Addiction, Treatment and Recovery

Our voice
The Desert Sun
October 25, 2002

Happy 20th anniversary, Betty Ford Center. This is a milestone worth celebrating.

There is so much of which to be proud.

The Betty Ford Center has for decades been recognized as a world leader in the treatment of substance abuse. Today is no exception.

Its international status has come as much from its namesake, a tireless advocate for the forthright treatment of addiction, as from the famous names who have checked into the Rancho Mirage facility throughout the years.

Its global regard is also rooted in a variety of innovative programs, including the Betty Ford Center’s Children’s Program and its professional recovery program, two of its signature programs.

Its well-earned reputation has spread beyond the boundaries of the Coachella Valley through an outreach effort headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. For about five years now, the Betty Ford Center has run a version of its Children’s Program out of a satellite office there.

Given the success the center has had not only in treating addiction but also in raising awareness and lessening the stigma of substance abuse, its outreach is to be lauded.

Success tastes sweetest, after all, when it is shared.

For people struggling with addiction, the world can be a lonely place. For specialized professionals, those who have the lives of others in their hands as part of their jobs – the need for successful treatment is acute. Alcohol and drug dependency can devastate the lives of the addict and the addict’s family, but in the case of professional workers, the safety and livelihood of others is also in peril. A 2-year-old program at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage has helped improve the opportunities for successful treatment for those professionals.

Before the program – which was the first of its kind in the state – was launched, professionals such as doctors, lawyers, pilots and air-traffic controllers had to be referred out of state to attend such a program.

This program has been an excellent addition to the treatment regimen at the Betty Ford Center. It recognizes a pervasive problem in a segment of our society that is at a high risk for addiction and creates a heightened risk to the public. While helping any addict get into recovery benefits those around them, helping professionals to sobriety will benefit all of us who rely on their clarity of thought and commitment to duty.

The Betty Ford Center has come a long way in 20 years – admitting more than 56,000 patients.

It continues to demonstrate world-class leadership in chemical-recovery programs.

This is indeed a milestone in the Center’s journey. Happy anniversary.

We wish the organization much continued success in the years to come.

Used by permission of The (Palm Springs, CA) Desert Sun.

Related posts:

1. Betty Ford Center Works with Drug Endangered Children Organization
2. Ford’s public battle molds personal cause – Treated while still the first lady, Betty Ford found a way to help others like her