ABOUT US It is through helping others that that we ourselves heal…at least that is what I learned the day I met a dear friend who had recently lost her child from an accidental overdose after years of having worked hard to overcome his addiction. I on the other hand had a son whose life was spiraling out of control more each day to the same addiction. We were introduced through a mutual friend and an immediate friendship took hold. Together we formed the Right Your Life Organization. It was 2010 and we set out to help offset the costly expense of recovery support services for our youth suffering from substance use. As the organization evolved we add our own support resources and today we continue to steer at risk youth toward a preventive path from substance use, create partnerships with organizations whose missions mirror ours and work with youth & families to provide opportunities for successful recovery.
SO THE STORY GOES... Growing up IS hard to do! The issues young people face haven’t changed in decades: social awkwardness, popularity, bullying, “not fitting in” self consciousness and low self esteem etc. Poor grades and skipping school become common place and kids lose interest in a proper education. The legal and illegal solutions kids seek to “fit in” have not changed either: illegal drug and alcohol use. The acceleration of prescription drug use following an injury have added fuel to the ever changing landscape of substance abuse. The added component of lethal drugs such as fentanyl is responsible for its share of lives taken too soon. The number of young people at risk for drug and alcohol addictions continues to rise and our youth are experimenting with drugs and alcohol as young as 11 and 12 years of age. Accidental Overdose deaths and suicides have risen dramatically and particularly in New Jersey.
By way of introduction we are a group of active and retired educators, administrators, and business people who resolved to take part in the struggle against drug and alcohol use in our youth. We are also a group of parents, like many of you, that have all been affected in one way or another by this corrosive epidemic of substance use disorders and disease. We believe that accessibility to support resources in the formidable years can encourage our youth toward the path to sobriety and that accessibility to support resources is necessary to build recovery healthy communities. To that end the following programs are been created complimented by our Youth & Family Community Events
Right Your Life Project Workshop & Community Recovery Center (previously the WOOD U? Project) The Recovery Community Center, located in matawan, provides a safe place for youth and families seeking resources and recovery support. Program offerrings include group meetings, recovery coaching uniquely combined with art and restoration projects and youth and family community events. We are here to support our community of youth and families struggling during that difficult time between acknowledgement, acceptance and the desire for recovery. Community partners are welcome.
Recovery High School Partnership K.E.Y.S. ACADEMY (Knowledge Empowers Youth & Sobriety) A Recovery High School K.E.Y.S. Academy opened its doors on January 2, 2018, the first recovery high school in Monmouth County and serving students from Monmouth, Ocean & Middlesex Counties. Collectively Right Your Life, Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District, the creator of the program, curriculum and recovery support design and Brookdale Community College who hosts the school on their Lincroft Campus are responsible for this innovative program. K.E.Y.S (Knowledge Empowers Youth & Sobriety) mission is to provide a rigorous, innovative, and supportive learning environment to students diagnosed with a substance use or dependency disorder seeking a sober lifestyle. K.E.Y.S. provides an alternative to returning to their same school where often the problem began. Providing a multi-faceted education where the focus is recovery support will help students create a path forward for lifetime. Early access to ongoing recovery support will give youth a better chance for successful recovery and the demonstration of academic capability will only strengthen a student's plan for a future that encourages higher education and a healthy lifestyle that will support their sustained recovery.