Hi, I'm Chris Prentiss.

My son, Pax, was severely addicted to marijuana, alcohol, cocaine and heroin for 10 years. Barely 18 years old, he sat in front of me in tears and said, “Dad, I'm hooked on heroin.” I didn't know much about heroin then—how lethal it is, and how powerfully addictive it is. Always wanting to be positive, I said, “Don't worry Pax, we'll fix you right up.” Little did I know, I was in a fight to save Pax's life and it would last for many years.

Several times I nearly lost him after he overdosed; and once, he was severely beaten by drug dealers to the point of hospitalization.

I tried everything to get Pax sober. I took him to psychiatrists, psychologists, and addiction specialists. All we heard was the same dismal story over and over again: “Addiction is a disease. It's incurable, and your son will be an addict for the rest of his life...”

Pax went to treatment centers that used the 12-Step program—30 day, 60 day, and 90 day programs. Nothing worked. He would relapse almost immediately upon coming home.

I believed that there was a reason why Pax was chasing drugs. I knew in my heart that if I could find this reason, I would be able to save Pax.

After many years of fruitless searching, I finally said to Pax, “The help you need is not out there. Unless we create a different program for you, something brand new, you may never find the help you need.”

The holistic, non-12 Step program we created for Pax—the one that is now the Passages program—was primarily based on finding out the “why” behind his addiction. But unless the “why” is discovered and healed, relapse is nearly certain.

Drugs and alcohol are not the problem. They are what you are using to cope with the problem. Your use of drugs or alcohol is merely a symptom of an underlying issue—that's the problem.

Pax and I co-founded Passages Addiction Treatment Centers to help you move from where you are now—which is dependent on drugs or alcohol—to where you want to be, which is sober with a healthy and happy life.

That's our story. We'd like to hear yours. Please call Passages today if you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol. (888) 991-2219. Insurance is accepted.