WEBWIRE – Monday, September 22, 2008

Wickenburg, AZ, September, 22, 2008 - Residents of Gatehouse Academy, one of the nation’s leading long-term residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, travelled to Flagstaff, Arizona to attend the Arizona State Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ASCYPAA). The event took place from September 12th to September 14th; its timing coincided with National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. The weekend fellowship brought struggling youth together to openly discuss the trials of addiction recovery, while providing encouragement through group support. Experiences like ASCYPAA help young adults grasp the vision of a clean, sober future.

Gatehouse Academy brought its residents into the cool setting of the Coconino National Forest and provided them with an opportunity to learn and grow on their road to recovery. Academy residents expanded their social network as they met with other counselors and young people from across the state of Arizona. It was a change of pace for these recovering teens and young adults and it gave them a chance to employ the healthy lifestyle practices learned during their treatment at Gatehouse Academy in a new setting. As one attendee observed, "Going out and experiencing a taste of the ‘real’ world in sobriety is very different than the lives we were living when we were using."

Young adults who descended upon Lake Mormon Lodge were treated to more than traditional log cabins and a breathtaking view of nature. The 2008 ASCYPAA was three days of panels, marathon meetings, town halls, and events - all catered to young people recovering from substance abuse and addiction. Attendees were inspired to make life changes through discussions on discipline, honesty, and perseverance; additionally, these young adults discovered concrete methods to successfully make those changes in their discussions on "Living in Sobriety", "Relationships in Recovery", "Working with Others" and "Action in Recovery".

The event also catered to the social needs of recovering youth. Attendees engaged in basketball, kickball, meditation and dancing in a drug and alcohol free environment. The response from academy attendees was positive. For Zach H., an enthusiastic attendee of the event said, "It was sweet! I thought it was really cool. It gave me hope seeing other people my age having fun in sobriety."

For others, the experience was well-needed. Lizzy T., another attendee, had this to say about the experience: "It was the best time I have had in my life in a very long time, a few years actually, and this time I was sober. I finally felt like my old self again, and going to the event gave me a lot of hope for my future of fun in sobriety outside of Gatehouse Academy.

Niki H., who attended the conference, had this to say after the event, "It was great to see the residents come alive with service, sobriety and fun through the conference. I was very impressed with their amount of involvement & excitement. It was a great experience."