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Vander Dale's Story
As a native of Los Angeless inner city, where gang violence and drug dealing are key aspects of the landscape, I was one of the lucky few to survive childhood with spirit and ambitions intact. The poverty and despair that was all around me crushed the hopes and dreams of many of my peers; few finished high school, and even fewer went on to college. Most are now unemployed, homeless, incarcerated, addicted to crack cocaine or alcohol, or dead. These sad circumstances are something never far from my consciousness even today.
I am the only member of my family to ever go and graduate from college, but at one time it seemed as though it might not happen. I used drugs and alcohol for 23 years. During the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, I drank Cisco and smoked crack cocaine, and devoted little time in doing anything positive with my life. As time passed, I experienced powerlessness and unmanageability in every aspect of my life. In 1989 I finally hit bottom living downtown on skidrow in a cardboard box, addicted to smoking crack and alcohol. It was at this point of my life where I had to admit that I had a problem, and also admit that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired of living this lifestyle.
In 1991, I entered a 12-step drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. The first program was the Union Rescues Mission for 90 days, and then transferred to Acton Rehabilitation Center for an additional 90 days. Over time, I became an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous, read the Big Book of AA, and worked the 12-step to the best of my ability. As a result of doing the footwork and taking action, Ive been able to get clean and sober, and stay clean and sober for the past 16 years and 11 months, with no relapses. Ive also been clean from cigarettes for 15 years.
I am a firm believer that when you take away drugs and alcohol from a persons life, you must replace it with something positive. For me, the positive replacement was choosing to go back to school to get an education at 38 years old. In 1992, I was enrolled at Los Angeles City College and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in Human Services, with a certificate in Alcohol and Drugs Studies. In 1994, I transferred to Cal State University, Los Angeles and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work, with a certificate as a Specialist in Alcohol and Drug Problems. In 1998 I entered the graduate program at the University of Southern California and graduated with a Masters Degree in Social Work. I also have two certifications as a drug and alcohol counselor. Im also an active member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Im currently a 2nd year PhD candidate majoring in psychology at Capella University, with a minor in addiction. Im employed as a Program Coordinator for Job Corps in Long Beach, and an Adjunct Faculty Member at East Los Angeles City College.
Los Angeles, California
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