Substance use and related offense referrals, built around the question of how to live differently rather than only how to stop.
Individuals referred after substance-related charges, including possession, driving offenses, and offenses committed while under the influence, as well as participants for whom substance use is a condition of probation.
Many people arrive believing their substance use comes down to poor choices or a lack of willpower. Personal responsibility matters, but decades of research show there is more to it than that. This program asks a different question than most: rather than only how do I stop using, it asks how do I build a life where substances are no longer my primary way of coping.
Recovery is not measured by perfection but by persistence.
The program draws on approaches with established effectiveness in the treatment of substance use disorders. Participants learn practical skills they can apply immediately, and each week builds toward a written long-term recovery plan.
Participants work from the S.T.E.P.S. Recovery Workbook, with structured exercises, reflection prompts, and weekly summaries in every session.
There is no cost to the referring municipality. Program fees are paid by the participant, and payment arrangements can be made as long as the balance is paid before completion of the group.
A certificate of completion is issued only after a required final presentation in which the participant demonstrates mastery of the skills taught. Attendance alone does not complete the program.
Participants also receive three free individual or family counseling sessions, which may be used during the program or within 30 days of completion.