Former Addict Dedicates Life To Recovery Center
By Leah Etling, The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Jul. 2–Karolyn London chose Paso Robles as the place to open a nonprofit drug and alcohol recovery center because that was where she used to buy drugs.
Twenty years later, London is clean and sober, and the center continues to serve addicts who need immediate help and long-term support meetings to make their recovery possible.
Over the years, her center, Lifestyles, has expanded its services to include HIV prevention workshops, youth and adult anger-management classes and women-specific support groups.
Attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings is steady, and the center needs a bigger space than its location at 715 24th St.
"We can fit 20 to 25 people in the room," said London, a San Luis Obispo County native. "We need room for 60 to 80."
Free individual counseling is also available. London, who has a certification in drug and alcohol recovery from UCSB, and a social worker meet with clients one on one.
London, 54, had a drug and alcohol problem during her first marriage, she said.
While attempting to get help, she ended up in rehab at a San Luis Obispo hospital.
Those 30 days were among the worst of her life, but while she struggled, she made a decision: if she made it through the experience, she would help others who needed assistance overcoming their addictions.
Six months after her release, she started the program in a side room at Second Baptist Church in Paso Robles.
At first, Lifestyles was a Christian ministry. When an anonymous donor offered to pay the rent in a larger space, it went mainstream.
"The goal was to have a safe place for people to go where it didn’t cost them anything," London said. "I started looking around, and there was nothing like that."
She’s made an impact by opening the doors to people who are scared to go to government agencies for fear of repercussions, such as being thrown in jail or having their children taken away.
Over the years, the types of drugs have changed. Now, most clients are likely to be meth users, she said. In the past, it was a variety of drugs, from pills to cocaine. Alcohol abuse is consistent, she said.
"People need to be appreciated and need to have some place to feel the same, I guess. It’s hard to do by yourself, if you’re out there by yourself, it’s almost impossible," said Troy Tucker, who started attending meetings at the center four years ago.
The program has always operated on a shoestring budget, collecting about $5,000 from the city and $1,000 from the county supervisors’ office annually. Other private donations have helped.
But London wants to create a larger endowment so that services can continue if and when she decides to retire.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP
Donate to Lifestyles Recovery Center at P. O. Box 2971, Paso Robles, 93446 or visit www.lifestylesrecoverycenter.org
The group will hold a fundraiser barbecue at Downtown City Park in Paso Robles Aug. 30 from 11 a. m. to 3 p. m.
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