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Operated by Kaiser Permanente, an HMO, the Chemical Dependency Recovery Program (CDRP) is a comprehensive treatment program for alcoholism and drug dependency, among the finest in Northern California. Located on the Marina Playa campus in Santa Clara, CDRP is available to all Kaiser members.

CDRP treats over 400 clients each month with a staff of 35 professional counselors and support personnel. The treatment program is provided for a two year period, with "alumni" activities offered after that.

The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are incorporated into CDRP's program and clients are required to attend AA and/or NA meetings as part of treatment. The long-term goal for CDRP clients is to maintain sobriety through active membership in AA and NA.

A typical client will begin CDRP with two to three weeks of "day treatment" following assessment by the medical and counseling staff. Day treatment is conducted from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday and from 9am to noon on weekends.

Treatment plans are tailored to each client, taking into consideration potential need for Sober Living Environment (SLE) housing, work schedules, dual diagnosis and other unique needs. An individual case manager follows the client throughout the entire course of the client's treatment.

For those diagnosed with chemical dependency and one or more other emotional disorders, such as depression, CDRP provides the Dual Diagnosis Program.

Through daily group sessions, individual counseling and medical treatment, clients are taught to deal with the interrelationship of their dual diagnosis. For example, serious untreated depression can likely trigger the urge to return to active alcoholism. Appropriate medications are prescribed and clients are monitored carefully, working closely with the two on-staff physicians to achieve optimum relief of symptoms.

Each client is taught to recognize their personal trigger signals for both aspects of their dual diagnosis. The group sessions emphasize problem solving and development of healthy and fulfilling life activities.

Alcoholism was defined by the American Medical Association as a distinct disease in the 1950's. It is a chronic, progressive, fatal but treatable disease. The treatment for alcoholism, or addiction to any other mind-altering chemicals, is abstinace supported by life style changes through an on-going recovery program.

Treatment centers such as CDRP provide a highly structured program designed to stabilize people in early recovery, educate them about the disease, provide a community of support and an array of tools to maintain sobriety. Since chemical dependency is also a family disease, CDRP encourages family involvement during treatment.

Alcoholics Anonymous is an independent organization founded in 1935 by two alcoholics who were able to stay sober by helping each other. They could not maintain sobriety through their own efforts, or those of family, doctors or employers. Now, there are AA groups all over the world. Each are self-sustaining and independent.

Members of AA have sponsors who help them work the 12 Steps and support them in times of difficulty. Sponsors typically have several years of sobriety, have worked the 12 Steps themselves, and see their "sponsee" on a frequent basis. In this way, the original concept of one alcoholic helping another continues on.

Every Tuesday evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm the "Keep Coming Back" group meets for fun and fellowship at CDRP. All members of CDRP, past and present, are welcome to join us!

We share ideas for healthy and enjoyable sober activities, often exchanging movie reviews or suggestions for the best sites for a long walk or camping trip.

We put on many events at CDRP such as the annual picnic and the Halloween Party. Once a month, we have our own "game night", playing Pictionary and other favorites.

JOKE OF THE WEEK....

Three elderly men are at the doctor for a memory test. The doctor says to the first man, "What is three times three?" "274" was his reply.

The doctor says to the second man, "It's your turn. What is three times three?" "Tuesday", replies the second man.

The doctor says to the third man, "Okay, your turn. What's three times three"? "Nine", says the third man. "That's great!" says the doctor. "How did you get that"?

"Simple," says the third man. "I subtracted 274 from Tuesday."

Sunday: 7pm at 2499 Homestead, corner of San Tomas (Presbyterian Church), in Santa Clara.

Monday: 8pm at 327 Moffett Blvd, between Central and Middlefield, Palo Alto.

Tuesday: Noon at Lutheran Church corner of Meridian/Fruitdale, San Jose.

Wednesday: Noon at 2499 Homestead (Presbyterian Church), corner of San Tomas, Santa Clara.

Thursday: 8pm "chip meeting" at 1122 Fair Ave (Alano East), San Jose.

Friday: Noon at 20 University Ave (St. Mark's Church), corner of Elm St., Los Gatos.

Saturday: 2pm at "Saturday Nite Live" Westgate West 5289 Prospect Rd off Graves Ave.

Never been to a meeting?

There's coffee pot in every AA room, and a "secretary" who made the coffee, set up the room and invited the "chairperson" for the day. Most people in the room are regulars who know each other and get to the room early. Especially in smaller meetings, newcomers are usually noticed but not "pounced" on. After all, the regulars don't know if you're serious or not.

The secretary calls the meeting to order and asks for a moment of silence followed by the Serenity Prayer. A couple of the members read the 12 Traditions of AA and part of the "Big Book" of AA which explains how the program works. There are some announcements and the secretary will ask if any newcomers care to introduce themselves. That's voluntary. The "basket" is passed so members can put in a dollar or two for coffee and rent expenses.

The chairperson is introduced and tells his story.....what drinking was like, what happened to make him quit and how life is now. He indicates a topic he would like discussed and calls on members to speak. Anyone can "pass" if they like.

When time is up, everyone joins hands in a circle and says The Lord's Prayer, also voluntary.

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will and for us the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.