Group counseling is a highly effective and enjoyable part of the recovery process at CRCI.
CEO Josh Torbich
When I came here as a resident in 2013, the center was a 12-bed group home facility. I was struggling with substance abuse and needed a drastic change. Then something beautiful happened to me: I developed a niche for helping people, became committed to something that was bigger than myself, and realized that God had other plans for my life. In 2015, I was named CEO, and with additional curriculum we met the criteria to become a substance use disorder recovery program.
Today, we have 42 residential treatment beds at our men’s campus at the Christian Recovery Center in Ash, and 32 at our women’s campus, the Rose House in Calabash, with plans to more than double our capacity with a new facility in Shallotte. Our efforts focus on those voluntarily seeking assistance for a substance abuse issue by offering multiple types of recovery resources, all at no cost, through a four- to six-month, three-phase program.
Our expansion will allow us to offer a fourth phase — extending care out to 24 months as our residents go on to achieve successful lives. Our residents come to us from all walks of life. As they go through the recovery process they move from “I’m addicted to this substance” to “I have things inside of me keeping me from being successful.” We are unique, one of a few in the state offering a faith-based, 12-step program with professional therapy services in a structured and disciplined environment. Our residents experience a lot of different recovery philosophies and models, and from that they formulate their own plan. We also offer a Workforce Redevelopment Program that provides experience and assists in the search for meaningful employment opportunities.
None of this would be possible without donations and grants, and of course our incredibly expert and dedicated staff. Our “You Can” campaign is underway, funding our expansion onto a 5.5-acre campus on Mulberry Street in Shallotte, which is slated to open in June 2024. It will serve 110 men, with two wings for the initial recovery program, and two wings for phase 4, as they begin to create their own schedules. We’ll provide space, meals, a supportive environment and a heavy dose of accountability for a small weekly fee. Women’s recovery will be in Calabash, and phase 4 will be in Ash. We track success on three pillars: are they abstinent from drugs and alcohol, are they in a stable living environment, and are they gainfully employed or have steady income. One year later, 74% meet that criterion, and adding phase 4 will only make that number go up.
