LGBTQ adults struggle with substance abuse.
But numbers don't tell the personal stories of fractured relationships, loss of employment and other impacts stemming from addiction. The intimacy and vulnerability required to take that first step is no small feat. Newport Beach Recovery Center, located just steps away from the Pacific Ocean, has created a culture of recovery that's both empowering and long-lasting.
While sober living spaces can be found across the country, Newport Beach Recovery Center's boutique setting sets a new standard for evidence-based treatment. The six-bedroom beach cottage, located on the Balboa Peninsula and within walking distance of the center's outpatient facility, has been the beginning of sobriety for more than 2,000 patients throughout its 13-year history.
Led by executive director Frank Hiner, medical director Dr. Rafael Penunuri and clinical director Colleen Young, a dedicated staff guides clients through the challenges of detox toward laying the foundation for long-term recovery work.
"The ability to keep going is huge," says Hiner of the resilience he's seen among clients during his tenure. Whether it's a walk on the beach, the coastal breeze, or the comfortable and well-appointed surroundings within the house, Newport Beach Recovery Center is built for success. Those first five to seven days can be challenging, as the body rids itself from the toxins of drugs or alcohol. But time again, clients display a fighting spirit and resilience to heal.
For the LGBTQ community disproportionally affected by addiction, effective and inclusive treatment may be the difference between life and death. While the SAMSHA study reveals a flatline of alcohol use among LGBTQ adults, illicit drug use has increased, with prescription drugs often being given, took from, or stolen from a friend or relative. Breaking this cycle requires honesty, transparency, and most importantly: self-acceptance.
Hiner stresses that while Newport Beach Recovery Center is inclusive and welcoming, its philosophy looks past the moniker to treat the human. A common defense for those in early recovery is dwelling on how they identify with the outside world rather than addressing the core of their addiction.
Contributing factors such as trauma, coming out, disownment by family members and gender or sexual identity are valid and acknowledged — but an addict is an addict, and "you can't pull the tops off of weeds and not expect them to grow back," says Hiner. Deeper issues are often at play. Licensed clinicians and therapists work with clients to peel back the layers, along with a network of specialists available to address specific concerns.
The State of Addiction
Hiner has seen an increased use of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Often made and sold through the illegal drug market, fentanyl's volatile composition (it can be mixed with heroin or cocaine, often without the user's knowledge) can be fatal. The CDC reports that among LGBTQ adults, "overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids were nearly 12 times higher in 2019 than 2013."
But access to recovery isn't just a far-flung wish at Newport Beach Recovery Center. In 2018, California passed legislation to subsidize round-trip transportation costs for out-of-state clients, enabling those seeking help to visit the Golden State for best-in-class care.
Those first 30 days are critical, but Hiner acknowledges that a month at the beach isn't going to have lasting effects unless the client is committed and has access to outpatient care. Newport Beach Recovery Center's integrated program can offer that valuable next step, advising clients to obtain transitional housing and providing a supportive environment to stay clean one day at a time.
Whether clients choose to stay in sunny southern California or continue their sober living journey elsewhere, Newport Beach Recovery Center maintains a sense of community that crosses state lines. Help for alumni is only a phone call away if clients feel they may be on the verge of relapse. Continued sobriety is a journey. There will be times when life's trials and tribulations may challenge even the most stalwart sober individual, but once equipped with the tools to stay clean, anything is possible.