Recovering from trauma, substance use and mental health conditions can be difficult, but help is out there.
Red Oak Recovery in Leicester offers a clinically focused treatment center for young men.
The facility sits in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It serves as a sanctuary for those seeking recovery.
“I was a client from January 4 to April 4 of 2021,” said Henry Scott-Solomon.
It was at Red Oak where Scott-Solomon turned his life around. But, it was no easy journey to get there.
“For most of my life, I lived in Southern California, specifically in downtown Los Angeles, and from the age of 11 I was exposed to alcohol primarily as the beginning,” said Scott-Solomon. “I was around a lot of parties and had some really addictive behaviors at even a young age.”
He said it only got worse as he got older.
“I self-medicated, from alcohol to marijuana to LSD and once a run-in with heroin and PCP,” added Scott-Solomon.
Two days after his 21st birthday, Scott-Solomon was admitted to Red Oak.
“I needed to change, and I just completely surrendered to what I needed to go under,” he added.
Red Oak Recovery focuses on evidence-based practices combined with adventure therapy.
“We have ropes courses and we have trails,” said Bob Cummings, training manager at Red Oak. “And on weekends, a lot of times, we’re out canoeing, camping, fly fishing, rock climbing, backpacking and so on.”
Clients at Red Oak live in the cabins on campus. Many stay for anywhere from 75 to 90 days.
“The goal is to offer incredibly good treatment so we can send people out and they can discover that not only is addiction with a mental illness real, recovery is real,” Cummings said.
He said working at Red Oak as the training manager is something he is passionate about.
“I’m a recovering addict and I spent many, many years in the addiction world,” Cummings said. “When I work with a client and they act goofy or act unloving or they get mad for no reason, I got it. Been there. Done that. I understand. I don’t take it personally. Because I was doing the same thing.”
That is something clients, like Scott-Solomon, appreciate. It is why he's now also paying it forward as a recovery guide.
“I’m the first guide that they interact with,” said Scott-Solomon.
Scott-Solomon said he never imagined he'd be here today, but he's thankful he is and thankful for the help and love he received from this community.
“Getting right by myself and for myself that is where you’re able to get it back,” said Scott-Solomon.
Red Oak also has two other campuses. There is one for women and another for young, adolescent men.
For more information, visit their website HERE.