My issue is not necessarily with the ones who relapse. It’s [with] the people who hide it to protect their own interests. … You cannot have someone buy into recovery if they see ‘top’ leaders in active addiction AND they see the powers that be ignore it.
Patricia Godsey, mother of Cassie, lost to an overdose Jan. 22, 2021
Within the recovery community and increasingly beyond it, one point draws broad agreement: substance use disorder is a disease, and those who suffer from it deserve the same compassion and support as someone battling cancer.
Residential recovery services, however, are rarely built on compassion alone. Accountability — specifically strict abstinence from alcohol and illicit drugs — is foundational to most sober housing programs. Because many operators are in recovery themselves, they are generally expected to live by the same standards they enforce on residents.
Sam Davis — a former Virginia Association of Recovery Residences (VARR) board member, addiction interventionist and person in long-term recovery — told me that for peer leaders, maintaining their own recovery is paramount. “Working in this industry and not taking care of yourself can be deadly to you and it can be deadly to the people that you serve,” he said. “We owe it to each other to highly hold ourselves and each other accountable … so we can best serve our community.”
In practice, that principle is not always upheld. Public records and interviews with former residents and employees of Richmond recovery homes suggest that when operators relapse, they are sometimes shielded from the same scrutiny and consequences their residents face, creating a double standard that weakens their programs and jeopardizes the recovery of those they serve.
This dynamic became evident following recent relapses by two of the region’s most prominent and heavily funded operators, both with close ties to VARR — the nonprofit charged by the state with upholding ethical standards in recovery housing.
David Rook, then-president of VARR and owner/operator of True Recovery RVA, and Kate Grimes, owner/operator of WAR Foundation and wife of VARR Executive Director Anthony Grimes, both market their personal experience overcoming addiction as central to their programs’ success.1 They promote the idea that people with long-term recovery are uniquely equipped to guide clients toward lasting sobriety by example.
Yet their relapses were met with minimal accountability from VARR leadership. Rather than being held to high standards consistent with their authority and influence, Rook and Kate were largely insulated by their colleagues and business partners at VARR — raising questions about oversight, transparency and resident safety in Richmond’s recovery housing industry.
Kate Grimes and WAR Foundation
CEO relapse and VARR’s response highlight ethical concerns
According to WAR Foundation’s website, CEO Kate Grimes “is a person in long term recovery from substance use disorder” with “over 18 years of lived experience in recovery” — suggesting she has sustained recovery spanning nearly two decades. But sources indicate that Kate has achieved at most two consecutive years of abstinence.
I was able to verify one recurrence of use through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, where a then-VARR board member worked and received VARR-related emails.
In February 2021, Anthony Grimes submitted the following incident report to VARR’s executive committee, detailing an event that could only be interpreted as Kate’s relapse at the Grimeses’ home. (I redacted the home address to protect their privacy. All other redactions were made by Chesterfield County.)
The VARR emails I reviewed contained no follow-up or monitoring to ensure the welfare of WAR Foundation residents.
In response to Anthony’s report, then-VARR President David Rook offered support but imposed no accountability measures. He simply directed the committee to keep the matter confidential:
I found no record indicating that Kate disclosed her relapse to funders or referral sources.2 Less than three months after the VARR-documented incident, she applied to add a WAR Foundation residence to Henrico County’s list of recovery homes eligible for court-ordered placements and county funding.
Secrecy, power, and the risk to residents
VARR’s secrecy surrounding Kate’s relapse carries added weight in light of the trust that courts, professionals and families place in recovery house operators — and the authority they hold as a result.
As quasi-extensions of the criminal justice system, operators often report to pretrial officers and courts on matters that can affect their residents’ freedom, including drug screen results and program compliance.
On top of that, operators have long claimed the right to evict sober home residents without notice or cause, putting them at risk of homelessness or re-incarceration – a practice only formally sanctioned by VARR-backed legislation in 2022.3
In the hands of someone actively using, that kind of unchecked power is ripe for abuse.
At the time of her recurrent use, Kate was the only known staff member at WAR Foundation.4 Anthony’s incident report noted that “peer leaders” – clients living in WAR Foundation housing – would step into staff roles. But neither the Grimeses nor VARR President Sarah Scarbrough responded when asked if that constituted an ethical solution to an operator’s relapse.
In any case, I found no information to suggest Kate relinquished the power she held over residents as owner and CEO of the company. Nor did I find any indication that an outside party stepped in to manage evictions, enforce sanctions, or report residents’ progress to probation officers.
Since his wife’s relapse, Anthony has steered hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to WAR Foundation through his leadership role at VARR.
Marketing claims inconsistent with CEO’s recovery
The National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), VARR’s national affiliate, lists “Operate with integrity” as the first principle in its standard, noting:
…living with integrity is core to recovery. Recovery residences must model that value to support the recovery of their individual residents.
Consistent with that principle, the VARR code of ethics states operators must “promote the residence with marketing or advertising that is supported by accurate, open and honest claims.”
But after Kate’s relapse, WAR Foundation’s marketing materials were not updated to accurately reflect her personal recovery. Within three months of the documented incident, Anthony submitted a company bio to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, still suggesting Kate had 18 years of sobriety:
Notably, the identical language used to describe Anthony’s recovery represented his “clean time” – self-identified consecutive years of abstinence.5
The WAR Foundation bio also claimed:
Our founders have achieved long-term recovery from these very methods that continue to work in the lives of many others. We believe in not instructing others on how to find recovery, but rather in showing others the path to recovery by leading through the power of example.
That description remains on both the VARR and WAR Foundation websites today.
True Recovery RVA: David Rook’s relapse, ethical implications, and VARR’s response
How Rook’s substance use came to light
Beginning in March 2022 – while Rook was still president of VARR and about a year after his minimal response to Kate’s relapse – the Richmond recovery community learned that he was using illicit substances, including crack cocaine.
In a November 2022 interview, Rook told me he promptly reported what he described as a brief recurrence of use after 10 years of sustained sobriety. “One of the things I did that most people don’t do when they relapse, is I self-reported,” he said. “We sent out a mass email to lots of people that I had a relapse.”
The community learned of Rook’s drug use not just through his self-report, but from his actions – missing work and using substances with a former True Recovery participant – which made the relapse visible. While Rook describes it as voluntary disclosure, he didn’t have the ability to keep his relapse private.
When news of Rook’s activities began circulating, True Recovery co-owner Coleman Mundie formally announced the relapse to community partners, stating Rook had “suffered a minor setback in his personal recovery.”
Continued use, misconduct allegations, and VARR conflicts of interest
Shortly after Mundie’s announcement, Rook entered an inpatient treatment facility. Within days, however, he left and resumed using.
VARR board members recognized that some form of action was necessary, as Rook had been serving as president until departing for treatment, and he remained a board member.
Jimmy Christmas – Rook’s then-business partner, who benefits from the steady flow of patients True Recovery directs to River City Comprehensive Counseling Services6 – took the lead in developing VARR’s corrective action plan.
Despite serious allegations of ethical misconduct, Christmas appeared more focused on shielding Rook from scrutiny than addressing any wrongdoing. In an email to the VARR Executive Committee on March 28, 2022, Christmas wrote:
Further correspondence revealed Rook did not actually report his substance use to VARR. In the same email thread, then-VARR Secretary Jesse Wysocki wrote:
Who did this get reported to on the board or executive committee? I only heard rumors then realized once the email was sent by Coleman. For reporting purposes VARR staff should note in [their] files when and who it was reported to by David.
A subsequent timeline prepared by Scarbrough confirmed Rook did not formally notify VARR of his relapse.
Wysocki and then-board member Carol McDaid challenged Christmas’ position on addressing only “formal or informal complaints,” arguing the board had an ethical responsibility to investigate misconduct.
Wysocki wrote: “I agree with [you] but do feel like we should somehow address or investigate the rumors in regards to the ethical violations.”
McDaid added the following:
The committee then assigned the investigation to Bob de Triquet, a VARR employee under the authority of both Executive Director Anthony Grimes — Rook’s friend and business partner — and the VARR board, which included both Rook and Christmas. These conflicts of interest cast doubt on the independence and effectiveness of the investigation, the outcome of which remains unknown.
By the first week of April, Rook had entered inpatient treatment again. Around that time, Mundie announced Rook’s professional monitoring plan:
VARR executive committee meets with Rook
On May 23, 2022, within weeks of Rook’s return from treatment, the VARR executive committee met with him to review his progress and position with VARR. I obtained a full recording of the meeting through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, where then-VARR Secretary April Hutchison was employed and received VARR-related emails.
In attendance were Rook, Anthony Grimes, Scarbrough, Wysocki and Hutchison (who joined late). Only one of them questioned Rook about the alleged ethical violations.
The transcript tells it best:
In November 2022, when I asked Rook about his involvement with the former client, he offered a version of events that differed from what he told the executive committee. Rook told me the woman he “used” with had lived at True Recovery “about a year” prior, and he accidentally bumped into her while he was using with her husband:
Is it true that you were hooking up with a former participant while you were using?
I was not hooking up with a former participant. I wasn’t doing that. I did use with a former participant that I never met while she was at True Recovery. I didn’t know her, and the only reason I knew and I used in her house was her husband. So, it was her and her husband in their house. And the only reason I knew it was a former participant is because she’s got fucking tattoos all over her goddamn face. But I never met her when she was [at True Recovery], never spoke to her, never met her. It had been about a year, I mean, you know, ethically is way up against the line. However, I would argue that most people in relapse aren’t stopping to think, ‘Oh fuck, she was in my organization. I’m not going to use with her.’ Right? Like, the using was the issue. But hooking up, no. The using was, yes. Fuck, yeah, everybody leaves her husband out of it. Every time I hear it, like her husband’s never in it. But her husband specifically I was using with. And we weren’t having threesomes or orgies or anything like that.
In his explanation to the executive committee, Rook did not clarify why he cited another organization’s alleged one-year rule on dating former clients or why he argued that romantic relationships with past clients are “different in the recovery community” than in clinical settings.
At the time, Rook and Grimes were both Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) and certified to train other CPRS professionals. As a CPRS, Rook had signed a code of ethics stating, “I will not engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with former clients within a minimum of two years after terminating services.” (emphasis added)
***
After Rook left the executive committee meeting, Wysocki inquired about the pending investigation the committee had previously agreed to:
(Silence)
According to Coleman Mundie’s earlier email announcement, Rook had agreed to complete up to 90 days of an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at the Farley Center following inpatient rehab. Rook was “critically aware of the impact of his completion,” Mundie wrote.
But in the executive committee meeting, Rook told members he had “decided not to” do IOP — even though True Recovery and WAR Foundation enforce IOP as mandatory for their residents. He cited the same reason Danielle Atkinson did before True Recovery evicted her for noncompliance: he did not have time.
Rook stated 1) he could not find a daytime provider he wasn’t personally connected with and 2) evening IOP would interfere with family and meetings.
After no committee members challenged him, Rook was allowed to bypass full completion of the professional monitoring program — the plan that had been publicly promised “to maintain the health, safety, and welfare” of clients.
(The full 45-minute meeting video is available in the footnotes.)
Fund withdrawals and unanswered questions
Former employees and other confidential sources reported that Rook withdrew substantial funds from True Recovery’s bank account for personal use while actively using. The origin of the funds is unknown, but one fact is clear: True Recovery receives hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars annually from VARR and the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office to cover housing and program fees for indigent residents.
When any operator returns to using, the risk of misappropriation increases. Yet after Rook’s relapse became known to VARR and the public, Anthony continued to facilitate an uninterrupted flow of funds to True Recovery. In the three weeks following Mundie’s announcement, the VARR office cut checks totaling $130,280 to True Recovery and Eco Flats (a division of True Recovery) for indigent services.
Scarbrough and Grimes did not respond when asked if VARR took any steps to restrict Rook’s access to funds while he was using or after his return from treatment. They also remained silent on whether VARR has safeguards in place to prevent other operators known to be using from accessing public money.
Rook’s alleged account withdrawals were reportedly common knowledge among VARR officials and others working at the North Parham Road center – the building shared by Rook, the Grimeses and Jimmy Christmas. But during the May 2022 meeting with Rook, VARR committee members did not address the issue at all.
Rook returns to the spotlight, pursues wider reach in the recovery industry
Upon returning from inpatient treatment, Rook quickly resumed his role as a leading face, voice and pioneer of recovery. Within three weeks, he traveled to Michigan to speak at the Unite to Face Addiction Michigan (UFAM) rally.
Screenshots: @david.rook.520/ Facebook, May 19-20, 2022
Less than three months later, Rook and Anthony co-founded the National Alliance of Recovery Community Organizations (NARCO), naming themselves as the only directors. Rook told me the plan is for NARCO to serve as the national standards body for recovery community organizations (RCOs), accrediting state affiliates as NARR does for recovery housing.
The month after co-founding NARCO, Rook purchased a property in Chesterfield to expand True Recovery.
Screenshots: @crystal.doss.958172/ Facebook, Sept. 14, 2022
A couple weeks later, Rook appeared on a VARR-hosted panel discussion with Nelson Smith, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and Jim Newton, chief administrative officer at Chippenham Hospital’s Tucker Psychiatric Pavilion. In October, he hosted a panel at the 2022 NARR Best Practices Summit.
(Screenshot from purchased conference video)
As one former employee put it after Rook’s return from inpatient treatment, “Everyone knows David just relapsed, but it’s like we’re not supposed to talk about it. They act like it never happened.”
Less than a year later, on Jan. 24, 2023, Rook was arrested by Henrico County police and charged with the following:
Rook was recently removed from True Recovery’s website as a managing partner, but neither he nor Mundie responded when asked about his status with the company.
Personal recovery and professional responsibility: Perspectives on relapse and accountability in peer leadership
Sam Davis, the former VARR board member, told me the people who hold him accountable for his recovery care more about his life than his “feelings,” “state dollars,” or “image.” To any operator who believes their first duty is to keep their program running, Davis says: “Bullshit. You’re going to run it into the ground. First comes emotional wellness.”
That same principle underlies the Code of Ethical Conduct for Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, which begins by stressing that one’s own recovery must always come first:
Jan Brown – addictions educator, recovery consultant and person in long-term recovery – describes recovery residence operators and employees (particularly house managers and others providing direct recovery services) as working in “safety-sensitive” positions, where impairment from substance use could jeopardize residents’ safety. To reduce risk, Brown says the recovery housing industry needs “a comprehensive monitoring program” for workers with impairing conditions such as substance use or mental health disorders.
The healthcare field has long-established systems to address substance misuse among the workforce. Davis and other addiction professionals I interviewed said recovery housing should adopt a model comparable to the Health Practitioners’ Monitoring Program (HPMP) — a voluntary alternative to disciplinary action.
Through the HPMP, practitioners enter into a contract for treatment and ongoing monitoring by an independent team of qualified medical professionals – not by friends or business partners. The program holds them accountable for their recovery while providing ongoing support to ensure they can safely and effectively return to work.
By contrast, both VARR and NARR appear silent on the topic of provider relapse. The VARR code of ethics mirrors that of NARR, which avoids the issue entirely.
It’s unclear what, if anything, would prevent someone in active addiction from running a VARR-certified recovery house, or what protections exist for residents who might find themselves under such an operator’s control.
NARR, Scarbrough, the Grimeses, Christmas and Mundie did not respond to questions or requests for comment. Rook did not reply to a follow-up request for comment on the subjects we didn’t cover in November.
To share your experience with recovery housing, please reach out to me here.
The next article will introduce Starfish Recovery & Wellness and examine its questionable partnership with Jimmy Christmas.
This article was edited for clarity and readability. No substantive changes were made.
Scroll below to view investigative stories in The Parham Papers series, or visit the homepage to explore all articles, including legislative updates.
1. David Rook’s 2019 PowerPoint presentation to the Henrico County Recovery Roundtable stated: “The lived experience of those associated with True Recovery RVA (TRRVA) equips us to help individuals seeking recovery. We consider this lived experience a privilege and have a passion for leading others down the pathway. … We know that recovery is the solution to addiction and look forward to the opportunity of showing others the freedom from addiction and hope that recovery provides. True Recovery RVA is LIVING PROOF THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE – Recovery knowledge from those who have been there!” Similarly, WAR Foundation’s website states: “We believe in not instructing others on how to find recovery, but rather in showing others the path to recovery by leading through the power of example. … Recovery isn’t something we do or did. It’s the way in which we live.” [Return to article]
2. Two funders — the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) — said they had no such records. DBHDS added that VARR is not required to report instances of illicit drug use by VARR-certified operators. Henrico County, another funder and referral source, did not provide information on whether the incident was reported. [Return to article]
3. As noted in a December article, Rook and other Richmond recovery leaders worked with state Del. Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield) on legislation that exempted certified recovery house operators from the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. [Return to article]
4. No record of additional employees prior to Kate’s relapse could be located in WAR Foundation’s public materials or in correspondence with government agencies. A confidential source who lived at WAR Foundation during that period also believed Kate was the only paid staff member. Kate did not respond to questions on the matter. [Return to article]
5. Information on Anthony’s public Facebook page and associated comments indicate his reported years in recovery represent his “clean time,” meaning consecutive years of abstinence. While the definition of abstinence can vary across recovery philosophies, “clean time” at a minimum denotes the absence of a relapse according to an individual’s own recovery terms. [Return to article]
6. As noted in a December article, True Recovery and WAR Foundation have mandated residents to participate in IOP at River City Comprehensive Counseling Services, owned by Jimmy Christmas. It has been alleged that both organizations received kickbacks from River City for doing so. [Return to article]
7. The full recording of Rook’s May 23, 2022 meeting with the VARR executive committee is provided below. I redacted 30 seconds of footage to protect the privacy of various individuals. [Return to article]
Why hasn’t NARR taken over VARR and removed the compromised leadership structure?
…because NARR is a cash cow just like VARR is. They are no better.
NARR is not a governing body. VARR has been made the entitityfor the State. NARR states in it’s about info that it has no authority for enforcement and defers to the states. It only advises and certifies based on its own criteria. If a claim is to be made concerning malfeasance or non adherence it need to go the state and/or federal agencies that oversee recovery residences. VARR appears to be capitalizing on peoples ignorance of the system and will continue to do so until somebody pulls the trigger and files complaints to the state and feds. The Va code also has good info on how they might be in violation. Bottom line-until someone submits a compliant to the right agencies they will continue to get away with this crap!
I wonder if the former participant who David is says he did not “hook up” with in this article is the same local prostitute who he was just arrested with? Given that he describes her as having tattoos all over her face.. does anyone know if that is the same girl?
OMG I highly recommend watching the 45 min VARR conference call. It’s complete bullshit. It’s just people giving Rook a pass on breaking his recovery agreements…including what participants get kicked out for not following. They’re even justifying trying to let him come back as vice president. Jesse is the only one with any sense. And David just gives the complete vibe of a liar and bullshitter. Crazy
Agreed. Video is telling of motivations. If there were professional clinical assessments done maybe David could find a better path. I would ask Sarah, Anthony and April where is your clinical degrees? Your business concerns trumped David’s needs, that’s truly pathetic. Anthony, you have a true conundrum: David is your connection with the $$, and your wife runs WAR, and both have relapsed. Yet, in my view, you have chosen not to hold either accountable to protect financial interests and not their health. David clearly states, when do the bureaucrats ever to their job. I would agree with that, but remember who was giving them advice on what to do. Of course they all knew too and turned a blind eye. Now you kick anyone from McShin off the board and replace with what appears people that will not ask questions (at least other than the prior email sent). David – best to you and your recovery. At least you’re still here (no thanks to your business assoc). My daughter is not. But her story will be told shortly.
JESSIE FOR VARR PRESIDENT!
TikTok star is already on Facebook giving people permission to use the blog as ammunition to get high and relapse. These people are sick as shit.
#nomatterwhatclub
#psyc
Dr. Sara Scarborough is the one who should be totally ashamed of her self. The rest of these folks are ill educated addicts that are playing like they are some big executives. Shame on you Doctor. You are a disappointment because in the beginning I had respect for you.
Remember someone was murdered in her house
https://www.wric.com/news/taking-action/family-of-stabbing-victim-former-member-want-answers-from-richmond-rehab-program/
Do people not get murdered in the jails in prisons?
What? People get murdered every day but that’s not the point..
The way Scarbrough laughs after Rook jokingly says he will take his own ethics class is very telling. Jesse for President!
The TikTok Star is saying that this segment is about humiliation and badgering someone who has relapsed. Wake up. It is about accountability. It is about spending Government money on drugs. It is about getting someone who is actively using out of a position of authority over people substance abuse disorder. It is about cover up. It has nothing to do with shaming anyone. It is investigative journalism. It is damn good journalism. Last time I looked there are rights in this country to uncover anything the author chooses to.
He lives on another planet don’t even waste your breath or brain energy trying to make sense of the stuff he says.
He is 1000% the most full of shit person in the RVA recovery scene. Making himself out to be some recovery martyr when he has been caught time and time again lying about his own recovery. And a man in his mid 40s [redacted] bragging about TikTok views is just embarrassing and pathetic.
Said “TikTok star“ (don’t even give him that kind of recognition) has been lying about his clean time on and off for years and taking money via various GoFundMes (at one point close to 5k) from decent people in the recovery community for his “recovery” and the whole time he was using. The fact that seemingly unknowing newcomers continue to praise him is sickening. Pretending to be captain recovery when you can’t even string together a full year. [Last sentence redacted].
There’s a reason companies do not hire individuals who have crimes pertaining to theft, fraud, or embezzlement. You don’t allow an addict access to hundreds of thousands of dollars that are earmarked for indigent addicts. The ethics violations, while they are blatant, are not the most urgent in this situation. They will be added to the possible fraud and used by the government to restrict the flow of funds. The truly amazing thing is that apparently no one in the recovery community realizes that this will destroy government funding. A vetting system will go into place, and addict run recovery organizations will be barred from receiving funds. The natural knee jerk reaction is to become angry with the whistle blowers, while this is a natural reaction, it’s based off emotion and not facts. She’s posting possible evidence of embezzlement, if funds were actually withdrawn from the company account for ANY personal reason then that’s embezzlement. Typically the government has the ability to audit the books of various organizations when they receive government funding. The problem is most RCO’s deal alot in cash so tracking the appropriation of the government funds will be messy bc there’s cash interactions constantly. It will be interesting how it all shakes out.
It’s not embezzlement when you own the company. It’s a distribution.
And companies do most certainly hire people with fraud and theft crimes.
Stealing cash and the misuse of corporate credit cards for personal purchases is the most common form of embezzlement. Using company money for personal purchases is 1000% embezzlement. Yes, even if you own the company… literally just google “definition of embezzlement”… why do think there has been a specialized FOIA lawyer hired to fight having their financial documents released? If everything has been completely legal and all of this is total bs why wouldn’t they just release all of their financials to clear their names and just be done with it?
You cannot steal from yourself. Is David going to press charges against himself? This isn’t a public corporation …
Honey.. a large portion is public funding. Also, it’s not the company who presses charges, it’s the IRS. Do you really think that anyone who owns a business can just buy whatever they want with the businesses money? Why would a business keep separate books… literally for BUSINESS EXPENSES, not personal expenses. Otherwise business owners would just have everything in their personal account. Seriously tho, don’t just take my word for it; google it.
Honey … the IRS is concerned with tax evasion and tax fraud. If I embezzle money from the company I work for, it is most definitely the company that will press charges. The IRS is irrelevant in that scenario.
And many business owners use their business accounts like personal accounts. Those expenses just get moved from business expenses and are treated as income for the owner. And then the owner pays taxes on the income. It’s messy, but there is nothing illegal about using your business account for personal expenses. I definitely won’t take your word for it because you very clearly are misinformed … like a lot of the commenters here.
You’re right, if you “pay” yourself and pay taxes on that money it’s not tax fraud. Congrats on that. Also, I was wrong it’s the FBI that prosecutes embezzlement… maybe you can help me with understanding how using government funding meant for helping addicts but used for personal expenses isn’t classified as embezzlement? I mean I’m clearly misinformed if I think it is right?
So you actually believe that government grants can be used to buy crack? That’s legal? That’s what you believe?
Yes that’s 1000% what I believe. Personally I used government grants for heroin.
It’s government money, earmarked for helping addicts, not for purchasing crack.
The government is probably the largest importer of drugs there is … I’m sure this is not the first time government money has bought drugs.
Also love how crack gets thrown around like an evil buzz word or something … the government taught us that too.
Imagine being so demented that you see no problem with someone who runs a recovery organization using grant money to buy crack — grant money that was intended to help people.
Firstly, let me preface my comment by making clear that I have neither been a participant in nor worked for any RCO in Richmond or elsewhere. But I have been blessed with the gift of recovery from drug addiction and actively work a program centered in Narcotics Anonymous. As thus, over the last 6 years I’ve had the pleasure of becoming acquainted not only with some of the people this article is clearly targeting but also hundreds of persons in long term recovery that have benefitted from the magnamity of the RCOs in question.
Through my ties with various people invested in following these ‘papers’ I’ve been avidly reading each ‘installment with interest. And yet, I’m always left aghast at the lack of not only professionalism in the composition of these articles but also at the lack of evidence proving that something unethical has occurred in the operations of these RCOs. And this ‘part III’ is just mortifying. The author, who clearly has no personal understanding of what recovery from substance abuse means, is vindictively using a person’s relapse into the horrors of active addiction as an anecdote to try and give her ‘journalism?’ a provocative aura. And she has the audacity to be the judge of personal integrity and accountability while character assassinating multiple people who deserve dignity and compassion. The organizations in this article did document and put measures in place to protect participants and that’s evidenced by all the internal documents the author posted here. If she could obtain this much documentation, I can only imagine the unseen measures these organizations put into place to safeguard operations behind the scenes.
This isn’t investigative journalism at all. Rather, it is a classless, baseless, self-righteous grasp at relevancy that more closely resembles the grudge-like gossip of a vengeful saboteur than actual reporting. Christa, don’t quit your day job, whatever that may be (RHD?). Who cares? Do better.
It is my great hope that folks with no experience of recovery become allies and supporters of people struggling with addiction. I’m not exactly sure what this is though, and who, if anyone, this could possibly benefit.
Thanks for letting me share.
Kelly, you’re missing the point. David Rook and Kate Grimes relapses were used as specific examples to illustrate the point that there has been little accountability applied to the leaders of these organizations. This installment is not about their drug use, it’s about the fact that the VARR board has largely avoided placing “principles before personalities”, with the exception of Jesse Wysocki, when it has come to holding its members accountable for their actions. Jesse himself says that he doesn’t care about Rook’s drug use, he’s concerned about the ethical implications of the things that Rook himself has admitted to doing. I believe this sentiment is echoed with most of us that are outside of the immediate “community” but whom have also known a lot of the persons named for years. We understand that a reoccurrence of use is possible, addiction is a disease. No one is shaming anyone for that. I understand that for a lot of people who are personally friends with the people named that you want to immediately defend them but please try to see the larger picture. Just because your personal experience with these people wasn’t bad, that doesn’t make someone else’s trauma related to these organizations invalid… that’s like saying just because you’ve never been raped then rape doesn’t exist. I have personally never had a bad experience with these people, never been kicked out of anywhere, or assaulted or bullied by these people; but I won’t say that just because it’s never happened to me that it’s never happened to someone else.
Christa,
Just another observation: each installment and the corresponding comments lend a lot of credence to the rumor that you’re being paid and given information by another RCO, which you deftly placed in a more flattering light throughout your ensemble. What’s the motivation there? If it’s for more oversight and accountability why not take all this evidence to DBHDS or the police? Maybe this other RCO feels their revenue has been affected by the expanding services of these RCOs you’reattacking. And if Kate and David aren’t credible because of their respective relapses then what makes these past participants any more credible? What is the necessity to besmirch these RCOs on social media? The same RCOs that countless addicts have expressed unending gratitude for? Any concern for the folks that might die without access to these RCOs? So many questions here as to the legitimacy and credibility of this ‘investigation’. This whole thing is wrong. Not the calls for accountability or oversight, this ‘journalism’ is wrong.
You seem to ignore the possibility that maybe some RCOs are more corrupt than others and deserve more attention. Also, where did she say Kate and David aren’t credible? She requested connects from both of them and they declined to say anything. They had the opportunity to get their side of things published in these articles.
Also, are you saying because some people have expressed their gratitude, these people shouldn’t be held accountable? That makes no sense. If people say something nice about an organization then they should now be above reproach?
How about the people who may have died due to this corruption and unethical practices? She is asking for better.
Kelly, you are purposely misstating the entire point. It has nothing to do with the relapses. It has to do with the lack of oversight and accountability that the relapsers didn’t face. Also, the fact that after the fact, when making a case for WAR to be included in Henrico and Chesterfield RCO options months AFTER her relapse, The Grimses purposely misrepresented her recovery history. That’s called lying. In David’s case, it’s the fact that he was given a recovery plan to follow and decided he didn’t have time for IOP so he just didn’t go and everyone was fine with it. Participants get reported to their POs and get kicked out for the same thing. Maybe re-read the first article. There was also a plan to allow David to come back to VARR as the vice-president. Jesse had a valid problem with it so everyone else said let’s table it for 60 days and decide then. He’s being sent off to speak at conferences in other states and expanding his RCOs right when he came back. He didn’t miss a beat and all the while everyone high up at True knew he had been embezzling money. The fact that he was asked about the ethical issues with the participant that he understated and lied about based on his own admissions to friends, was brushed off by Sarah because “she had no reason to believe otherwise”. I hope you watch the conference call in the footnotes.
Just because you are friends with someone doesn’t mean that you need to blindly follow them because you just can’t imagine these accusations to be true. I assume these are the same people telling you Christa was paid by McShin to write this? I guess you consider what you call rumors (which are backed by proof) to be false except the rumor about the payment from McShin because that allows you to justify your thoughts and opinions. Got it.
Hi Kelly,
Please see the Q&A page of the blog regarding the rumor you mentioned that this project is being funded by an RCO. If you scroll down to Jan. 26, 2023, you will see where I addressed that rumor. Feel free to submit additional questions through that page as well.
If a judge is getting high while on the bench is it newsworthy? If a police is getting high while on duty is it newsworthy? Should they be punished? None of us would be complaining if a cop was fired for being high while in performance of his duties. But if you run an RCO – go ahead and get high and face no consequences. Keep getting those tax dollars. Keep being in charge of people’s freedom and housing. The fact is these people have been given so much money and power from the government, that them getting high and not facing any repercussions is absolutely news worthy.
I’m not sure if you read the whole article Kelly, but the author makes reference to HPMP at the end. If a doctor or other healthcare provider uses, there is a system in place to help them get back on track if they want to keep their license. Why is is so crazy to be asking for something similar from these people who are literally in charge of people’s lives?
It doesn’t seem to me they are being shamed for using. It seems they are just be asking for account for their actions since they are in positions of such power. The whole recovery community would be better served if that was the case, and David might not be where he is at right now if his “friends” actually held him accountable.
Lastly, these people made their recovery public and front and center in their advertising. But now no one is supposed to say anything about their relapse? I never heard a single person say we shouldn’t be talking about the Passages Malibu guy smoking crack while his advertisements for his beach resort rehab ran on national TV. None.
Anonymouses,
I didn’t comment to go back and forth here. I simply feel like utilizing an entire installment to highlight 2 people’s relapse is fodder for a bunch of disgruntled past participants. The kind of disgruntled folks who dont take personal responsibility. I don’t even know David Rook. Don’t think I’ve ever spoken with him. If he embezzled funds from True Recovery for any reason he should be prosecuted. If these RCOs are funneling money and over compensating themselves then actual detectives should be working a case. As for Kate, I do know her, and throwing her relapse from 2 years ago (per you because I don’t know) without adding any other evidence of unethical behavior is disgusting. I don’t think people who are using drugs should be operating recovery organizations. But what I do think is that 2 out of the many people you’ve included in your premature indictment have relapsed and one of them, thankfully, came right back into recovery and works hard to help others. Hopefully, David will make it back too. Countless addicts credit him with life changing guidance. I also think that 100% of the funds your referencing as being misappropriated by these RCOs are awarded for the recovery community because the people Christa is targeting worked hard to access those funds. Work that others did not and would not do. Funds that otherwise wouldn’t be available. I’m not missing any points. An entire segment didn’t need to be devoted to Kate and David’s relapse for Christa to say, “also, while using, David may have embezzled funds from True Recovery”. This is sensationalism. And until some sort of legal action proves otherwise, this is all bullshit. The point is every day people are dying as a direct result of drug use and this Christa gal, without proffering any solution for the using addict, is attacking the frontline, first responders to the disease of addiction.
Please reference the previous installment for references of misappropriation of the DBHDS funding. That funding was intended to be disbursed throughout the entire state and it wasn’t. Christa has linked the DBHDS contract for review. You’re right, people are dying. Not just in the Richmond area. That money could have opened doors and beds for addicts all over the state and probably prevented an untold amount of overdose deaths. Instead it was kept in house and circulated among the close knit circle of business partners on the VARR board. Stop blaming Christa for shining a light on this… and as far as “who does this help” or “what’s the point” this helps people suffering with SUD by providing more clarity into these organizations, their operators, and the ways in which they operate so that people seeking treatment are better able to make informed decisions in places of care. In healthcare we call this “informed consent” and it is vital in delivering competent care to patients.
Kelly: Please tell me something in this blog that’s false. I’ll wait.
Oh please we all know the fraud that goes on within these organizations. Clearly Kate Grimes misrepresented herself with 18 years clean when clearly she didn’t and I could go on and on. I’m glad attention is brought now hopefully a proper investigation is done. These organization kept the money for themselves and gave a Itty bitty percentage to other organizations outside of their click. That isn’t even debatable! Get off your high horse lady. IT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED!
18 years experience! So if you use you lose that experience? [Insult redacted].
The problem is with the intentionally misleading semantics of that statement. They used the same language regarding kate’s “lived experience” and Anthony’s “lived experience” which was clearly denoting his “clean time” the same way that they intentionally used misleading semantics with the use of the word “foundation” in WAR foundation as the term foundations is generally understood to mean a non-profit. Please try to take a step back from your own personal, and clearly very strong, feelings about this entire situation and view things objectively. If you look at all of this from an outside view can’t you see why people are upset? If you are one who is in recovery would you say that it follows the spiritual principal of integrity to intentionally mislead the general public for the purposes of promoting your business? Also, I keep seeing people say “well it’s not technically illegal” like that’s some kind of hallmark of everything being ok… lots of things are “technically legal” but morally and ethically wrong. Don’t people in recovery try to have morals and values anymore? What happened to the community? It’s so sad…
We get it, Kelly. You know several big words. I’ve heard you actually speak. You don’t use those words. 🤣🤣🤣
It’s all about the money! I remember being house manager for War Foundation and knowing someone was using but Kate would tell me to get rent from them 1st before we text them so they get paid. They got power and quickly forgot where they came from. I don’t even understand how they can be on the board of VARR and run recovery houses. That shouldn’t even be allowed. And Anthony is treasurer. What a joke! Just a bunch of cons and crooks stealing and committing Medicaid fraud!!!
People whining on Fb about shaming a relapse. That’s not the point, did they even read the article? It’s about accountability, which David seems to escape from all the time. You are calling PO’s on people for using while you yourself are using. In early recovery, everyone is told by these individuals to except their consequences of their use and actions. But if it means loosing your connections with the money then it’s kool. No iop for you David “not enough time in the day”. Client “go to IOP or go to jail”. Wake up
I am from Virginia Beach and word has gotten over to me about what is going on. I am a member of the Recovery Community , I am also a community service board member and I’m not saying this to imply anything I just want you guys to understand that I am a member of the community and I am a member of the real world.
As addicts we take a lot personally and invest a lot of emotion and tend to play victim. David Rook is NOT a victim. Kate Grimes NOT a victim. The victims are the lives that are deferred away from joining the recovery community and the other recovery communities TRYING TO THRIVE in their community but who don’t have access to funds to try and make a difference.
All I ask for my people in recovery … take a step back for a second , refocus and read this clearly : This is all wrong, I am too emotionally invested in this because I feel as if it is a personal attack on Rook and the recovery community. I am not thinking clearly. I’m so mad for this lady blasting the community. But so what ?? Cause we’re addicts she’s not allowed too??? Like everything is moral wrong and if this was not a recovery community no it probably wouldn’t be such a big deal but guess what it is cause so many people were against it happening in the first place . That is all
These people stepped up and sacrificed their time and money because the local CSBs either could not or would not help. The government is largely responsible for creating this epidemic and for the over incarceration of addicts … they are certainly not the solution.
The government agencies are the masters of misappropriating funds
These people used the resources that were provided to them…and vaar would not help recovery communities in need so I mean what is your point ? Oh another addict warrior making addict sense. … I mean a lot of addicts commit crimes so again what is your point? Yea rehabilitation is great and helpful with in jails it saved my life but it’s not a get out of jail free card or at least shouldn’t be. These people In power have completely ruined people’s lives for personal gain.
I don’t know about taking an opinion from someone who refers to us with quotation marks to use the term disease of addiction in their article. Like there’s nothing to argue about. It is a diagnosis that actually exists by a professional. I was actually really interested in what you had to say, but you lost me after the first paragraph. How disrespectful and insensitive and highly judgmental of you. I really feel like you may have information that the community needs to hear, but because of your biased ignorant opinion of our diagnosis, your message is completely lost. You obviously have no idea about this disease.
I’m pretty sure those quotations are not meant to be mocking, but because that phrase originated in NA literature. Disease of addiction isn’t in the DSM, so the quotations mean it’s common parlance.
Hi, I am so sorry my use of quotation marks came across that way. B is correct in that the intent was just to say the term is common parlance, but I can see how it could be interpreted as mocking. I removed the quotation marks. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
Christa thank you. I mean to be honest, a large percent of your audience are people in recovery. If you haven’t reflected upon who your audience is, I think it’s important that you do that. Again. I feel like the information you have is something important that we need to know as a community, but you’re still dealing with a very delicate matter that often is draped in stigma . I don’t want it being lost because of insensitivity. The other thing that I’m concerned about is because this is predominantly viewed by the recovering community. I feel like it almost falls on deaf ears and is used as drama. I would be very interested to see if there’s any way to take this to a higher level of accountability with the government itself. As far as my personal story, I never had the funds to afford. Going to a recovery home. I had to get my recovery, living and crack hotels and praying I didn’t realize. But I didn’t! So it aggravates me that there’s funding that’s now available. They fought for, and now I’m not sure that it’s even going to the ultimate goal of what it’s supposed to be used for. For. But I don’t really know either. I’ve never ran a recovery home in addition to never being able to stay in one. I just feel like having a blog that talks about all of this isn’t really getting any results either. It’s just dividing us more. I think our world is so focused on making boxes that we all fit in and everyone stands with the group they resonate with. I hate that! To me. It was really shady that the investigation was done by someone who could hold bias. And I think there’s something to be said about that and that there wasn’t an outside non-biased source that we could trust to look into this. I’m concerned not only as a member of this community, but also as a taxpayer. As far as someone’s personal journey through a relapse, that’s not biased to one person or another. It can hit any of us. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve not to experience a relapse, but I’m also quick to not judge those who have. To be honest. The only thing I really know about rook or what I read in this article. I mean I’ve seen them at some meetings, I’ve heard him visit, but the biggest testament to his character is through the participants of his program. That’s both good and bad. But ultimately it becomes black and white when it comes to using the law to determine right or wrong in the situation. That being said, I really truly genuinely appreciate you redacting the quotation marks. I really wanted to share this with other people, but that first paragraph had really upset me so I hadn’t. I’m so grateful that you’ve edited that so I feel comfortable to pass it on to the next person
WELL WRITTEN!
Money hungry corrupt individuals. It’s a shame that clients suffer from the negligence of leaders whose literal job it is to keep them safe.
I hate to sound like a prick here, but this is what happens when we start breaking the 12 traditions. You could make an argument that 12 step recovery associated businesses getting in bed with state and local government and sticking hands in each others pockets breaks half of the traditions (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11). I see things like what’s written above, and what’s been written already in previous additions, and it just looks like the progression of the disease of addiction.
On another note; To anyone who is maybe on the outside of all this, or who is maybe needing a place to go for sober living in Richmond, I would just say that these stories are not indicative of all sober living in Richmond or surrounding counties. Like with all things, there are a lot of bad actors. Unfortunately, it looks like some of theirs bad actors have been given top positions. All that being said, there are some truly good people involved in sober living, coming from someone who spent 2.5 years in a sober living house (1.5 years as a resident, and approximately 1 year as a house manager). I don’t know, my opinion is that this entire VARR experiment is one massive mistake.
Props to the author of this blog btw, for the journalistic work (if that’s the word), and you’re ability to not let the overwhelming mass of comments from the Richmond recovery community get to you. The comments section of these blog posts are wild.
I think it’s clear, cover up after cover up. Yes addicts may relapse however these individuals are in a role of leadership. They have lied hence KATE GRIMES advertising 18 years clean, LIE and well Rook can’t keep his lies straight. As far these tik toks coming to Rooks defense, it’s IRRELEVANT how he saved your life that’s not the issue at hand RYAN RIGGS. He did not comply (which other participants would have been kicked out for), taking money from the account without authorization to do so. YALL HAVE MADE A LAUGHING STOCK OF THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY! You do not live by the key principles that you preach to you participants. Kate Grimes should be ashamed of herself and removed immediately!!!! But more will be revealed about the hypocrisy this lady exemplifies. Jesse Wysocki thank you, you are about the only one tgat appears to have kept your nose clean in this. Asking the right questions and trying to hold individuals accountable. It’s awfully convenient that the majority 80% of the money went to the individuals that go and sit in each other’s offices on a regular (Journey House, WAR, True Recovery and Mcshinn) how convenient. All of their organizations should be shut down, they are not operating for the good of the public but themselves. ALL OF THEM ATE HYPICRITICAL AND DISGUSTING AND I HOPE FUNDING IS PULLED FROM THIS JOKE OF A ORGANIZATION. Compliance bullshit, none of them comply. They cover up for their peers. More info is being sent to where they get their money and hopefully they don’t see another dime!
Directly from this blog – “with over 18 years of lived experience in recovery” is what is said. I see no mention of the words clean or abstinent. Kate does have many years of lived experience in recovery. The definition os recovery is “A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.” Again, no mention of the words clean or abstinence.
Also removed from where and by who? She owns the company.
We all know how that statement is interrupted by the general public
That sounds like a them problem. Recovery means lots of things and is 100% not synonymous with total abstinence. Nor is that statement misleading.
It’s meant to confuse just like WAR “Foundation” lets people assume it’s a non-profit. They’re doing these things on purpose because they know technically it’s not a lie and people will think what they want them to think.
Are we gonna talk about how [name redacted], the [position redacted] has been using Kratom for roughly 9 months and Kate is just now handling it. And by handling it, she took [name redacted] out of her position for 2 weeks. Lol. What?
So the owners don’t need to have abstinence based recovery, but the participants in their programs have to? Abstinence is a requirement of all of their programs. Once again – different standards for the owners of these companies. They word their marketing carefully to make people think they live the same lifestyle as what they require of their program participants.
They allow people on MAT in recovery housing. Not all people in recovery housing follow the abstinence based model.
They even let people that have used 50 times, never paid them, and spread rumors about them back into their houses too.
So a participant who uses while they are in the house doesn’t get kicked out or reported to their PO and can come up with their own plan of accountability? They can use and have basically nothing happen to them just like nothing happened to the owners who used? Nothing until their behavior could no longer be ignored that is. Just admit there are different standards for participants than for the people who run these organizations and control their freedom and their ability to have a roof over their head.
There are different standards for different participants too…. Different standards for different staff members. And that’s at all organizations, even the ones conveniently left out of this. But, yes some most definitely do get away with using in recovery housing. Some have zero consequences. I wouldn’t call being arrested no consequences though.
No matter what model is being followed, you can’t fail drug tests in recovery houses for non-prescribed or illicit drugs. Neither Kate or David were called out for being on maintenance. It’s apples and oranges dude.
I think that if you are close to the situation or friends with those that are mentioned in this, then you aren’t going to see this report for what it is. The author never slanders anyone, nor does she state her opinions. She instead presents the issue at hand, and then presents the evidence thru emails, screenshots of messages or even links to public info on the topic. I think it is pretty obvious to anyone with a brain that there is unethical stuff going on. Even if it’s just optics, how can you run a non profit that receives funding and then distribute that money to your spouses company, or even your own. VARR and owner operators should be separate. “Period” But also the reasoning for bringing up these relapses is not at all to shame these individuals. The wording for Kates 18 yrs is the same as her husbands 7 yrs. That is sone for one reason, and one reason only. To Deceive! As far as David goes, the amount of power he has over peoples freedom and lives is crazy, he’s been smoking crack w former clients. Refuses to do basic recovery plan that he himself requires as a non negotiable. Three trips to rehab this year and nothing has changed. Wonder why? Because he gets no consequence. Zero. He gets bailed out and people just put him right back in the role of “Recovery Leader”. I know that as a recovering addict myself that I wouldn’t have stopped had it not been for consequences. So that’s just my take on things and like it was stated before Jesse W was the only one to even question David being back on the executive committee. And Anthony and Sarah sounded like they had their minds made up that “hey it’s David”.
How do you just come up with your own scenario about David? You know this to be true that he’s working? You have actual proof that he’s back at work? You know whats going on in his life? [Insult redacted].
Please read the above article to understand what this commenter is speaking about. They aren’t saying David is working “now”. The comment is referencing how David immediately started working again after treatment previously. Also please reference the proof that David started work immediately even though he did not fulfill his recovery plan. Please actually read the article, don’t just blindly comment.
Looks like the Inspector General will be heading to town. What an embarrassment for the entire recovery community.
So, my take from mainly the 45-minute video of what was supposed to be a “check-in” or “monitoring” of the recovery plan for a huge leader and advocate for the recovery movement is that there was only one member of the executive committee from varr that thought it necessary to hold its leaders accountable the same way as any lower-level employee or participant is held to. I didn’t feel like this is trying to bash RCO leaders for a reoccurrence of use, just that should this person or these persons be operating in the same capacity as they were before the relapses. With Kate, were other employees “in charge” of making the decisions that affect the participants’ lives while she got her feet back under her. With David, it brings the same question, but also ethically, is this correct to have him just jump back in. Not only for his own well-being, but for those he serves? If you are living at an RCO, would you not get “stepped down” as a house manager for the same thing? For someone that facilitates trainings across the state for peer recovery specialists for ethics and also PRS trainings in general, is this the example we would like to show other peers working in the community? Also, I understand the feeling of, “nothing about us without us,” right, but this will absolutely fall back on ALL peer-led RCO’s, because ultimately it is all of these leaders jobs to show that recovery works. We can recovery, and please allow us to have funding. It will ultimately negatively affect everyone. The same effort being put in to co-sign someone that is near and dear to the recovery community should be put into holding this person accountable, and potentially saving his life. I’m not seeing the spiritual principle of “integrity” being shown. I know it’s not all 12-step, but we have to be less divisive as a community and acknowledge the good deeds and also help our brother realize the bad.
Does HPMP service PRS’? I’m just thinking if he has PRS credentialas and has had a “return to use”, he should be required to complete HPMP to retain his credentials? Or does it not apply because he is a peer specialist and not a clinician? Just riffing off the idea of a self-imposed “HPMP” — laughable. HPMP monitors people for 5 full years and if they have anything even a sip of alcohol, the whole process restarts. David could do it, but it would be hard, and he would more likely hand over the credentials instead of doing the hard work. Just a thought.
HPMP stands for Heath Practitioner Monitoring Program. PRS’ do not fall under the qualifications as a licensed Heath Practitioner. Those individuals are doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, etc. Lawyers have a similar program called Lawyers Helping Lawyers.
*edit: HPMP stands for Health Practitioners Monitoring Program. Whoops 🙂
Wow, words fail me. This is a catastrophic event for the recovery movement in Virginia. Acting like it’s okay to use substances with current or former residents and go on like biz as usually is exactly what the system wants to happen. Because of things like this, public and private sector will point out to argue they should hold all the funds and continue profiting from our lived experience while paying us slave wages. Meanwhile, they are also unethical and mishandling funds, adding layers to their bureaucracies and exploiting stigma. Here’s an example of us handing the system the gas can, lighter and materials. Now it’s time to pivot this investigative lense to all, including government, nonprofit and for profit- clinical and non clinical. The victims are those struggling and their families. It’s NOT okay. Blood boiling but now I thoroughly trust my judgment. Everyone worrying about people prescribed suboxone or behavioral meds but living strict lives in recovery and helping people- meanwhile you’re out here sneaking around using illicit substances, hooking up with clients and mishandling funds and leadership roles, so harming people.
What the actual ****!!!!????
Can we also talk about the fact that the [position redacted] of War, [name redacted], has been using kratom multiple times a day and drinking alcohol for roughly 6-9 months & it was completely ignore up until recently. But yet, she has been exiting people and sending them back to jail for doing the same exact thing she was doing?? Someone make it make sense, please. Tell me how that is acceptable.
From the Selected Papers of William L. White, world renowned addiction researcher. Full article, Relapse is not part of recovery: https://www.chestnut.org/Resources/33827e78-6bbe-4259-9751-1f87dc612205/2010-Relapse-is-NOT-Part-of-Recovery.pdf
1. “Relapse is part of recovery” blurs the
distinction between pathology and health.
One does not hear people describing a
reoccurrence of cancer, heart attack, or
stroke as part of their recovery from these
disorders. Marrying relapse and recovery
attaches unwarranted value and nobility to
the resumption of drug use and its inevitable
consequences. Let’s be very clear: the
resumption of drug use by someone with a
history of addiction is part of the addiction
process—in fact, such persistent use is part
of the defining criteria of addiction, not part
of the process of getting well. Symptoms of
illness and progress towards recovery co-
exist for most disorders, particularly chronic
disorders, but framing symptoms of illness
within a recovery rubric destroys the very
meaning of recovery. Casting relapse as a
dimension of recovery is more than the
medical equivalent of putting lipstick on a
pig; it injects pathology within the very
concept of health and wellness.
6. “Relapse is part of recovery” provides
addiction treatment programs an escape
from accountability for post-treatment
recovery outcomes. It constitutes a request
by treatment organizations for a blank check
to continually readmit patients who have
failed to achieve stable recovery and the
right to place responsibility for continued
drug use on the nature of addiction recovery
and not the inadequate quality treatment
methods. The phrase “relapse is part of
recovery” has reaped significant financial
rewards for the addiction treatment industry,
but it has also contributed to public
pessimism about addiction treatment. The
addiction treatment industry should not be
allowed to escape accountability for
recovery outcomes nor financially exploit its
patients within the shroud of such
euphemisms.
!!! THIS !!!
Again, read the article. It is not about relapse is a part of recovery. It is about accountability.. it is about standards. It is about manipulation. It is about no consequences for the powers that be. Come on folks. This womans goal is not to shame. All people who suffer from SUD should be concerned about what is going on here. My guess is the ones that are all up in arms about this are no where close to emotional sobriety.
I think we’re on the same side here Anon. I posted that to show that these operators shouldn’t be absolved of consequences just because the say “relapse is part of recovery”, or that they’ve “been in recovery” x amount of years, withholding the fact that some of that time was spent using.
All these people on here crying about the stigma of addiction and of being an addict, and that somehow this blog perpetuates that stigma. You know what really perpetuates that stigma? The most prominent, well known, political, and wealthy addicts in our area acting like they are. Pulling off little scams to enrich themselves, treating people unfairly, abusing their power, sexual misconduct, applying different standards to themselves than to their participants, using and suffering no consequences but sending people back to jail for the very same thing, etc, etc. If you folks who claim you want to end the stigma of addiction REALLY want to help end that stigma, then hold your fiends and peers to a higher standard! Stop covering for them and making excuses for their behavior. Stop letting them get away with unethical and dishonest behavior because “they’ve helped a lot of people”. We should be demanding them to live by a higher standard. In a lot of ways they are our public face as addicts! And this is how they behave? And we just let them get away with it!!! All you folks who continue to cover for their behavior are doing more to perpetuate the tired old line “once and addict, always an addict” more than anyone!!!
Yeah second that shit
Agree 100%
AMEN ! HOLDMYMONSTER AMEN!
I don’t think the RCOs are who we should be mad at. If they’ve done the 12 steps then they should have had their character defects removed. It’s not their fault if their higher powers didn’t do a thorough job.
Yes can we criminally prosecute higher powers?
This is an excellent point. Christa?
Just want to clear up one common mistake, the places being mentioned aren’t RCO’s. They are simply recovery houses. Currently there is only one RCO in the Richmond area, the term keeps getting thrown around, I thought I’d shed some light. By definition A recovery community organization (RCO) is an independent, non-profit organization led and governed by representatives of local communities of recovery.
Does the blog misuse the term?
No but several comments do. And it’s widely used to describe places like many mentioned. As long as we are being 100% honest I felt it should be pointed out.