The art of healing from chemical dependency

Submitted by Stephen Gregg

At risk teens often walk down the path of drugs and alcohol abuse. Operation Clean Slate has found art to be a creative alternative to these destructive choices. Troubled teens from the Coastal Mountain Youth Academy have taken part in an Operation Clean Slate project and have created a mural for New Directions for Women, a chemical dependency treatment center in Costa Mesa.

“It’s heartbreaking to see teens experience these events, but we’re glad that they are getting help early in their young lives, and we’re grateful for the mural they’ve created for us,” said Rebecca Flood CEO, of New Directions for Women. New Directions for Women is a 30 bed facility that helps women suffering from alcoholism and chemical dependency by offering counseling and treatment in a safe environment.

New Directions for Women unveiled the mural on May 29th in their group therapy room. The unveiling was accompanied by a reception and remarks from the teen artists, Rebecca Flood, Kelley White, founder of Coastal Mountain Youth Academy and Michael Howard, the founder of Operation Clean Slate.

“Events like this help in the recovery process and bring joy to our patients when it’s needed most,” said Flood.

For more information on New Directions for Women please go to www.newdirectionsforwomen.org or call (800) 93-WOMEN.