Kim L.

You may be reading this review because you are the parent going through a difficult time with your child. I am truly sorry. I know what you are experiencing right now. If you are looking for hope, read on...

Discovery and Recovery...
We were in a serious situation with our 14 year old son who was making very bad decisions that included drug abuse. After going through years of the same thing with his older brother, we decided to take a different approach than we did with him as we had determined that outpatient and short-term inpatient rehab programs are not always effective for teenagers. After researching different options and doing a lot of praying, we decided to send him to Diamond Ranch Academy. We thought their program would give him the best chance at recovery and healing. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made.

More to the Story...
My son had always had an interest in drawing graffiti and would dabble in it here and there. Realizing that he better make the best of his time at DRA (and to make his time go faster), he joined the art club. This turned out to be a life changing decision for him. During art club, he worked closely with the art director who began teaching him the skills needed to draw portraits. On our regular phone calls and in his letters home, he would tell us about his art. Honestly, I didn't think much about it after thinking back to the graffiti he had drawn on his bedroom furniture. I was satisfied that he was making good use of his time and seemed happy to be involved in the art club. Soon thereafter, he delighted in telling us that his art teacher actually said he had talent.

First Visit…
Our first visit to DRA was upon us and we were so anxious to see him and the art work he had told about for the past several weeks. The art director met with us and showed us the art room and some of the amazing work his students were doing. He then guided us to the cafeteria where on the walls my son's work had been framed and was hanging. We could hardly believe our eyes! My son had produced work that a serious artist with many years of experience would be proud of. His journey didn't end there. The art director went out of his way to get my son's work entered into contests and festivals. On our next visit, my son participated in a chalk art festival for which his team took first place. The art director at DRA is a talented artist and an amazing inspiration to young artists!

Homeward Bound...
My son's sudden strong interest and talent in art helped us decide to enroll him in a local charter school for the arts after his return home. I am proud to say that he successfully finished grade 10 last year which I believe would not have happened had it not been for DRA. For those who don't know much about drug use and addiction, the terrifying part about the recovery process is relapse. The bottom line is, no matter how much I wish it wasn't true, relapse is part of recovery! However, the way in which the addict deals with a relapse is paramount.

It's a Process…
As expected, my son experienced two relapses during grade 10. Fortunately, he bounced back from those with the positive energy and hope that he learned at DRA. Over the summer, he relapsed a third time. Unfortunately, he took a far different turn. Same friends, same environment, same drugs, different conclusion. He was unreachable again. So, we packed him up and sent him back to DRA for a 30 day 'refresher'. Spending nearly all his time again with the art director, in NA meetings and with his counselor, he quickly turned the corner and was back on track. He has since returned home, far stronger and more committed to his recovery than before. We are at the beginning of grade 11 at the art school, with high hopes and expectations that grade 11 will be an even better year for him and for our family.

I highly recommend DRA to families in crisis! The program is strong and the staff truly cares about these kids! The program works. If your family is faced with similar a situation and you and your child are crying out for help, DRA could be the place where you, your child and your family find recovery, healing, and peace.

All the best to you!