SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Starting a new year may bring reflection on the previous year. A man in recovery is inviting others to begin the new year with the hope of overcoming drug and alcohol dependency.
“Absolutely, there’s hope,” said Tallgrass Recovery & Sober Living Homes Executive Director Jon Sommervold.
Whether it’s been a relapse over the holidays or a constant burden through the years, help is available to face addiction.
“If you’re thinking you have a problem, that’s a pretty big indication that you do,” said Sommervold.
Sommervold knows what it’s like to struggle with an unhealthy dependency as he just celebrated 27 years of sobriety.
“If you have to plan out your night for how many drinks you can have here and how many drinks you have there and when you’re going to start drinking, you should know that most people who are normal and do not have an alcohol or drug problem do not have to do that,” said Sommervold.
The harder one tries, the more difficult it can be.
“This is taking over your life because you’re trying to manage it, and it’s managing you right back,” said Sommervold.
If you or someone you care for is getting pulled back into the lure of addiction, a phone call could be the start of turning things around.
“We’ll have a conversation with you about whether or not, first off, you have a problem. Is your life unmanageable and are you powerless over alcohol or powerless over fentanyl, or powerless over whatever your drug is,” said Sommervold.
The 30-day residential program has about a 50% success rate, while the national average is less than 10%.
“Every employee and volunteer at Tallgrass is living and thriving in 12-step recovery, which sets us apart. We see our guests in the recovery community because we’re all going to meetings and we’re all participating,” said Sommervold.
Whether it’s a lifelong struggle or a need to begin again, Sommervold said there is hope.
“We have miracles every day here. I go to work and I’m surrounded by miracles. Most of the staff were guests here. What a miracle that is. And our guests thrive,” said Sommervold.