Overview

"Musician David Vartabedian's personal journey from criminal and convict to a mentor and inspiration for thousands provides the background to this guide written for those suffering from addiction but who are often reluctant to embark on a recovery couched in terms of religion. ""Twelve Steps Without God is a great alternative for accessing the source of power necessary for a psychic change necessary to overcome the disease of addiction. David's personal story and history of living the life of an active addict and his miraculous transformation will open the door for so many who are desperately seeking freedom from addiction. His many years of experience working in the field of recovery provide a powerful, effective, and long-lasting solution for longterm recovery."" Samantha Matern Addictions Specialist and Counselor Unityholisticlifecoach.com"

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9781927664162

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Reviews

David has affected me through his sobriety and my hope is that I may help spread his valuable experiences to you who may be looking for this perspective on what is to me the greatest gift we alcoholics have been given: a way to live freely without the insanity of a dehydrated spiritual life. Josh Brolin, actor When I first got sober, I had a hard time with the God thing in AA. As far as I was concerned, the whole idea of God was great in theory, but in practice, a complete let-down. In the rooms, there was so much talk about God, I thought I could not do this simple program. Then some wise person pointed out to me that there was certainly a power greater than I (because if not, we're all fucked), but it didn't have to look like the God of my youth; it didn't even have to be called God . What a relief. David Vartabedian has taken this understanding and elucidated it so that through his words, even the hardened, God-denying alcoholic can find her or his way to the most liberating condition available to human being: sobriety. Brian O'Dea, author of High, published by Random House

Author Information

Thirty years ago, David Vartabedian was an alcoholic, drug addict and criminal who was in and out of the California prison and parole system from ages 13 to 33. After several false starts at sobriety, he embraced the Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous 12-Step programs in the last year of a three-year sentence for armed robbery. He has been clean and sober since 1989. After his release, he studied psychology at Santa Barbara City College and worked as a laborer. From there, he became the assistant manager and then manager at the sober living house where he'd transitioned back into the community, His career as a youth substance abuse counselor included running a program for high-risk teenagers in Santa Barbara, where the County Sheriff's Department hired him to design and implement a treatment education program for county inmates, working with California's Drug Court diversion program. Though he first believed that his record as a felon would bar him from working in the state prison system, its officials became his advocates. His innovative recovery treatment program was so successful, he became a board member of the Santa Barbara County Criminal Justice Advisory Board and the National Council on Alcoholism. Currently, he is board vice president of Newhouse Sober Living in Santa Barbara, as well as president of the city's Alano Club for those in recovery. He is also certified in Smart Recovery, a non-profit recovery program. David is a state-licensed real estate broker, former owner of two day spas, and once co-owned a vegan hair care line inspired by his daughter, Maya. A rock music aficionado since childhood, he still plays guitar in classic rock and roll bands. In his three decades of sobriety, David has helped tens of thousands of alcoholics and addicts in theirs. A featured speaker at AA conventions, David has also carried the message to alcoholics and addicts at hospitals and institutions, as his first sponsors carried it to him, including giving the commencement address to graduates of the Lompoc, California federal facility's treatment program. He has blogged excerpts from his book at the popular sobriety website thefix.com. David lives in Santa Barbara County with his daughter.

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