Testimonials

Two years ago, I learned my 16 year old daughter was addicted to drugs and alcohol after she visited for the weekend, something she had been doing less and less over time.

Shortly after she returned to her home in Riverside, my wife and I were in the family room with our 12-year old son when he asked if he could get a blanket from my daughter’s room. Not thinking much of it, we said, “Of course.” He trotted upstairs and moments later we heard a loud crashing sound from the room. Our son came downstairs and showed us a one-half empty bottle of vodka that he just “happened to find” when retrieving the blanket. It was the only way he knew how to bring my daughter’s drinking to our attention.

I went upstairs and began searching the room, where I found a staggering amount of hidden drugs and alcohol. It was stashed and secreted everywhere. I recognized this was not simply a matter of bad behavior, but a case of addiction. I was stunned beyond description.

Later, after my daughter completed two months of unsuccessful outpatient treatment, I was called out to the home where she lived and found her in an alcoholic stupor like few I had seen before. The sight of my beautiful daughter, laying in this dark, surreal, toxic state of intoxication was horrifying beyond words, but it opened my eyes further and created a sense of urgency within me.

I placed my daughter in the car and drove her to Chapman Medical Center in Orange, one of the very few hospitals in Southern California with an in-patient unit dedicated to teen recovery. I carried her into the emergency room and our family began a journey that first grew more difficult and dark but gradually became easier and brighter.

That trip to the emergency room occurred on November 10, 2006, 22 months ago today. In my entire life, I’d never felt such powerlessness.

You see, I’ve been a police officer for 28 years and police chief for six of those years. I have earned two advanced degrees and I’m a licensed attorney. I am a fully privileged individual with every conceivable resource at my fingertips. I have Blue Cross PPO, friends in high places and access to everything…

Yet, at that moment, facing that evil, seeing my precious daughter disappearing in front of me, I was completely incompetent. I faced a genetic demon that had already ruined lives in my family and was now reaching out to take another, right in front of me, without any fear of me whatsoever. I was utterly and completely incompetent.

Thankfully, I had turned for help at the right place, and I soon learned about the power of 12-step programs. Of all the people who compassionately, selflessly, and lovingly helped my daughter, my family and me, I will forever be most grateful to those alcoholics and addicts, who must struggle every day to maintain their own recovery, yet make time to support the recovery of others. It was alcoholics and addicts who ultimately saved my daughter’s life. I don’t even know their names, but I do know they are real people who are experiencing real recovery and. They are people who have been called upon by their creator to help others discover that same path to recovery as well.

It is a strange irony that a program whose first step is the declaration of powerlessness is itself so incredibly powerful and empowering to others.

So, I am pleased to share the celebration of recovery with you and thankful you took this time to share it with me. Together, let’s help others recognize National Recovery Month as something very special and important to all of us.

Thank you.

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Students, Faculty and Families Working Together to find Solutions

“Mike and his students have been speaking at assemblies at Las Flores Middle School for the last five years. I require my 7th and 8th grade students to attend. I have found in my 20 years as an educator that children will listen to a peer. The assembly makes a huge impression on middle school students. I hear from dozens of our parents about the positive impact this had on their child. This assembly is especially compelling for parents and teachers as well.”
Holly Feldt, Principal LFMS

“I have been working with Mike Darnold and his group for almost ten years and they have had the most impact on the health students at Tesoro High School. They are making a difference.”
John Gipe, THS

“Your student presentations at Dana Hills High School have been invaluable. The service that you are providing on awareness, prevention and intervention is immensely compelling.”
Robert Aristo, School Psychologist, DHHS

“Mike Darnold provides education, consciousness, personal attention to any student who reaches out for help. He and his teen panels have been instrumental in helping a number of students and parents seek treatment and begin the road to recovery.”
Cynthia Olaya, School Psych. FVH

“Your teen panels have been an amazing part of our Red Ribbon Week. Their stories are extremely impactful. We look forward to next year.”
Brennan Dean, Counselor, Torrey Pines

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