In 1959, the U.S. flag had 49 stars, no one had been to the moon, and a computer was bigger than a refrigerator. That same year, Azure Acres accepted the first resident into our addiction treatment center in Sebastopol, California.
Clearly, much has changed in the world over the intervening decades. But more than 60 years after we opened our doors, Azure Acres continues to be a unique and special place. Housed in a historic lodge that was built in 1906, Azure Acres has a rich and respected history of helping men and women overcome their dependence upon alcohol or other drugs
Of course, we have experienced our share of changes in the half-century since our first resident arrived at our center. For example, we treated more than 20,000 men and women since then, and our programming evolved to reflect evidence-based advances in the science of addiction treatment, and we grew from a fledgling program into a nationally recognized provider of quality care.
But from our first day through today, certain essential beliefs and core values have stood proudly at the center of everything that we do.
At Azure Acres, we believe that alcoholism and other forms of addiction are chronic, relapsing illnesses that necessitate abstinence. For individuals who have become addicted, attempting to use substances in a controlled manner will inevitably lead back to biological, psychological, and spiritual distress.
We also believe that abstinence alone is an insufficient response to the disease of addiction. To experience true and lasting improvement, individuals must embrace the process of recovery and establish a commitment to the principles and practices of the 12-Step model of recovery.
Finally, our approach is based upon the belief that, in order to be most effective, addiction treatment must be a holistic experience that addresses and encompasses the individual’s mind, body, and spirit. Embracing concepts such as surrender, honesty, humility, and acceptance is a crucial part of the effort to transcend the limitations of substance abuse and other self-destructive behaviors.
Treatment at Azure Acres is hardly a passive experience. When a person chooses to heal at Azure Acres, he or she will play a dynamic role in his or her own recovery. Our residents work in active collaboration with skilled and dedicated professionals, many of whom have personal experience with addiction and recovery.
With a goal of providing a comprehensive spectrum of services that can be customized to meet the specific needs of each person who is entrusted into our care, we now offer an array of treatment options. Depending upon a resident’s strengths, needs, and personal history, he or she may benefit from participating in detoxification, residential care, partial hospitalization programming (PHP), and/or our intensive outpatient program (IOP).
When a person has completed his or her course of treatment at Azure Acres, he or she then has the opportunity to join our strong alumni program. With thousands of men and women in recovery throughout the United States, this alumni network can be an invaluable source of support in the post-treatment phases of a resident’s continued recovery.
For more information about our history, our foundational principles, or any other aspect of treatment at Azure Acres, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. We look forward to answering all of your questions and helping you decide if Azure Acres is the perfect place for you or for someone that you care about.
