The Response Winter 2020-2021 - 29

NEW DIRECTIONS
TREATMENT SERVICES
Empowering People
to Make Lasting Changes

This was great, what a mind reader the bartender was !!!!!!!!
After my requisite two or three rounds it was time to get
home because a storm was coming. Out the door I went,
carrying two six-packs and into the car I poured myself,
fishtailing out of the parking lot and into real traffic.
I've often wondered how I only got one DUI in all the 22
years I drank in an open and active alcoholic addiction.
Many times I didn't remember driving home. We shared a
common driveway with our neighbor and so many times
I narrowly missed hitting their car as I careened into our
driveway. Although this one particular time I didn't miss
their car....caught the corner of the bumper squarely and
pushed their car up onto the rear kitchen steps. I didn't
care, my cargo and me were home safe and sound .....let
it snow, let it snow, let it snow !!!!!!!
That was before December 20, 1983, the day I went to
Detox !!! I lost my job (so I thought after I told my Boss
by phone to do something vulgar with the receiver in his
hand), I had no money (robbed my wife's purse for liquor
money ) and I didn't care ( I was wearing a urine soaked
sweat suit, hadn't showered in three days, or shaved, or
brushed my teeth). To this day I do not know nor can
I tell you why or how I went to Detox. My wife drove
and my mother went along, while my father stayed home
drinking yet another bottle of beer. My only explanation
is, " I truly was sick and tired of being sick and tired " ....
little did I realize that mantra was a credo of sorts in AA
!!!!!!
After seven days in Detox, 28 days in a Primary Care
Rehab and 10 weeks of weekly meeting aftercare, I was
armed with a contact, an Alcoholics Anonymous Big
Book and an AA Meeting Schedule !!!!!!!!!!!
For the next 36 years, 11 months and counting, I have
traveled through my life clean and sober, healthy, and
spiritually sound, but always trying to improve myself to
be a better person. I have endured the passing of many
Continued on page 30

NDTS offers outpatient services
to help people recover from mental
health or substance use disorders.

Outpatient MedicationAssisted Treatment
Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic
Medication Management
Individual, Family & Group Therapy
Pharmacotherapy
Referral Services

FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL AND SUPPORT
STAFF FLUENT IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH.

For more information and to
schedule an appointment

610-750-6130

832 North Park Road, 1 Park Plaza
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Monday - Friday 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
Contact us at

www.NDTS.org

NDTS is a private 501(c)(3) non-proﬁt company that
has been providing service since 1980.
29
http://www.NDTS.org
The Response Winter 2020-2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Response Winter 2020-2021
