Narconon Vista Bay Graduate

  My journey began some time ago, 1990 to be exact.  Keep in mind, I refer to "journey" as the path which led me to Narconon in Northern California - Vista Bay.  This path to which I refer was not a simple straight line having a starting and ending point void of any alterations.  This path of mine had many turns, re-directions, stops, and accelerations, none-the-less, it was my path, it is my past, something to always remember, yet not allow to consume my present life. 

     As a result of a serious back injury suffered while working in the health care industry, I was prescribed narcotics in a large dosage, and an even larger quantity, for a period of 8 years, without hesitation or question.  Though my back injury healed itself in a shorter period of time than the 8 years of what I rationalized as my pain management period, I continued taking the prescribed narcotics as a therapeutic level of pain management not for the body in which it was intended, but at that point for the mind which contained many years of painful past moments which I had medicated in avoidance as opposed to confronting as they occurred.  As time passed, and the F.D.A., (Frequently Declared Abnormal), organization, realized that this specific pain medication was potentially addictive in nature, it was already too late for me.  I was deep into an addiction, a narcotic abyss which seemed endless, and irreversible.  My life revolved around maintaining a level of this drug within my system, as a normal and routine way of life, just like we are taught to brush are teeth everyday.  It consumed my daily activities having to plan the next day, week, or months activities, lways to consider whether or not I would have enough of the medication on hand, or did I need to see my physician, and / or dentist to obtain more, rotating them like you would the food on a shelf so as not to spoil.  If there was a college degree associated with this type of behavior I would have had a PHD. 

     Yes, drug seeking behavior, no matter what it is, or no matter how it is wrapped, is all the same..............ALL CONSUMING, and SELF DESTRUCTIVE.  Eventually my source(s) dried up, leaving me stranded, yet not with out.  UN-fortunately, I worked in an industry, which enabled me to not only pro-long my activities, but exacerbate them to a level, much to my surprise yet delight as I sit here today, didn't actually end my existence.  I had my candy store in front of me the whole time, but was just not yet forced to recognize it as such until my physician cut off my supply.  As I stated, I had a PHD in this behavior. 

     Needless-to-say, this "behavior," continued for several years, with sporadic ill attempts at sobriety, via "cold turkey," as I moved along my path, guiding my behavior through life's ups, yet more downs, as a result of my "secret" life.  Yes, I assumed that nobody really knew what I was doing, yet clearly the vast majority of "downs," were a result of my covert activity, and was obvious to the individuals I had had relationships within these years, ultimately ending poorly,  and healing myself through the use of narcotics.  My path at this point was not moving forward, backwards, nor side to side, more over static in one spot, yet my mind was spinning out of control in several directions, with no clear understanding of where, who, or what I was.  I existed only physically as a body filling space within each moment, but not mentally in present time and orientation.  The amazing thing about this period of time to which I refer, is that I had actually become very successful in my professional life, excelling at work, receiving several promotions, and building a financially stable life as a single parent for myself and my daughter Hannah.  Little did I know that my secret little, middle class, comfortable life would all come crashing down around me, placing me into an environment and scenarios, never visualizing myself to have a starring role. 

     As a result of my covert, drug seeking, non-existent behavior, I landed in what I refer to as the arm pit of hell, (L.A. County Jail), on a non-bondable charge, involving two felony counts, staring at 3 years in a federal prison.  Many people would say that this is the "rock bottom," which one needs to experience to crawl out of in order to become sober.  I say that it was merely a barrier which I finally busted through, not needing to crawl back up to the top from "that" bottom, more over having busted through to continue down the "right" path, from having been physically static, and yet mentally all over the place and never in present time.  As a result of my incarceration for 30 days, experiencing the daily in-humane treatment of individuals not un-like me, yet un-like me due to territorial up-bringing, I lost everything.  My career, the respect of my co-workers, my belongings, my residence, and yes even my dog, just like the good ole' country song conveys.  Worst of all, I lost custody of my 10 year old daughter Hannah.  I was alone in a place, where the only contact to my loved ones was through a pay phone housed by a 10' x 5' cell, or a small booth separating two stools with a 1 inch thick piece of glass.  This is where my path was crossed by an individual whom I will never forget.  Mike DiPalma.  The Judge in my case was smart enough, (a rarity these days), to see through to the root of my crimes, which was directly linked to a drug addiction in which I had no control.  With that, my brother Jeff took over, researching, surfing, and investigating different programs to recommend to the judge my release pending trial.  I phoned him one day from my confinement, and he had told me of two different places to which he thought would be sufficient to procure my release from jail.  Although one of them stood out just a bit more than the other.  He spoke of and individual, "Mike DiPalma."  He told me that after having had only a few conversations with him on the phone that he trusted this guy, and in fact thought that this Narconon -  Vista Bay was the best place for me based on his referral.  Keep in mind, my brother Jeff, is the skeptic of all skeptics, and to sell him on something is an act no less than of freezing fire.  He was sold based on Mike's kindness, bluntness, empathy, that this was the place for me.  At the time I was reluctant due to the distance from home, yet akin to the idea of what this program had to offer, because it was not like the "atypical" in-house rehab type of program, which I had already attempted once prior, and never relinquished my "POWER" to a hire source of control, resulting in yet another unsuccessful attempt at sobriety.

     Mike did everything to make my family feel at ease, and to assure them that this was truly the right place for me.  From the moment I arrived, the entire staff befriended me, made me feel at ease, and made my entire experience incredible.  The day I met Mike, I felt like I had already known him for years.  Whenever I needed something he always made himself available to me, as well as the rest of the staff.  I spent 3 1/2 months in the program, making some life long friends, not only in students, but in staff.  I won't say that Narconon saved my life, as that would be a disservice to the program.  They provided the tools to save my own life.  You see, many people don't realize that it is not the program that saves you from your self-destructive activities, but it is yourself, and this program is merely the conduit for that.  I truly believe that Mike and the rest of the staff at Narconon - Vista Bay are warriors, united in belief through a common bond in which they have personal experiences, to eradicate the afflictions which drugs have inflicted upon the human race.  Since graduating from the program in December of 2006, I have remained drug free for 15 months, happy, and living within each moment of each day rather than it simply living within me.  I have obtained a great job with a stable future; custody of my daughter Hannah whom has supported me unconditionally, (kids are so pure and amazing); the trust of my family once again, and the expectation of another child with my beloved soul mate Glenda, (expected arrival date of Dec. 9th, 2007).  Most of all, I have once again obtained myself, something I had lost some years ago, and have found to be that same person, with the same drive and dreams I had as a youth, and the same voracity to live each moment in time, whether it be bad or good, ugly or beautiful, and realize that it is exactly just that, a moment in time which has already come and gone as quickly as I have just typed this success story.  I wish the best to each who ascends the stairs at Vista Bay, yet most of all I wish each person each moment to experience with a clear mind, pure heart, and success in your endeavors.

 Best always,
Greg P.