More Testimonials

Our boys began to use drugs and alcohol in middle school. They would crawl out the basement window and roam Fish Creek Park. As lying and sneaking out became chronic, so did their drug and alcohol use. Parenting them seemed to become a battle of wits; parents vs kids. We began to feel hopeless as their drug and alcohol use went from occasional use to the most important and driving focus of their existence. We became more and more controlling in an attempt to keep them safe; there were multiple groundings, random middle of the night checks, and times that we would confiscate cell phones to scroll through messages to determine if we had something to worry about. Tensions were high at home as behaviours escalated. There were sleepless nights and a constant preoccupation with how they were doing. We felt hopeless in our attempts to help them, to manage them, and to find answers. And then we found AARC. AARC required our time, our commitment, our willingness to work for something better, and our honesty. And with that came relief, joy, and a renewed relationship with ourselves, our kids, and each other. Our boys have been treated for drug and alcohol addiction and the rest of the family now has new tools to handle the curves that life throws at us. Today we can proudly say…we have a fantastic relationship with all four of our kids. We have our lives back; our future back, and we are HAPPIER than we have ever been. Thank you AARC.

Donna, AARC Graduate Mom

After trying several other addiction programs without success…we learned of AARC. We have found peace and serenity where once there was just chaos and insanity. We have found hope when things seemed so hopeless. Since graduating from AARC’s program, our daughter celebrated her 17th birthday, got her driver’s licence, is attending high school, and continues to give back and provide hope to other girls still in the program. AARC restored our family and saved our young daughter’s life.

Laura, AARC Graduate Mom

Recovery homes are an amazing component of the AARC treatment model. When it came time for us to open our host home, AARC provided us with thorough training and checked our house with the utmost care to ensure safety for all …. Our daughter was trained as a host home old comer so she could provide leadership with the newcomer … Not only did this provide our daughter with an opportunity to take responsibility, regain healthy boundaries, and give back to other young people, it once again modelled to new clients that there is a way out of the disease of addiction.

AARC Graduate Mom

Eleven years ago, as a result of his addiction to alcohol and drugs, my son had stopped attending school, had given up a promising future in hockey and healthy supportive friendships. We were a family in crisis and after meetings with management at his school, counsellors and visits to doctors at the hospital we found our way to AARC. Initially, the commitment to the program seemed daunting and overwhelming, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to my family. Today, I have a great life and am very proud of my son’s accomplishments and successes. When he is not completing his master’s degree in psychology, he works at AARC giving help and support to other youth who have destroyed their lives through addiction. Our family’s return to health and happiness started with our first day at AARC. I will always be grateful to the amazing staff of this organization because they went the distance, no one else would, for every member of my family.

Dona, AARC Graduate Mom

Our life before AARC was a complete nightmare, something that I never ever thought would happen to my family. My husband and I did all the things we thought parents should do with their kids. We went on camping and skiing holidays. We went hiking together, had family dinners, registered them in sports, but none of this could save my two younger sons from getting into drugs and alcohol. For several years, we tried everything we could think of but every night we went to bed praying that they would live to see the next day. I prayed to find someone who could relate to them because I knew in my heart my husband and I were not the answer. I had heard about AARC in 2003 from a graduate of the program who shared her story about how AARC had saved her life. However, denial is very powerful and it wasn't until 2006 that our denial finally shattered and we knew we needed expert help. Dr. Vause and his caring staff turned out to be the answer to my prayers. They could relate to my sons and help them see that drugs and alcohol were not the solution but in fact, the problem. Our youngest son, who was 17 at the time, went into AARC first and then 10 days later, our middle son at 19 years of age, signed himself in.

We spent just over 8 months in AARC and all 5 family members received help. It has been over 8 years now since we walked through the doors of AARC and our life has changed dramatically for the better. We still have our ups and downs but thanks to AARC we now have a true family, one that is not only surviving but thriving. AARC is the only solution for adolescents who are out of control with their addictions. I would highly recommend the program.

Pat, AARC Graduate Mom

If you are reading this and are concerned about your child, I would say to go with your gut feeling and contact AARC.

We came to AARC in 2007 as a last hope that we could save our son's life and ours. We were desperate, lonely, and helpless, AARC was our last hope! Our biggest fear was that our son would die on the streets in Calgary, and that we could not help him. We felt completely powerless, fearful, and helpless. We knew we had to do something for our family.

Our journey in AARC was difficult but so worth it! At the end of our treatment, we knew that it was up to us to put into action what we learned every day in treatment. AARC taught us that no matter what happened to our son, we could live our life to the fullest and that what we all learned was more than we had imagined. The ongoing support we had would mean we never had to be alone again!

Thank you does not seem to be enough, but all we can do is continue to live the program and share our experience, strength and hope with others! Thank you, we are forever grateful!

Larry and Gloria, AARC Graduate Parents

Eight years ago, you would never have convinced me we would be enjoying time together as a family, but we are.

Before we went to AARC, I remember waiting in a restaurant on Thanksgiving because my son’s sister desperately wanted to see her brother who was 16 and not living with us. We were stood up again, for drugs.

When we went to AARC, I was just hoping we could drop my son off and run away. I was a crazy mom trying to shut a difficult son out of my heart and mind. Needless to say, I had become cold person in an effort to cope with my situation.

Thankfully AARC treated the whole family, otherwise I don't think I would have had it in me to ever trust my kid (or myself) again.

We got our family back (now expanded by an amazing daughter-in-law and two grandsons) and amazing friends we still see and treasure. Jordan now works for a treatment centre for young men, and interestingly his young life, though disturbing, provided him with a passion and understanding for others that is beautifully purposeful…and yes, we have even found a way to love and forgive each other. I respect him, and I feel he respects me too.

AARC was one of the most meaningful year of our lives…the beautiful years that have followed that one year would have never happened without AARC.

Paula, AARC Graduate Mom

Survival, existence, chaos, fear and defeat. These five words encapsulated life prior to AARC. I felt obligated to do or provide whatever my boys asked for because I didn't think I had a choice and I wanted to stay connected with them…even though we were so disconnected. I was ashamed of my children and sad for the parent I never thought I could be. Until we graduated, I never realized how much coming into AARC was for me, not just my kids.

It definitely gave my kids a solution and an alternative way to live with their disease. It also gave me permission to live my life and be the parent I always wanted to be but didn't know how to be because I was too ashamed to ask for help. AARC gave me hope for me. I couldn't be more proud of where my kids are today and what they've accomplished. They are good men. I'm also very proud of where I am today and what I have accomplished.

I don't ever want to forget what life was like prior to AARC because I don't ever want to lose sight of the ability to truly live, to feel peace and to be grateful for every moment of every single day. I also know I don't ever have to go back to life prior to AARC, I have the tools to succeed…and that I will!

Steffany, AARC Graduate Mom

Twelve years ago we were a broken family. Numerous counselling appointments eventually brought us to AARC. My daughter had been kicked out of several schools and could not be controlled or loved out of her downward spiral. It's like my daughter had fallen into a deep dark well. Every time she came to the surface she would drag me down with her through more chaos and despair. I watched her become worse every time and I was at risk of hitting bottom with her.

We came to AARC broken and they worked with both of us. We came for her, but I quickly realized that we both needed help. They gave me my strength back and taught me how to live a normal life out of the chaos, even as my daughter continued to go back out and use drugs.

AARC taught me how to stay healthy so that when the time was right my daughter had a light at the top of the well to reach for. Without AARC, I would not have been able to be there for her. Without AARC, I doubt that she would have had the tools to climb back out of the darkness. Twelve years later she is now a junior executive peer counsellor at AARC and has a beautiful family of her own. She lives and teaches the values of living a principled life. I am very proud of what she has accomplished and credit AARC for teaching us what we needed so badly. We will always have the support of the AARC family.

Pat, AARC Graduate Mom

Life with my son when he was in high school was a nightmare. He was always missing classes, failing subjects and out all hours of the night. Weekends were even worse. But denial is a powerful thing, as I was constantly telling myself that he was just in a phase and he would grow up however, part of me knew something was wrong as the last thing I told him whenever he left the house was "stay safe". Many nights I would lay awake listening for him to come home, breathing a sigh of relief when I heard him finally come in the door. When he was home, my sweet little boy had turned into a stranger. He was always angry, on edge and sullen. Growing up he had always been happy, open and full of laughter.

I would like to say that my husband and I found AARC and begged my son to go. But the truth is that it was his decision from the beginning. He handed us the paperwork and told us that the only way for him to go was if we, as a family, supported him. To be honest, my first reaction was that I didn't see a need for us to go through "treatment" as we didn't have a problem! Was I ever wrong!

Our journey through AARC was the greatest gift we could have ever received. We graduated from AARC in 2007 and my son recently celebrated 8 years of sobriety. I am so proud of him and the hard work that has brought him this far. To see him travel, own his own home, work hard and enjoy the company of a great group of friends is more than I could have imagined that first day at AARC. Today life is good! AARC is truly a remarkable program and we will be forever grateful for all it has done for my son and for our family.

Going through AARC was the best decision we made for both our son and family. It was a huge commitment but worth every part of it. Our son has learned how to use the tools he has been given for his recovery, and is now thriving. We believe that what makes AARC so effective is that it is mostly run by recovering addicts, those who know first-hand about this cunning, baffling and powerful disease. We are so grateful for AARC, its dedicated and caring staff and mostly grateful to have our son back. We would go back without hesitation if we were to do it all over again.

Tammy and Andrew, AARC Graduate Parents

Before AARC, I felt lost and alone. I ran around blaming others while attempting to save my son from homicide or suicide. I prayed every morning that God would keep him and those around him safe. As a parent, I felt judged and at fault for who he had become. I believed that I was the worst mother and I was so ashamed of what life looked like. The AARC process was special because it separated me from my addict and my daughter who watched all of this chaos from the sidelines. We were all beaten by addiction! My family actively participated in the recovery process. I knew shortly after getting to AARC that all of our thinking was changing and our behaviours and attitudes were getting healthier. It was a painful life-changing year supported by a strong community and the 12 steps. My desperation was embraced by the care of the AARC Community.

After AARC, life changed. I no longer felt I was to blame for my children and the way in which they chose to live; they were no longer an extension of who I was as a woman. I learned through the process to listen and speak from the heart to keep things real and not pretend about the truth of what was going on around me. I found a sense of self and a community where I could go no matter what happened. A place where I would never be alone again… NO MATTER WHAT!!

Yvonne, AARC Graduate Mom

In three years my daughter went from an occasional user of drugs and alcohol to an addicted user at age fifteen. Her focus had shifted from a life of sports and friends to a life of isolation and confrontation due to her drug use. I believed she was too active with school, sports and music lessons to indulge in idle time with bad influences. I noticed her horrible descent into chaos in grade nine. My husband and I separated because of the chaos and my older children stayed away from home, blaming me for some aspect of my daughter's out-of-control behaviour.

AARC was an oasis from the chaos for my family where we healed our relationships and learned strategies and life skills to help us on our journey together. Today we are back together and a stronger family than ever. Our daughter is drug free and back in high school with a large group of AARC graduates to support her every day. I am so grateful for my life today with my family.

Addiction is a family disease. Before AARC, our family was in chaos. My teenage daughter's life was spiralling out of control because of her addiction, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

As a family, we became confused, frustrated and fearful. After coming to AARC, I watched Carly receive the tools to achieve sobriety and get her life back. My family was also given strategies and solutions to our chaos. I am so grateful to have my daughter back.

Donna, AARC Graduate Mom

Living with Marc before recovery was a nightmare. I never knew what I would be coming home to. I was always checking to see if things were missing or if I was going to get phone calls from the police or having them at my door for something else that Marc had done. I watched as my youngest child was destroying his life. The boy that I loved was lost to me and it tore my heart out. When I found AARC, I couldn't believe that this was the only long-term treatment that was available for kids; however, I knew this was the right place. Anything short-term wasn't going to work for Marc. Family treatment was scary but I knew that by this time I needed help too. We were in treatment for ten months and these were the most challenging and amazing months of our lives. I was challenged to change my thinking and face my issues in much the same way that Marc was.

Watching the courage that it took for Marc to face head-on the disease of addiction in his life has been a privilege and an honour. We graduated from AARC in November 2011 and in January 2012 Marc celebrated his first year of sobriety. Today, I live with two mottos in my life: 'Life is all about Progress NOT Perfection' and 'The best life lived is today, not yesterday's regrets or tomorrow's fears.'

Corinne, AARC Graduate Mom