It is never easy to ask for help. That especially can be the case if you’re suffering from substance use disorder. When you’re ready to seek help, the Avera Addiction Care Center can be a place to turn to.
Jay Albertson has reached 38 months of sobriety this month.
While it is quite the accomplishment, it wasn’t always easy getting here.
“I probably drank my first time in high school and probably partied as much as any teenager or college aged student would,” said Albertson. “I think when things started to kind of make themselves a problem, I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I went to college the first time, I knew I liked to party so that took precedence over everything.”
“The thing that took a big change was I stopped just drinking at night. I would drink in the morning and then that became to the point that if I wasn’t working, I was just drunk all day,” said Albertson.
This went on for about five years, when one day, Albertson decided it was time to get some help.
He turned to the Avera Addiction Care Center.
What is the Avera Addiction Care Center?
“We have an interdisciplinary team made up of psychiatrists, internal medicine, nursing staff, therapy staff, and so our patients receive that 24 hours nursing care, they receive psychiatry treatment throughout their stay, and individual and group therapy,” said addiction services manager, Alyssa Dahl, LCSW, LAC. “We are able to treat both mental health and substance use at the same time.”
He completed the 28-day program, but eventually turned to drinking again.
“It went on for about three months and December 3rd of 2021 was the last time I had a drink,” said Albertson.
He came back to the Addiction Care Center. This time was different.
“The second time I came back, I knew the facility, I knew they would take care of me, I knew what to expect,” said Albertson. “Here they really understand what addiction is like and they’re sympathetic, they’re not here to judge you, they’re just here to give you the tools you need to get out of the hole you are in.”
Resources That Help in Treatment and Recovery
One of the tools that really stood out to Albertson was art therapy.
“While I was in treatment, the group therapy and one on one therapy was great, having that community of people that are going through the exact same thing you are is helpful. One big aspect I took away from here was art therapy,” said Albertson. “It became an integral part of my recovery process, I picked up collage making.”
“Seeing Jay’s progression throughout his 28 days physically, we take a picture on day one just for a badge, but then reflecting on that picture on day 28 when they are walking out our doors is oftentimes a drastic change,” said Dahl.
Seeing Success After Completing the Program
He even had the chance to have an art show at a local coffee shop.
“All that stuff seemed impossible at the time but you make one change and then you get the confidence to make a couple other changes and eventually you have a whole new life. It’s amazing,” said Albertson.
The Avera Addiction Care Center has been a resource in the community for just over five years now. And during that time it has played a vital role in recovery for those dealing with a substance use disorder.
People like Albertson are a testament to that success.
“They do the really hard work when they’re here, we see them progress in regards to the development of coping skills and improvement in mental health symptoms, those kinds of things,” said Dahl.
“Coming to treatment can be a humbling experience but it’s OK to say ‘I can’t do this on my own.’ It’s more important that you get healthy and stay alive for your loved ones than to be prideful,” said Albertson.
Albertson is back in school planning on getting his master’s degree.
He was also a recipient of an Emily’s Hope scholarship. Emily’s Hope is a non-profit that aims to remove the stigma surrounding substance use disorder while also removing financial barriers for treatment. The scholarships help support the cost of treatment at the Avera Addiction Care Center.
