"Overcoming My Drug Addiction Was Finally Possible With The Help Of Beartooth Mt Ascent"

Oct. 22, 2008 - PRLog -- My name is Trey Ripma and I am 22 years old.  I am from Florida and I came to Beartooth Mt. Ascent because I was involved in drugs, violence, women and guns.  Being from Florida, cocaine was everywhere.  I started doing it for fun and then it became a habit.  I stopped working because it was hard for me to work when I was high, and also because I made enough money dealing drugs to support my addiction.  I was ashamed of the things I was doing, but couldn’t stop.  It caused me to stop talking to my family and I was never around to help out.  I also went to jail a number of times and to rehab twice.

My addiction frustrated me because I was always a smart and hard working guy, but I still couldn’t stop using.  I came to Beartooth Mt. Ascent  right after I finished a 3 month wilderness program, and now I never want to leave.  I have learned so much here.  I have regained my self dignity and can finally call myself a good man.  I got back my work ethic and have learned how to have fun again without drugs.  The Schneider’s and some of the staff, I consider my family.  They are so cool here, I can talk to them about anything.  I also have a great relationship with my family.  I have realized how my drug use affected them, and I am greatly sorry for how I treated them.  And, I can say that it will never happen again.

I have also learned how to rope, ride and work cows in almost any situation.  I have saved baby calves’ lives and that really feels awesome.  I have let go of my pride, my addiction, dishonesty, carelessness, disobedience, selfishness, anger, resentments, laziness and my old life.  All that has taken a year and I still have lots of work to do.

The best I saved for last, and that is my relationship with God and my belief in His word.  I could not have come this far without God and that is why I am so thankful for Beartooth Mt. Ascent.  You can’t help but hear about God and the Bible.  It’s awesome because if I didn’t have that I would probably still have a bad attitude and a craving to keep using.  Just being involved in God’s word has changed my thinking from the glass is half empty to the glass is half full.  I used to freak out in bad situations or rough times, but now I thank God and trust Him to get me through them and make me spiritually stronger.  If you want your son to become a man, this is the place for him.  If it could help me, it could help anyone.

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Beartooth MT Ascent, is a young adult transition program for struggling young men. We help at-risk young men learn the life skills they need to turn away from the drug culture and find the new meaning and purpose for their lives. BearTooth MT Ascent has made an incredible impact on 18-26 year olds with serious addictions.