Seven Sober College Academy
Students Skydive
into Addiction Recovery from Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Kim
Farber
Director of Communications
818-209-6377
Website
The stage for the event was Perris Valley Skydiving, the largest
Skydiving Center in North America, located in Perris, CA. For
this introduction, students recovering from alcohol and drug abuse
took turns in the Perris Wind Tunnel, a state- of-the-art facility
that allows the full effect experience of actually jumping out
of a plane.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) April 4, 2006 –- Seven
Sober College Academy Students, recovering from alcohol and drug
abuse, were led by Director of Operations, Brian Brekke, LAC,
who is a licensed addiction recovery counselor and a standing
member of the United States Parachutist Association. Brian has
438 skydives to his credit.
“Eventually we will have them jumping out of an airplane, but
for this inaugural experience, safety has to be our primary concern,”
reports Brekke. “Two minutes in a wind tunnel is enough at this
time to give them a taste of another kind of high and let them
learn about overcoming their fears.”
According to Steven Sager, MD, Sober College Academy Psychiatrist,
overcoming fear is a critical factor for a person in early addiction
recovery. “Once these young adults start to experience sobriety,
they will have to begin to work on the underlying issues that
are part of their lives. They have relationships with their families,
peers and themselves that require healing. Fear is a natural reaction
to the process.”
For Kevin, it was a definite first. A 19-year-old Sober College
Academy student, Kevin has been sober for only 60 days. “I spent
my first 30 days in inpatient treatment before coming to Sober
College Academy. I’ve never done anything like this … and at first,
there was no way I was going to. Once Brian explained to us the
relationship between overcoming fear and success in my own sobriety,
I agreed to at least give it a try. Nothing else in my life has
worked for me. What did I have to lose?”
“Young adults in the early stages of sobriety can be moved to
a quicker internalization of acceptance about their own recovery
and ability to ineffectively manage feelings,” explains Brekke,
who is also a standing member of the Association for Experiential
Education. “Using an experience like the wind tunnel is an effective
teaching tool that enables them to more clearly understand the
relationship of powerlessness to their addictions.”
“This is probably the most fun I have ever had in my life. I
never thought I could be sober and still have a good time,” stated
Kevin. For Sober College Academy students it is not all fun. Sober
College Academy provides an innovative education-based curriculum
that treats young adults struggling to recover or in addiction
recovery from alcohol and drug abuse. The drug treatment center’s
rigorous schedule includes daily 12-step meetings, physical fitness
training, individual and group therapy and high school and/or
college-level academics.
About Sober College:
Sober College Academy, headquartered in Southern California, is
a small private institution providing sober residential and addiction
recovery environments for young adults. While education focused,
Sober College Academy also provides a range of drug treatment
and intervention options for those that are struggling to overcome
the impact of alcohol and drug abuse. The Sober College Academy
curriculum builds core competencies in life skills, employment,
academics, emotional well-being and fitness.
More information is available on our website
or by contacting:
Kim
Farber
Director of Communications
818-209-6377
