Recovery Ventures Corporation

I have a loved one that had a very successful time in this program and my family and I are grateful for saving her life. However, now that my family member is pretty much complete with graduation in a few days, it seems that the coordinator has become spiteful and unprofessional. One of the rules is that if you would like to move out you have to put in a two weeks notice which my family member did not do because she was not prepared, the coordinator submitted a two weeks notice on my family member’s behalf without consulting with my family member but based off conversations with another person in the program. My family member is remaining resilient and positive but it seems unjust and illegal to create documents for a patient and not consult them. My family member is afraid to say anything because they are afraid of reprisal. Has this been anyone else’s experience?

C Flynt. whats up. idono. I learned a lot. makes you tough. not perfect. but alot to it.
Will F. I respect you man. dead ass. i was so young when i was there but one of my best achievments, didnt finish but i got the jist. I reckamond, if you cant join military.

I MADE A DECISION TO GO BACK TO RECOVERY VENTURE. I HAVE BEEN READING ALL THE REVIEWS AND I MUST SAY SOME RECOVERY PROGRAMS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE. WHEN WE WERE OUT THERE IN ACTIVE ADDICTION THE DOPE DEALER CALLED YOU ALL KINDA NAMES AND WE DID WHAT EVER HE WANTED JUST TO GET THAT HIT OR FIX. THEN WE COME TO RECOVERY AND GET SENSITIVE WOW. WE WERE TREATED WORSE BY THE PERSON WE GAVE OUR VERY LIFE TO THE "DOPEMAN". EVERYTHING A PERSON SAYS ABOUT YOU ,YOU DON'T HAVE TO RECEIVE. BE OPEN MINDED WHEN COMING INTO A PROGRAM LIKE THIS CAUSE WE COMPLAIN BOUT WORK BUT IF THE DOPEMAN TELL YOU TO DO SOME WORK NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TOOK WE "DID IT" NOW WE GET INTO A PROGRAM AS SUCH AND WANT TO COMPLAIN BOUT WORK. FOR ME I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO PAY BILLS, WORK HARD TO FEED MYSELF,WORK TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. SOME PEOPLE LIVE IN ABANDO SO THAT DOESN'T MATTER OR LIVE ON THE STREETS... THINK ABOUT THAT. IM NOT HUNGRY OR HOMELESS I GAVE UP MY APARTMENT AND EVERYTHING IN IT. I WANT BETTER FOR MYSELF. I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE DRUG FREE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.......MAKE YOUR RECOVERY PERSONAL....

For every positive review, there are ten negatives for any business. This place saved not only my life, but the lives of countless others. It may not be easy, and they won't coddle you and spoon feed you everything. You have to earn respect, will be called out if you aren't acting responsibly or respectfully, and will learn to live life sober, happy, and healthy. It teaches you to wake up, be responsible, go to work, and help others. Very structured. Set me up for success I had never thought possible. Mostly, it gave me my self-worth, self-esteem, and relationships back that I thought I'd lost forever. I am so grateful for RVC.

A former client of mine spent 3 months there. Her experience was similar to those also posting a one star review; sleep deprivation, isolation, unsanitary conditions and a dangerous indifference to their physical health. Her SNAP card was taken and sold for cash and the clients were fed from food bank donations.

When she finally decided to leave, after becoming very suicidal, her parents had to pick her up at the bus station because the cult, wouldn’t give them the physical address of the place.

This place needs to be shut down Yesterday.

This place was disgusting and abusive. They told me I couldn’t be on my psych meds while there so I stopped taking them before I came. When I had mental issues they said “who’s going to pay for a hospital visit?” I said “I’m working 16+ hours a day, what’s that for?” It’s apparently for having a bunk to sleep on. If you want to leave, they drive you to a homeless shelter, no phone calls, no letters home for the first year you’re there. Had girls there who said prison and the military was easier.

You wake up at 5 am, then you’re “on the move” until you go to work. “On the move” is cleaning around the facility, and outside. You scrub things with a toothbrush, on your knees, no sitting allowed. You basically find anything and everything to clean during the day. I used to be so happy to go to work because I was out of that hell hole. Work was 16+ hours a day, and the money you earn ALL OF IT, goes to the owners for “living expenses”. The food is donated, the clothes are donations, the toiletries are donated, besides having a bunk with 7 other girls in the same room, what expense?

They also tear you down constantly. If you break a rule, you get more work to do, but they don’t tell you the rules! I got “move time” because I didn’t fluff my pillow!

Every Wednesday night, they have the whole group come together to tell you how awful you are, and you’re not allowed to respond or defend yourself. You HAVE to pick 3 people to “confront”. We had to make stuff up just to have something bad to say. It was insanity.

Seeing the girls who had been in the program for months acting like it was okay really worried me. It was like they had been so abused and beat down that it became normal. They’re so happy to survive the program they only say nice things, probably because they’re still afraid of the owners.

Biggest messed up thing about this place, no talking to anyone outside the program. BIG RED FLAG. You are not allowed to speak to ANYONE who is not a female in the program. You are punished and degraded if you do.

RVC is and was a nightmare. I left that hole 2 years ago and I’m still sober, you don’t need this nasty place to get your life back on track. You need support and people who can help. This isn’t that place.

RVC is a terrible & I mean horrible place. They treat you so inhumane. They work you like a slave. You barely get sleep they don't feed you right. & if someone don't like you they can get you what's called on the move.. Its where after working 12 plus hours a day when u get back to the compound u are not allowed to speak and u must work until midnight before going to bed as the staff belittle u as they pass you by... I walked out at 3am in 2004 after 4 months & told my probation officer that I would rather be sent to prison.. But they got me in a homeless shelter & I got work & got off probation in 2007.. The directors & top staff live large off the money they get from all the clients hours. They take 90 plus clients food stamps and give us eggs & peanut butter & donated bread & noodles... They drive luxury vehicles get the nice clothes & other donated stuff & get their pick and clients wear clothes from Goodwill & other such like places... I wouldn't send my worst enemy there... do yourself & or a loved one a favour and find a better recovery facility to go to where they actually care about each client on a individual level...

I am a graduate from this program. It has taught and showed me life is worth living. When I came into RVC I was so broken I didn't want to use or drink anymore but I couldn't stop. If I didn't get help when I did I know I would not be in this world. I had to want the help as much as I wanted to get high. I was welcomed with open arms. This program is hard change is hard when I've lived a certain way for so long. I was determined but I had to be willing and that I was. We do work and it taught me to be proud of the work I do and know that I payed towards my recovery no one else did. I felt a love I never had before and they didn't ask for anything in return. I learned a lot but most of all I learned to forgive myself. I can look at myself in the mirror today and know I'm worth it. I have a job today, relationship with my family, wonderful friends, self esteem, I smile, I'm a responsible person with so many more miracles in front of me. I love the new broken women that come in because I can give them the love that was giving to me and show them miracles do happen I am one of them and thanks to RVC for loving me until I could love myself

Nothing is easy if it's worth keeping. Recovery Ventures has given me my life back. I came here a broken soul after two years I am a graduate who has all the things I once thought I would never get back and then some. I am a daughter again,a friend and a productive member of society. I owe everything to this program because with their tough unconditional love and guidance I am proud to say I love me again! Forever Grateful- Kellie Owens

This is a work program which means that most of the people who go there cannot afford treatment and have nowhere else to go. Many are court mandated and face return to jail if they leave or are discharged. They wield this power like a weapon for the abuse of the clients to make them do anything they are told to do, no matter how difficult or degrading it may be. They use many tactics to wear these clients down. They deprive them of sleep frequently, the associates who have spent more time in the program are given the responsibility of creating treatment plans, (what without a license you say?) They have one group every week where all associates sit in a circle while observed by staff as they take turns telling each other all the things they think are wrong with them, which more often than not becomes harsh and humiliating. The biggest problem is that if staff likes you, you get to say what you want any way you want, but if they don’t like you, they will interrupt you and “shut you down”. There are certain people who they decide they are not willing to help, so they antagonize those people until they believe they can’t do well for whatever reason. If you get an infraction they put you on the move, which means between contract jobs and household work, you will be on your feet for 16 hours per day. If you are not one of their “pets” they will look for more things to extend your move time, inventing infractions if they need to. The contract jobs that every associate works without pay are told to us so that we can pay our way through the program, but every single edible thing that goes into the houses come from the local food banks for free. What do they do with the food stamps they made us apply for upon arrival? Everything that the program provides for the associates are also donated, so where does $10+ per hour times 50-60 hours times 30 associates go?? Well the director seems to be doing very well financially, remnicient of Jennifer Warren, the previous director. It’s disheartening how little they seem to care about recovery as they do finance. This is how my personal termination went: I got 6 days on the move while in transition then moved to the next phase, one week later, they sat me and 2 other associates who they showed open disdain for in a “clean up” which is where they separate the associates from the rest and tell them to write detailed accounts of any rules they have broken and any rules they have seen others break. They will not tell the associate why they are there or anything. Apparently as a rule they reject the first report and tell the associate to keep writing or receive an undetermined amount of move time for not “cleaning up”. This gave us all 23 days of move time, and then they added 6 days to mine just because they could. After that the scrutinized my every move and gave me more days for anything they even thought I may have done. They even at one time gave me days for something that there was no possible way I had done it. This all led to a “restart” of the program, which is usually reserved for associates who relapse. This restart strips the associate of any privileges they have earned, and any hope of them being restored for 75 days. They treated me as if I were a disease to the community who was to be avoided. After going nearly 30 days after the restart, they gave me days for something that nobody ever gets in trouble for, and then I broke two rules by taking Tylenol while working a contract job. Meanwhile, I had been participating fully in every recommended aspect of my treatment plan and honestly expressed my desire to do better and affirmed my commitment to not break any more rules. They let me go over an entire week, trying very hard to do well and waited until I felt better about myself and began to believe that I could do it. Then one day after I worked all day, doing a great job, then took me to the office and bluntly told me they were terminating me from the program. It was obvious that they were fully enjoying my shock and that they were getting rid of me. I had to go to jail, and upon my release from jail I was simply put out on the streets of Asheville on New Years Eve, homeless and destitute, on a day where any resources were not going to be available for two more days. In desperation, I went with a stranger and was introduced to another group of strangers with whom I had to stay for a week until my parents could come pick me up. Where would I be had any of those people been a psychopath with rape and murder in mind? They didn’t care, let alone provide a bus ticket to get me home. I’m sure they will not return the $300 deposit they paid for my entry to the program. I never could figure out what that money went toward, especially considering that we began working on our first day in the program. Now I have to figure out how to get into another rehab before I am arrested again for pre trial release violation for being terminated, though I never had any desire to leave the program and didn’t commit a single infraction that involved relapse or threatened the safety of any associate in the program. I am more lost today than I was when I was shooting heroin and meth while in active addiction. If you want recovery, I would highly recommend not choosing to enter this program. There is First at Blue Ridge and Healing Transitions that so far seem to be more of an actual therapeutic community. I’m very discouraged by how they relished in the failure of an addict who really wants recovery, while professing to being passionate about helping desperate dying addicts find recovery. They talk about how much love the associates give new women in the program, but I didn’t ever experience any love from anyone, only condescension and status. I can see how much of what we went through in the program will teach us lessons that we can apply to our lives to counter our addiction, but there simply has to be a better way that treats everyone with compassion and respect that they deserve as human beings. I think their success rate speaks for itself. Less than one third of the associates who enter the program will go on to graduate. What that says to me is that two thirds of the associates who enter the program will be bullied, ostracized, and abused until they either gave up, ran away, or were dumped out on the streets like garbage, regardless of the serious threat to their personal safety. It’s sickening to me and I will tell anyone who ever thinks that RVC may be the solution to their problem that it more likely will become a living nightmare. Do not send anyone to this place if you love them, not with the odds stacked so highly against them to begin with

Okay this program is not for everybody that being said it's only for people that really is strong enough or willing enough change their life yes I graduated the program it was two of the hardest years of my life but it gives you very useful tools to use in life and all these negative comments I know why it's a lot of negative comments because yes the program is hard as hell because we as addicts are some of the most strongest stubborn...snekeist people...and ask yourself if you didn't complete the program of course you would have a negative view on it..... so people don't look at the negative reviews instead read the positive reviews and decide if you want to do it ....would I do it a second time around HELL NO....lmao...but I swere I'm glad I did it because it still helps me till this day...and I live in Washington DC. But I swere nobody told me or paid me to write this.but I have a second family In NC because of this program....chris lee

Simply put, absolutely disgusting and filthy! While i joined Recovery Ventures (based solely on their website and the many promises made therein), I did not, however, sign up for the atrocious conditions existing at this facility. The extremely dirty and over-crowed living conditions would necessarily embarrass the average person. Not so a this center! The are approximately 10-12 people for every restroom - and this is a one-person restroom - only one commode, one shower, and no urinal. I was placed on a top bunk at age (54) and given no identifiable or readily apparent means of climbing into said bunk. On the first day, i was fed cereal at breakfast and then required to report to work until lunch - at which point I was given a only baloney sandwich. At (12) hours into the program, I requested immediate discharge and transportation back to Asheville. The next day i requested a refund of my $300.00 dollar initial payment but any refund was denied. Upon a second call for reconsideration of a refund I was told by a person who identified themselves as "Angie" to not call back or she would consider it harassment. BEWARE! In my opinion this company has the right name as their only vision is to recover a PROFIT with no dedication rehabilitation

I am a former graduate of Recover Ventures who somehow managed to survive the humiliation of this 2 year treatment(?) program and have successfully reintegrated back into mainstream society. Please trust me when I say ALL of the accusations of unethical treatment are true. The average reasonable person simply can't comprehend the depth of corruption the exists in the community. But perhaps the saddest and most insidious aspect of this milieu is the complete lack of professionalism among staff, who thrive on the drama that they themselves create. And while they, I'm sure, would like to suggest that I grew as a person BECAUSE of the abusive treatment, mind washing techniques and daily degradation...I will always contend that I grew in SPITE of it!

Our daughter entered this program and it saved her life. There is no question
It is a very, very tough program but so is recovery. Teaching life long addicts
To take responsibility for their behavior and choices is no easy task. I take great
Exception to those who say this a place for those with no family support. We
Remained supportive throughout the treatment and continue to do so. No
Question there are times throughout the program you find yourself questioning
Their techniques , but for many it is lifesaving . It has given my daughter
The drive to obtain certification to help others . I take great exception to
Those who say the staff there do not care. They do. They understand because
They themselves have experienced this process.

Having worked in law enforcement, the courts and with families all of my
Life the reality is this type of program is necessary and needed . Few can afford
Residential treatment and here the residents pay by working. Yes, it is long
Hours but keeping busy during recovery is very important also. Yes, you have
limited personal contact and other restrictions upon initial entry into the program, but you take a hard look at your relationships and yourself to work towards earning those privliges back.

Those of you expressing negative feelings are certainly entitled to those but
Many of us have come to believe the residents and staff will forever be part
Of our family . The sad part is not those who refuse to commit to help themselves but to see the tears on the faces of families who have nowhere
To turn. Empathy is felt for both but don't slam a program with all this enhanced
Drama simply because it did not work for you .

It's extremely disheartening and sad to see so many individuals who simply seem to have misplaced anger and/or resentments. This program was by far the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, however; the mental, emotional and physical challenges that I endured while in this program were absolutely necessary for me to regain what I had unintentionally lost in active addiction. As most addicts we loose a lot more in active addiction than we are ever willing to admit freely. I am living a life today that I never thought possible and quite possibly had one of the hardest programs any associate could ever have. My struggles have helped make me who I am today...passionate, empathetic, loving, honest, loyal and dedicated. I find it extremely selfish of those who post these horrid reviews on here that spent little to no time here. You could possibly be discouraging an individual whose life could or could have been saved by this program. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but choose your words wisely, not forgetting to look at the part you played. This disease is life or death for most of us. I definitely did my fair share of "move time" including a 30/restart, which I am also grateful for. It took me a good six months to actually want to work the program, but I was dedicated to my recovery and willing to do whatever it took, PERIOD. Yes, it was extremely hard but if recovery was easy, everyone would do it. I thank RVC everyday for helping save my life!!!

This placed saved my life. I’ve been sober 34 months and honestly I never thought that would be possible. I work my ass off today and take pride in my work. I am in a management position at a restaurant when I used to be a welder. My life is so much better and I feel like I can handle anything that’s thrown at me. This program is really hard, probably the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. They work you hard and over the term of 18 months you earn more and more responsibility. In the 18 months I lived in the facility I saw 127 people leave (I kept track). I cried a lot. I wanted to leave a lot. It’s a lot to handle as sometimes it feels militaristic. But because of this program I am organized, I complete tasks, I hold my head up high with confidence that I can handle almost anything life throws at me. It’s not for everyone. I kept killing myself (overdose) or attempting suicide before this program due to my inability to live life on life’s terms and handle life’s many obstacles. I’m alive today because of this program. I have very very good relationships with my family. I am a reliable hardworking employee. I have the most amazing friends today that experienced this program with me and know me better than I know myself. This program did for me what I was unable to do for myself. The real bad reviews are from people who made it hard on THEMSELVES. You rebel, your held accountable. You break rules, you are held accountable. It’s hard enough as it is but then people lash out and make it that much harder. Once again this program isn’t for everyone, but if your willing to break yourself down entirely, then rebuild yourself into a good person as well as learn how to handle stress effectively and constructively, then this is the place for. Ask my family if they would have regretted “saving” me from this program that built me into the person today. I owe them my life for not picking me up when I wanted to give up so much

These people DO NOT CARE about your physical health. I worked at Tube World - Cataloochee Ski Area while in the program. While on the job, I was hit by a tuber, flown into the air, and landed on my neck. I heard my neck crack as it bent into the ground and saw stars. Fortunately, I didn't break anything or suffer nerve damage. However, I had terrible pains at night, trouble sleeping, and nightmares for weeks.

But the staff didn't care. They minimized the incident when I told them about it and made me feel weak for needing to share. Also, William Faulkner, one of the staff, punished me for being "late on the van" as I was dealing with this injury. I was getting about five hours of sleep a night while working at the Tube World from open until close. One morning, after nearly breaking my neck, I slept a bit too late. Our van left at 6:30 or 7:00 and I was barely a few minutes late. I was actually proud of myself for being that strong and for getting there almost on time, but then when I got home around midnight, I was pulled aside and written up for being late.

They put us through hell.

Avoid this cult, they use guilt, shame and control to manipulate you, they gaslight you into submission, rely on Jesus Christ to help you, not man and certainly not this abusive trap that does not operate from true love, you need only see the way they demean and enslave you to know it's a business for profit. Trust Jesus alone.

I can only be grateful for how this place has helped and is still helping me change my life. I read all these negative reviews on this site and can only shake my head in disgust. Disgusted how people blame their mistakes or bad decisions on an entire institution or other people, unable to own the role they played in their failure to complete this program. I graduated this program in June2016, I was not favored, given special treatment/attention. I was given the same chances and opportunities as everyother client. Anyone with sense knows you get what you put into your Recovery. Self-pity gets you no where. Expecting somewhere or someone else to solely change a defect in yourself is INSANE! For someone to be desperate and beaten down to WILLINGLY commit to a two year therapeutic community, means your best attempts at life aand recovery have failed you horribly. Before any client enters the program they are aware of what is expected of them to enter and to complete. I know alot, not all, but I the people in the reviews here, and most should be ashamed of themselves for giving such false statements about a place that IS SAVING LIVES DAILY, and tried to save theirs. Programs like these are not for every person, and I do appriciate reading honest reviews/opinions, It would be nice if people/former clients could be completely honest instead of giving a one-sided opinion. Just for the record NO-ONE asked me to write this! I NEVER do online reviews like this, but I don't mind standing up for what I know is right.- Brian Robinson.

This place was horrible I have been clean but no thanks to anyone there. They verbally abuse you, sleep deprive you and the staff are rude and try to embarrass you. I saw a girl not like another girl and would constantly tell the staff that she broke rules when she didn't just to watch her be punished. You feel like a worthless slave and they make it to where you can't even tell your family how bad it really is. They monitor your phone calls, letters and even your doctors visits and coach you on what to say. They got really mad and verbally abused a girl that suffered from depression and her Dr called to see how she was doing on her new antidepressant the staff told her to say she was fine and didn't need the meds but the girl broke down and told the truth that she was worse and getting worse being there. Wednesday came around and the staff made her cry by saying that she didn't listen to what they said and they were sick of looking at her sad face all the time..when she did finally sneak to talk to her mom to come get her they called her mom back and made up a story to stop her mom from coming. Luckily she risked it again and told her mom everything and her family did come pick her up. Its a awful program and its sad that once your there a little over 6 months you can give out punishments to the other associates most of the time its people being vindictive. Plus they try to embarrass you infront of the rvc boys and tell your personal past for everyone to laugh and make fun of you. Please don't let them make this place sound good because its not most of the people there are court ordered or there to get out of prison time and are faking their recovery. Its a scam. I had awful night terrors for 2 months after leaving that place and apparently its common to have PTSD after leaving RVC do not let them trick you into sending a loved one there its the worst mistake you could ever make.

This is not the right place for your loved ones. If you really care about your sons/daughters you won't send them here. Most of the "staff" is on dating websites through the day looking up past "graduates" and bragging about things they would do to them. This place is beyond disgusting. I come from a very strong and pride filled military family and I would not send my worst enemy to this place. I'm all for recovery and rehabilitation but please seek it elsewhere. The director of this dump is by far the worst and most miserable piece of crap there is. He would talk to you like you are completely worthless and he looked at you like you were garbage. Meanwhile, he would brag about going on his many trips with his friends and family while we all went to "jobs" for up to 14 to 16 hours a day while all the proceeds go to the business. That makes sense it being a nonprofit but the way the program itself is setup is not in any logical order that someone would follow that is seeking rehabilitation. I watched my father die from being an addict and three of my closest friends and I can tell you this place wouldn't have helped them either. Please don't send your loved ones here. Seek treatment elsewhere.

I was in this place for 5 months. The ONLY reason that I stayed there 5 months was because I knew I couldn't convince anyone at home here in TX that a place this terrible actually exists. I literally had to fake that I was suicidal to get to go to a hospital so I could use a phone to get home. It's a total scam and should not be in business. I mean this from the bottom of my heart. I literally believe I had PTSD from my time there. I've been sober over 2 years June 20th. Never send a loved one here. Never send someone that you even hate here. The existence of this place, how you are treated, how you are given no sort of Rehabilitation. Therapy. Counseling etc is beyond me. In 5 months not one seccion with a counselor, therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist. Then you get out and get home and try to explain to your family how bad it is. They will never get it as I will never know what it's like to go to war. I'm that serious and passionate about what I'm saying here. The horrible reviews are ALL true. I hope the state eventually gets this place gone as they were under investigation by the state when I was there. It's been 18 months or more and am just now able to get my thoughts out. I could write a book but will end with. Never ever send anyone to RVC. It's a labor camp. I'd rather be homeless on the streets. No joke at all.

This place is a total NIGHTMARE! The staff are verbally abusive and horrible people! What kind of a "recovery" place forces you to sit in a circle while your peers rip you to shreds? The best part is when they are done, the foul mouthed staff starts in!!! They strip you of everything, you can't even have your own clothes or hair color(I was forced to dye mine). You work 12+ hours get maybe five of sleep and are right back to it the next day. It's basically a concentration camp! Your not even allowed to rest when you get home, they use you as slave labor until lights out. A ten minute shower??? It was like a horror movie. I basically got up at five in the morning, got dressed and ran out the basement door into the darkness with some of my leaders screaming after me. I will probably need therapy just to stop the intrusive thought this experience caused. PLEASE, PLEASE, I BEG YOU, AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!!!!

I know this is a tough program but it works! We dropped our son off in June of 2008. We were so relieved. We had been thru all the things that patents of addicts go thru except the loss of our child. We felt that was next. Was it easy? No! Did he complain and ask us to come get him? Yes. The first time we got to visit him which was almost six months later, I almost didn't recognize him because he looked so good! All I can say is thank God for RVC. We still have our son. Things aren't perfect and he has to work hard to stay clean, When he relapsed after six years, RVC was there for him again and he completed a year program. This is a successful program for those with desire and determination to be healthy

RVC saved my sons life. Yes it was a tough program to get through and he worked long hours, slept little and left before graduating but he is now living a life free of drugs and alcohol. He is in school and on the deans list all while working a full time job.
If you truly want your life back from addiction you do what you have to do to get it back and quit blaming others for your inability to deal with all aspects of the program. It's no different than what life can and will throw at you. It is what you make of it.
Thank you Recovery Ventures for taking him in and showing him what a truly strong, capable person he is.

I have written three very true and negative reviews on this sh*t hole and they were all deleted! This proves that staff are deleting all negative reviews and should prove to you that awful things happen there. I really feel sorry for people that are court ordered there. I even knew a lady who escaped in the middle of the night in the middle of no where and said she would rather go to prison! Please believe me that this is the most terrible so called rehab that you could attend or send a loved one.

Not gonna say any names but a certain female staff member makes the women wear dresses to graduations (hideous dresses by the way to embarrass the women) and I saw with my own eyes how she made one of the women that was gay and NEVER wore girly things wear a dress covered in flowers and laughed about! The poor girl was humiliated! Threaten her with "extra duty" This place has disgraceful staff members...not to mention one staff member just got fired for having a sexual relationship with an associate

Oh look another review wrote by someone that was stuck up staffs ass...surprise surprise

It is unfortunate to read reviews from disgruntled clients who were either terminated from the program due to multiple rule infractions or who left voluntarily because they were not ready to make the commitment to change their lives. I graduated from this wonderful program five years ago and have since moved steadily forward in my life and career. I know each of the staff personally and can attest to their unequivocal passion and dedication to the clients in the program. The program is difficult. There are rules that must be followed, and consequences when rules are broken. It is extremely difficult for someone who has been consumed by addiction to submit to any recovery program and make the commitment necessary to change their lives. Those who leave or are terminated from the program are also making a choice. A choice to continue to fight a battle that is unwinnable without humility and a willingness to change. They are making a choice to continue to selfishly cause their families and loved ones pain. They are making a choice to remain continue to try to manipulate the world to their liking...an exhaustive and futile process. Recovery Ventures gave me a safe place to land and the support and encouragement I needed to turn my life around when everyone else had given me up for lost. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done, and also the most rewarding. I did not always like what the staff had to say, and I did not always appreciate being called out when I broke the rules or made mistakes. It was difficult not to run from that, and I am so grateful that I found the strength to stay and see it through. The program taught me that I was worth fighting for and that my family deserved a much needed rest from all I had put them through over the years. I highly recommend this program for any alcoholic or addict who is ready to change. If you are not ready, nothing will help you. But if you are, this program can save your life and return you to your loved ones. All it takes is a little willingness, humility, and determination.

I was at rvc for the past 6 months. Sure it works for people who have no other choice and no family because your under such strict rules you cannot get high even if you wanted to.. I worked 70 hours a week and slept about 4 hrs a night. The groups i went to arnt even run by staff. They are just throw together by associates who are all mostly probated there and dont care about anything.. The ones who do care end up leaving eventually.. As for staff members thats the worst part. Not a single staff member spoke to me the entire time i was there then it turns out that the one who runs the remodling crew was using heroin the entire time and bossing all of us around like slaves and verbally abusing people. He also was stealing the money we all worked for and using it to support his habbit. The facility director is the worst one of all he talks to everyone like they are a peice of garbage meanwhile his wife is leaving her empty liquor bottles in our driveway before she comes over to visit apparently that's OK tho because she's a graduate of the program lol.. The place is ran horrible and the favoritism is so bad it alone will make you leave.. The only thing that keeps them going is the fact that people go there to pretty much avoid going to prison..

Staff has the website remove negative reviews on here...ridiculous

rvc staff tries to control what's wrote on here they ask people that were treated with special treatment to write good reviews and idk if anyone has noticed but a lot of negative reviews are now gone...why? Because the founder asked non profits to remove them

The favoritism in the women's house is disgusting.

I am so sick and tired of reading that positive reviews are "fake" or "encouraged by staff". First of all staff are graduates so not only did the participate in the program they actually completed it. Secondly how would someone who was only present for aprroximately 1/8 of an experience be able to say anything remotely accurate. They are ignorant and inexperienced...and anything that goes against their opinions, the products of a tiny bit of experience and bias, they are being coerced and are not real. My review is more real than your joke of an attempt at this program. To deny a sick person a chance at happiness by pretending to know what you are talking about is so extremely selfish...sound like a pattern? As for all the negative comments about people that work there...100% of the negative is posted by people that have never been staff. These people sacrifice more than associates and their family members will ever know (speaking from experience). They have families and dreams and put it all on hold to help those that suffered as they did...shame on you for saying such terrible things about people that give up so much for NOTHING except helping those who suffered as they did. Stop whining about having to work I have to work like that and I live in the real world...guess it is a major change from laying around, stealing, lying and getting high. Stop misleading people who need this program and are actually willing to learn how to actually live without a substance. As a disclaimer I have no loyalty to recovery ventures and no contact...I just don't want someone to loose a once in a lifetime chance due to blantant lies of those who have failed. Also the clothes you give up were those that don't comply with a specific list of appropriate attire for someone living in a therapeutic community ( sorry you cant look cute/fly when trying to overcome a crippling disease) provided before entry and are replaced by name brand clothing that is donated by companies that are contacted constantly by the "evil staff", some of the food comes from the food bank but hundreds of dollars are spent at a grocery store weekly resulting in fresh produce and a balanced diet that is carefully planned by associates that are actually living there, and as for the facilities they are all stick built the men's facility is resonable as far as persons per living space and bathrooms. The women I have to honestly say are living in tight quarters and it is true upwards of 10 have to share a bathroom but its a small price to pay for the rewards at the end. I was a graduated staff member and had to share a bathroom with 10 people...and I got over it. So as an associate wanting freedom from addiction I hope you can do the same, lets be honest you've had to deal with much worse in active addiction. So stop picking apart positive reviews looking for false patterns and calling from-the-heart statements fake to make you feel like what you did was more real. I'm sure that little bit you experienced was significant considering a past of laziness, selfishness, betrayal and superficiality, but it wasn't real. By the way just because you were in the program for "3-6 months and it sucked and I'm clean anyway blah, blah, blah" doesn't mean anything here. Just because your sober doesn't mean your living, you missed out on something really special to be a brat...worse part is you think the whole point is just being clean and don't know the difference. Good for you...just don't try to pass your crap off as truth. Talk all day about you but don't talk about staff unless you have been staff, don't talk about the program unless you graduated it and don't believe your own bullshi*t if it's hurting people who are still suffering. Stop cheapening the monumental feat I accomplished by talking about the one you failed to.

the staff at recovery ventures have GOT to be asking graduates to post good reviews. The clients writing them must have had to go there or go to jail. Actually this place is much worse than jail. At least in jail you aren't belittled or made to go without sleep. Notice how the negative reviews are much greater spread out over time but the good ones are all within a week or two? The bad ones are totally true. I was there for 3 months followed every rule but I just went as long as I could and made my phone call to my family and begged to come home. The staff was right there listening and tried to make me hang up but I refused. They wanted me to drive another client to Ohio for a home visit only being sober 3 months, mind you. Whenever a client goes for a weekend family visit someone in the program has to drive them and stay with them in their home. They yell at you and name callings are a daily thing. I am a christian and had to listen to GD thousands of times a day. That is not a lie. The staff and clients have the foulest language imaginable. One of their facilities ( which are double wides) has ONE Bathroom for 15 ladies. You are only allowed to take a shower for fifteen minutes and argue who is next. If you don't have time to take one before bed you do without. This place was horrible. They tell you the only reason you want to go home is because you want to get high. I have been sober for 2 years since getting out of that hole. If you want to loose contact with your family member, then by all means send them here. The bad reviews outnumber the FAKE good ones by far. Rotten food from food bank is all you eat and the most fattening snacks you can think of, cookies cake candy chips . . etc. The staff take turns going on trips and are barely there. Please believe me when I ask you to not send ANYONE here. Both you and your family will regret it. They took all my clothes and traded them for rags. Thank you for heeding my warning in advance. And for all the clients who took bribes or lied on their review all I can say is SHAME ON YOU ALLLLL!

18+ hour workdays and verbal abuse , they condone drama and multiple incidents of staff having relations with clients, they misappropiate funds that were given as donations, this place is a cult that uses military brainwash tactics to manipulate and control you, use guilt to make you feel as if you couldnt make it without them, Wrong! Believe in yourself and anything is possible. Sober 3 yrs now so thanks for showing me how recovery shouldnt be. Sobriety is peace , not anger and insults. Place sucks.

I love how STAFF can send out text messages to people BRIBING them to put positive reviews because theres all negative reviews and they are being watched by the state. Great job!! What a joke. This place is so dishonest. STAFF MEMBERS are using money for their own personal uses... what a joke. You can even see, how theres all positive reviews within certain dates. As a witness to this act of dishonesty, this place is poorly ran, negative, abusive, and not a place for recovery. Files get burned BY STAFF every year for a reason.. Again what JOKE. One word to sum this one up..FRAUD.

Im saddened by the negative reviews . This program saved my life and gave me a new start. I was willing to do what it took to have a clean and sober life. Taught me that i could do anything without using drugs or alcohol. The people who wrote these negative reviews clearly did not want to do what it takes and quite sure they did not want to follow the simple rules . RVC was and is a safe place to start a new life if you want it. I am a graduate of the program 2014 and still stayed connected to the women. The staff are there to help and they do care about your recovery. For all you disgruntled people stop blaming others for your unhappiness put the blame where it belongs on you

Most of the following reviews are either 5 stars or 1 star with good reason. The 5 star reviews are written by successful graduates. The one star reviews are written by people who washed-out of the program due to problems of their own making. In fact, 2 graduates of RVC who read through these reviews, know many of the individuals who wrote them and said those individuals failed to work the program and were responsible for the their own failures.
My son was an addict for 8 years before he went to Recovery Ventures (RVC). He had already been through 6 other rehab programs. Most were short-term, 30-120 days programs. However, one of those programs was a therapeutic community program like RVC; he was at the latter,very large program twice for a total of 35 months. RVC is much smaller in size and that small size means each resident's attitudes & behaviors are common knowledge. Residents cannot feel like they are lost in the crowd. Similarly, any transgressions are noted immediately.
Many of the complaints written by the following people who gave RVC one star reflect an ignorance of what comprises a therapeutic community. If they had done their homework before entering, they would have known that therapeutic communities are characterized by:
1. Very long work days (there is NO fee for the program and the work done by residents pays for their clothing, food, shelter, and transportation to work sites. Also, if residents are exhausted, they have less time to think about alcohol or drugs.)
2. Very strict rules that may seem arbitrary (the whole point is to teach addicts to follow life rules that may make little sense to them, just as rules in society may make little sense to many of us.)
3. Chores at the site itself (teaching addicts important life skills such as caring about where they live & assuming responsibility to keep their residences clean & orderly.)
4. All vestiges of their previous lives are stripped away at the beginning (Yes, applicants are asked to bring new clothing but those items are donated to the general clothing supply; residents must select from clothing donated by other residents or outside organizations.)
5. "Therapy" is peer-based not provided by a licensed therapist.
6. AA & Nar-Anom meetings are not required. Not all addicts respond well to the AA approach
7. Residents must work through a step-by-step plan with more freedom and off-site internships only allowed after the resident successfully accomplishes prior steps.
8. Residents graduate with work skills and experience in their fields from their internships.
My son has been clean for over 3 years and is happily working 40 hours a week at a job he learned at RVC.
I heartily recommend RVC to all addicts who are truly committed to cleaning up their acts and becoming healthy, happy members of society.

I can honestly say Recovery ventures saved my life. Upon entering the program I was asked if I was willing to do whatever it takes for my recovery, I was. You have to want your recovery and work as hard for it as you did out in the streets trying to get that next fix or that next drink. being an addict I was willing to go through any lengths to get what I needed when I was caught in the grips of active addiction. I knew that it was time for me to surrender and actually put in an effort for my recovery not only for myself but for my 3 children. I graduated the program in March of 2013. I'm working on 5 years clean. I now have my 3 kids in my life and couldn't be happier. if it wasn't for those long hours, early mornings and late nights that I worked at recovery ventures then I wouldn't know how to live being a single mom of three working full time. this program taught me how to live life all over again without the use of drugs or alcohol. yes it was the hardest thing I've ever done but it was well worth it if it wasn't for recovery ventures I'd be dead or in jail. all these bad comments and negative reviews really make me angry. most of the people commenting negatively are ones that chose to break the rules and tried to manipulate the program. all the rules are explained before you arrive and they tell you straight up that you're not coming for a vacation to a fancy resort, you come to work not only at jobs but on yourself. most of the people I know that left the program speak of it negatively because they didn't want to face the accountability for their actions they try to play the victim. recovery ventures is in the business of saving lives. the staff will do anything they can to help you if you just ask. I'm so grateful for this program it made me the strong woman I am today. I made so many lifelong friendships met so many strong beautiful people and learned so many life lessons and so much about myself that I didn't even know. I have relationships with old friends and family that I thought I would never have again.

I would absolutely love to say that this program saved my life. And maybe in a round about way it did. But only because I had the emotional and mental ability to make it work. In theory and on paper this is an amazing program. The problem lies in the lack of professional staff. While I do think having staff members who have been through the program is advantageous and beneficial, there needs to be certified counselors and real therapy happenning, and from a client's perspective this is not happening at RVC. I believe the intentions are true of the people who started this program, but they have become profit biased and unaware of the lack of professionalism occuring here. Yes, RVC saved my life, but only because I had the wherewithal to do most of the actual deep inner work myself.

I think it is amazing that someone would have the audacity to write a negative review towards a place that has no other agenda than to help recovering addicts and alcoholics that apparently can help themselves. How else would you have got there in the first place.

My name is Jason Anderson and I am truly a grateful recovering alcoholic. I owe Recovery Ventures my life for the tools they provided me to once again become a productive member of society.

The only ones I see writing negative are those that chose to not do what they were asked. Those that thought they could manipulate there way through life. People that will not let go of pride and ego to get honest and face the truth of there addictions. These same people will never be at peace with themselves and remain miserable.

Inner peace begins the moment you take a deep breath own your actions and choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions as you are about this program and the ones in it.

In other words, the greater part of your happiness or misery in the long run depends on your attitude, not your circumstances. If you’re stressed out by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your interpretation of it; and this is something you have the power to change at any moment.

Just take that deep breath, adjust your attitude , and the frustration and stress is gone.

Stop blaming others for what you have or don’t have, or for what you feel or don’t feel. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility and perpetuate the problem. Stop giving your power away and start taking responsibility for your life. Blaming is just another sorry excuse, and making excuses is the first step towards failure; you and only you are responsible for your life choices and decisions.

Nothing will bring you down quicker than berating yourself. The mind is a superb instrument if used right, but when used incorrectly, it becomes very destructive. Be aware of your mental self-talk. We all talk silently to ourselves in our heads, but we aren’t always conscious of what we’re saying or how it’s affecting us.

Recovery Ventures is designed to be hard as hell to show yourself that you are capable. As Henry Ford once stated, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” One of the major causes of why we fail is due to self-doubt and negative self-talk. The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful. This is what the program taught me. Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones, over time you will change the trajectory of your life.

Trust me, if everyone threw their problems in a pile for you to see, you would grab yours back. Tackle your problems and fears swiftly, don’t run away from them. The best solution is to face them head on no matter how powerful they may seem or what you have to go through to better yourself.

Fears, in particularly, stop you from taking chances and making decisions. They keep you confined to just the small space where you feel completely comfortable. But your life’s story is simply the culmination of many small, unique experiences, many of which require you to stretch your comfort zone. Letting your fears and worries control you is not ‘living,’ it’s merely existing.

Bottom line: Either you own your problems and fears, or they will ultimately own you. I hope you all get help and turn your life around as I have. Once again I thank Recovery Ventures for what they pushed me through and never giving up on me.

This is NOT a work camp... What does real life consist of?? Work. Being a drug addict, I couldn't work and save money at the same time. I couldn't hold a job for longer than a year.. RVC teaches us a way to live without the use of drugs. On the streets I had nothing. Today, after graduating and actually finish other program, I have everything I need in life to be happy. Nothing was given to me freely. All the punishment I received was due to my own choices. Comparable to real life, if I decide to break the law, I receive some sort of accountability. In the program, if I break a rule, I received accountability... These strict rules are in place so that we can learn or relearn healthy, positive life habits. If you want to stay clean and sober, find out who you really are, this is the place. If you want to take a shortcut, do IOP, Do 30-day treatment rehab, Continue to fail drug test, be miserable, RVC is not the place for you. Without pain, how can one truly be happy and grateful?

For the people that wrote bad reviews on this place, it makes me wonder if you actually wanted to get help or you were forced to go. Either way, pretty much if you want help, you need help, and you WANT to change, then recovery ventures is a great place. Yes, we work, a lot, but isn't that everyday life for a normal living human. Yes, we don't get a lot of sleep, but isn't that what a normal living successful person does? They sacrifice things to do what they need to do. I have been to 4 treatment centers previously, and this one has helped the most. It teaches you other things other than just staying clean. You learn to be you, and be someone that you never thought you could be. It teaches you to be strong and helps you get on the right track in life. The comments said about staff disgust me because none of it is true. I'm sorry, but the people that have said those things on here probably didn't want to change and are probably getting high right now. The staff are good people, they help you the whole time, through the hardest times. They are always there. How would you feel if you had to guide and help and feel for 120 addicts in a 2 year program? Could you do it? Are you strong enough to do that? If you want to change, and you want help, then this is a place to go. Don't let these ridiculous, made up reviews from people that didn't even make it out of the first phase of the program blur your willingness to try something different. Give it a chance and just do it.

Recovery for a real addict is suppose to be the hardest thing you ever done. If ur not willing yo do anything for you're recovery u shouldn't go to RVC. If u are its a great place that offers continued care and support long after u graduate. Honestly if your not at bottom
u shouldnt go though its not a place to go duck prison time its harder than prison but unlike prison it gives u the tools to help urself.

This place is a work camp. They treat you awful. You are deprived of sleep and work all day. Beware stay away from this place.

It is a shame if anyone believes such ignorance. Yea you work, hard, and you are challenged to know thy self. But noone is invited or promised a resort. If you want a false promise that will be fun and easy call one of those places with a pool and acupuncture, but if you want the best chance at recovery and having a real life free of the chains of addiction and all the paths that brought you to the point of reading reviews of a two year recovery program, than this is it. Of course there is human error, you will at some point want to leave, you will be resentful, angry and miss home. But you will earn the opportunity to truly live. There maybe statistics leaning in either way, people who stayed a few weeks who want to feel better about giving up on themselves and their families by pretending to give a thorough review, people who talk of relapsing graduates...I cannot speak for them or those feelings. All I can say is I went, I finished, I served, and I am living my life to the fullest. I want to be very clear: you will work extremely hard, you will search out reasons to leave and be comfortable, you will detect injustices and unfairness and get tired and want to give up. I am writing this review because one of my worse fears is someone who is suffering will see the ignorance and misdirected blame of the other reviews and overlook an opportunity to truly be free. It is one of the hardest things you will ever go through, however it is the means to rewards you cannot imagine. I have been through the good, the bad and the ugly of it all and I can rawly say do it. If I can offer any advice to anyone about to make that life changing call, rely on your will and your peers. You will survive, you can graduate, you can have a life and overcome the hell that lead you to reading these words. I have since moved back home (over 3 hours away), obtained my dream job ( solely because of work experience from rvc), have daily positive contact with my family, am beginning and maintaining my own home and famil, and I am happier and more free than I thought I would ever be. Please don't deny yourself this opportunity, now or 1.5 years from the time you walk through those doors. From my experience addicts are of the most intelligent and strong people on this planet, do not deprive yourself or a family member this opportunity to meet that potential due to current misdirection or future fear. GO, FIGHT and live.

I totally agree with what others are saying about r v c . That place is a nightmare. I to was there and experienced some of the awful things. Others have said what I was going to say about this horrible place, ( r v c ) . I ran from that place when I was at work one day. When I left that day I was terrified they would come after me. A few girls tried to stop me, but I left anyways on foot. I had no ride, no phone, and didn't care as long as I was away from that place. I just ran down the mountain. It took me 15 hours to get home. By the grace of GOD kind people gave me rides until I could get to a phone to call my family. They never contacted any of my family, which is odd. I honestly feel this place is a cult. I have never been afraid in all my life. Please do not go there or send anyone to this so called recovery place. My heart goes out to the people who are court ordered to be there, and the ones that are there of there own free will. They brainwash you. It's sad because at this time of your life you are very vulnerable being an alcoholic or addict. They prey on your situation. They work you to death and make a lot of money off of you. We have to get them where it hurts. This place has to be shut down. I am sober now only by the grace of GOD. I pray for all that are at r v c . May GOD bless you all. you will always be in my prayers.

I spent five months here. RVC is a joke all it did was teach me I could work 15 hrs a day and only sleep 4-6 hrs a night with no day off for a month at a time. We only went to 1 NA/AA meeting the whole time I was there. They have only had 200 graduates since they opened in 2002. While I was there they had 10 graduates return due to relapse and 1 out of 6 people relapsed at the jobs we were sent to.
I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy.
While I was there I only spoke w my children one time it caused more damage to our relationship it did not help at all!!!

Yesterday I had to spend 12 hours in the car rushing to pick up my son from the bus station in Asheville, NC where he had been taken by the staff of Recovery Ventures. He had been kicked out of the program after an alleged threat to another patient. He was responding to a threat that he had received from the other patient.

After being dismissed from the program my son was told to leave the premises. Many of his clothes were taken. Several packs of cigarettes were taken, and his $300 application fee was retained by RV. He was taken to the bus station. I had to drive 5 hours to pick him up. I feel that his life was pl;aced in jeopardy because the bus station closed before I could make the drive to get to him.

My son says the patients are REQUIRED to tell on the other patients; otherwise they are penalized. This does not foster healing. Shame on them.

If you are reading this commentary and are considering either going to this facility yourself or sending a loved one, please take the time to read this, as well as the other reviews!!! Prior to actually going to this place myself, I don't think I likely would have believed some of the negative reviews posted about it. I would have thought that many of the harsh reviews detailing awful conduct and conditions MUST be the result of someone who was carrying a grudge for some reason - like maybe a client who couldn't or wouldn't finish the program, who was just mad and bitter toward Recovery Ventures staff or something. Such is often the case when dealing with occasional cases of really negative reviews, after all - especially those coming from a clientele made almost entirely up of addicts and alcoholics. After having been to Recovery Ventures myself, I can EASILY attest to the fact that, believe it or not, the descriptions given in the other one-star reviews are accurate!!! I can also say, with a fair amount of certainty, that the only reason that this place was given so many one-star reviews is simply because giving a "no-star" review is not an option on this website.
I left Recovery Ventures a year and a half ago, during which time I have remained clean and sober of my own accord; not as a result of anything I gleaned from the program. Even now, a year and a half later, the thought of my experience at Recovery Ventures still sickens me, and my heart goes out to any who remain in the program due to a lack of resources on the outside - the fear of which is wielded like a weapon by Recovery Ventures staff to try to dissuade clients from leaving. From the moment you arrive, once your ride has left, they begin stripping you of any form of identity or control. Not only do they take your driver's licence, cash, and any cards you may have, but also you cannot even keep a single piece of paper with even a phone number on it. They don't want you to have the temptation of calling anybody who may come to pick you up or who may be a drug connection, etc. The problem with that is, if you don't have your own mother or father's current phone number memorized (or other close friends or family) you're out of luck. You and your belongings are strip searched, and you are not allowed to keep any clothing you bring unless it is a good several sizes too big. They take any clothing they deem "inappropriate" and "donate it to the warehouse." The warehouse is where they store any clothing and goods taken from clients upon arrival, and later let other clients shop from the stores for free after being in the program for a few months, and the rest they yard-sell! You are NOT allowed to have your belongings set aside to either send home or have someone pick up! This bothered me because I was very careful to pack in the week prior to going, and I followed the instructions on the list dictating what I could bring exactly. Over half my stuff was still taken, many items I bought new for the trip, and I have never seen them since.
If you receive food stamps or are eligible for food stamps, they take them over and garnish them during your stay, and even after if you leave if you're not on top of them from the moment you leave to stop it (like what happened to me). Keep in mind this place gets tons of food donated, gets a couple hundred dollars worth of food stamps per person per month in the case of most clients, AND they're garnishing the wages you earn working for them at local businesses for 16-hour days, weeks on end without a day off. Legally that should include a LOT of overtime pay. Of this money, also keep in mind that you live in a house PACKED in with clients on the outskirts of town (usually 6 clients per small room on bunkbeds) so rent is cheap. Also, one of the main places where you and other clients work every day serves massive amounts of food to their guests (which you prepare, serve, and clean after). While working, you get free meals from the food that is served to the guests, which you can eat on a designated 15 minute break, but if you'd rather smoke, then you don't eat. You cover your own medical and med costs in advance. So where does the extra money or food stamps go? Good question - because even though most clients only required one meal per day at the house, since others were covered at work (if you had time), you are constantly sorting through old, expired food at the house - as if they can't at least afford to get cheap un-expired food!
Your first couple of months there are spent wearing extremely baggy clothes - a belt is necessary, not a fashion statement. You work - LITERALLY, NO EXAGGERATION, 16 hour days with 2 or 3 short cigarette breaks, for often 2-3 weeks without even a single day off. After working, if there is time left, you get to attend one single "group" for one hour, which is lead by another client in the program who has been there for several more months than you. I never saw a medical professional of any form, therapist, nor counselor. Only other peers who had been in the program longer, could take leadership roles, and all is governed by 2 staff members (if in the female house) which themselves are graduates of the program who decided to stay and work. After working your 16 hours and attending group for an hour (which is kind of a messed-up ratio, if you ask me) you arrive at home and do household chores every night, and try to squeeze in a quick bight of food on-the-go, while getting laundry ready to run during the night for the next work day, and grab a quick 8-10 minute shower. After all of this, you're extremely lucky to get 4 or 5 hours of sleep. You certainly do NOT have a set "bed time" to make sure clients get enough rest. Bed time is when all chores are done and you are checked after and ALLOWED to rest. After arriving in the program one afternoon and beginning work the very next morning, by my 14th day in a row working 16 hour stretches doing a good amount of manual labor, with minimal sleep and no day off, I actually fell asleep WHILE WALKING into the work building. Finally they said they'd give me a day off. I was so glad I thought I was going to a least get one solid night's rest. WRONG. I was allowed to sleep a couple hours later than others who left to work like usual, but was then woken up early to do yard work before going to work a night shift!! So my "day off" was actually half a day off, which they used to have me do yard work.
One of the worst experiences I had there, which I totally agree with what other's said about this - was the weekly "conflict resolution group." Where they got the joke of a name for this group, I have no idea, because if anything, this group stirred up more conflict than everything else combined! Every single Tuesday night, every single client is REQUIRED to enter 3 other client's names into a box which gets taken to group the next day. Each person is supposed to not only name 3 other clients with whom they have some sort of grievance, but also berate, pick on, cuss at, belittle, and tease the person whose name was they chose. You are not allowed to refrain from participating, and you cannot say that you did not have a problem with at least 3 people in the house. (If you do, you could get "move-time" - see below). The whole program - men and women both - gather under one roof out in the country, and together listen as each person who had made even the smallest infringement upon the rules is made to stand while violations are read off (each violation of in-numerable rules causes 3 days or more of "move-time" during which you have to stay "on the move" working and doing chores without the short breaks others get). After the violations are listed, men and women's the groups separate. Each of the 2 groups gathers in a big circle with one chair in the middle for clients to sit in, one at a time. Each time someone sits in the middle, anyone who entered that person's name is supposed to "blow up that person's character defects larger than life" while the person sitting in the middle listening to all of this yelling, cursing, and belittling often cries, but is not allowed to respond unless specifically asked to by a staff member. The two staff members, one in particular, had some of the most vulgar, incendiary, and downright nasty things to say to clients. Girls were called b****es, wh**es, c***s, etc. The staff seemed to encourage this type of talk during these groups!! One staff member, who claimed to be a Christian, would often yell G.D. type curses at the girls. I found that to actually be the most offensive, but was afraid to say anything. I've been around, and took part of, plenty of cursing in my life, but it's one thing to flavor your vocabulary, joke around a bit, or vent some frustration, and quite another to use such profanity in what is supposed to be a professional setting and "therapeutic community."
One thing that will always stand out to me is the realization I had that, unlike in almost every OTHER recovery setting I have experienced, where I could ALWAYS pick out one or more people who had something I wanted in life, who were living well, and whose life and behavior after recovery I could look to as an an example, at Recovery Ventures, the opposite occurred!! There was not ONE staff member, male or female, whose lifestyle and/or behavior I felt I would like to embody. Similarly, of those clients who survived months of the program to be given leadership roles, not ONE behaved in a manner I found either respectable or desirable. Once I realized this, I really started taking note of what type of individual and personality characteristics survived the program. The only characteristic which seemed to be pervasive was a lower socio-economic status. I don't mean for that to come across as snobby at all - it's just an observation. It did seem as though those with a higher degree of education, morals, and reasoning skills, were less likely to succeed. Those with less formal education, less question of authority, with more of a follower type of attitude, who seemed to really find personal satisfaction in any type of advantage or authority they could have over their peers, were those who seemed to succeed and thrive in the program. I would say I'm sorry, but it truth I'm not: I could not find anyone whose recovery I respected. I certainly did not want recovery at the cost of my personal beliefs and morality. I couldn't stoop to the level of verbally abusing others and ordering others around to get what I want. It may work there at Recovery Ventures if you're willing to get it that way, but it by NO means in the only road, as they'd like to brainwash you into thinking.
When I was finally fed up with the program, after working as hard as I could, while being as respectful and rule-abiding as possible, I talked to staff about wanting to leave. They try to make you believe you won't be allowed even a single phone call should you want to leave. They also try to make you think no one will want to come get you. You really have to keep a calm, cool, level head to survive there with your wits intact. It's either brainwash and conform, suffer in silence, or escape. And trust when I say, others tried to escape some nights. Luckily I had not burnt all my bridges and was able to have someone come pick me up. I felt badly for some of those I left behind. Some wanted to leave so badly, but had no resources or any way to reach friends or family. Many, many faced either jail or losing their kids if they chose to leave, which when I heard a statistic that something like over 2/3 of the women faced jail if they chose to leave, it's no wonder that some are forced to succumb. I personally would prefer jail. At least there I could get adequate rest, and would actually be in GREATER contact with family and friends by mail or phone than at Recovery Ventures. That's another issue I had with the program. I was told that I wouldn't be allowed to contact anyone on the outside for my first 45-60 days. What I didn't know was that even after being in the program for that long, if you accidentally break too many rules (and small, COMPLETELY, un-intentional breaking of the rules happens ALL THE TIME, for pretty much everybody) your program could be started over. Once you finally get past the first 45-60 day level (which can be extended or re-started depending on your performance) you are allowed to write ONE letter out to a close family member (not a friend or fiance). Before your letter is sent, it is read, and if anything negative whatsoever is written about the program, it will not be allowed to be sent. Once that person writes back, and only if that person writes back, are you allowed ONE 10 minute phone call with that person. That phone call, along with what few others you can earn, is monitored on speakerphone, and again, nothing negative can be spoken about the program. You are told of this in advance. In essence, they give you no room to speak openly or complain about the program without fear of either getting more "move-time" (since speaking ill of the program is against the rules - check your handbook!), or getting your mail or phone privileges taken away. Suffice it to say that if you are reading this and you have a loved one in the program, trust and believe, you won't be hearing the whole story of what is going on for your loved one until they are WELL away from the prying eyes and ears of other peers or staff. That's another thing - you feel so isolated even when in a crowd within the program because everyone has to fend for themselves and staff and the way the rules are structured both discourage having any kind of personal confidence in another client. You are left with no one to confide feelings to without fear that they will be forced into talking about something you may have told them in confidence.
Here's a little example of how easily "move-time" is given out. This is what happened to me. I made my bed before going to work one day like every other day, but that day, while at work, others had to move my bedding and belongings to another bunk bed to make room for another client. While at work, "bed-checks" were done, and I was written up and given 3 days "move-time" for "messy bed" even though I hadn't been the one to re-make the bed. Could I question this ruling? NO, because the proper response for any circumstance that arises is to "just say okay". Client's are repeatedly told to "just say okay." If one person tells you to do something and then another person tells you to do something else which may even contradict the first, what are you supposed to do? I would have thought the answer to this question when posed it by staff would have been to ask a superior staff or peer member which task to do. That answer would've been wrong, according to staff. The correct answer was to "just say okay" to each person and do both tasks quickly, quietly, and efficiently.
If you are okay with just saying "okay" all of the time, while being worked until you're aching, under conditions of sleep deprivation, while having little or no contact with loved ones, and being made to suffer insults and cause others hurt in group, then by all means, hit up Recovery Ventures right away. If not, then please, please be strong, ask around and find a better place to aid with recovery, and don't sacrifice your life and who you are just to "live". Good luck, and prayers to any out there still suffering from addiction or alcoholism. You're not alone, and you are valued, whether some would have you think it or not!!!

I did not go to this "place" personally, but my son did. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE! They work you 16 hrs a day with little to eat, just to bring in money. It's all a money racket. They steal your personal items with the words "this is going to be donated to the house". BS. And of top of all that, they will stand you up in front of 100-150 people and intimidate, humiliate and commence to tell you what a piece of crap you have been, are, and always will be. Some people were so desperate to leave there, they were packing their clothes and leaving in the middle of the night...on foot. Keep in mind this place is in the middle of nowhere on top of a mountain. Nothing but mountains all around. It sounds more like a "Nazi Treatment Center", to me. Sometimes, if you make a mistake, they will start your program all over again...which means you've accomplished nothing. Start over from day 1. So now you've got another 18 months in this hell hole. I'm a recovering addict and have been clean for 11 years, but I was appalled at some of the things he told me. They try to brainwash an already broken person...spiritually, emotionally, and mentally broken. So, it doesn't take much, sometimes. Most of the people going there are desperate, and the staff knows it, so they take advantage of it. I'm writing this because I hope that if someone is considering this place, maybe they will reconsider, and find somewhere else. There are much better places than this, for free. We've all made bad choices in addiction, but that doesn't give these people or anyone else the right to treat you like an animal. Remember, those that run the place have done the same things that you have.

When i was in detox and i watched the video for this place,i thought for sure it was legit. Well when i got there it was nothing like they said. The woman's staff verbally,mentally,emotionally abuse their associates. They want you to think that they are all u have and basically cut all communications off with your family. There is no therapy nor do u get positive feedback. At one point they had me convinced that my family didn't want to help with my meds,and in reality the staff members were constantly trying to get money from them,and that's when my family did their own research and realized it was all a scam. I was there for 2 months and all i did was work and on top of that i was in there for alcohol and one of my jobs required me to work around alcohol. I saw so many women leave in the middle of the night. I finally got to see my family in December on family day and when they got there my soon to be mother in law asked me did i want to come home and i left,my leader came to the car telling to get out of the car and i said no,i felt more broken down in there. There is no positive reinforcement,all i ever saw was women being broken down and treated with no respect. They will take away your selfworth and make u feel like your not worth anything. I have been home since December and have maintained my sobriety,i have been sober for 6 months. I do have to say i did meet one woman in there and she was one of my leaders,i can honestly say if all the staff members were like her i garuntee most of us would of nevered left.

When I watched the video online I was so happy!! I had finally found a place for me!!!WRONG. This place is a joke and I would not reccommend it to anyone. Everything on the video is completely opposite. Once u get there they take all your belongings and send you out in public to work without makeup and in rags. Everything all the other negative commentators have said is absoutly TRUE!!!!! I couldnt have said it better myself. If you enjoy working and smelling like a dog and eating out of date rotten food then this is the place for u. Staff consists of previous clients who have kissed enough butt to get where they are now. I had a staff member repeadily say and I quote"I d ont do this for the money"". I say Yes u do. Do the math . I was there for over 90 days and followed every rule and couldnt wait to get out of there. If not for my roommate I dont know where I would be. I saw so many women escape during the night just because they couldnt take the abuse anymore. I have been in active addiction for the better part of my life and was truly hoping I had found the right place, needless to say I was very disappointed. I have managed to stay sober since leaving there and I look foward to entering a new program soon. Take my advice. DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE ANY MONEY. There is no therapy there. The time I was there I was counseled by PEERS and thats all. I have been in addiction longer than most of them have been alive. Cursing is an everyday allday thing. However they do refrain from namecalling until it is alloweed at their so called conflict resolution group. The final straw for me was when senior staff member called 2 associates a name I cant put on here. Take my advice and please please dont contribute to these peoples pocketbooks any longer. If the state is not investigating them they certainly need too.

It is horrible!!. Nothing but drama, treats you like your a child, not even a RECOVERY PLACE, more like a damn DAYCARE! i left after 6 days, waste of my time and money, couldnt even get the 250 back, they are a bunch of thieves…screw this place...

I got to ​RVC​ in 2010, a completely broken soul after just about 6 months in jail. There
​ ​was ​very little left of me. Prior to being arrested, I spent most of my life chasing
​ a​ ghost in the miserable cycle of addiction. I'm an educated woman, I had great opportunities with my life but at the end of most days, nothing outweighed the lure of addiction. I just couldn't get "it"​. Rvc was my last hope as it is for most that enter the program. The problem is, most that the get to ​RVC​don't get that. R​VC​isn't just another detox, its not a 15k per month recovery center...its the last chance for an addict to get ​"​it". Its hard and I'm not talking about the work schedule, compared to running the streets looking for a rock, ​it​ was a cake walk. Of course​,​ to follow the schedule there is a pain in the butt because we're not used to following schedules when we get there. The real work at RVC is the opportunity the program gives you to take a look at your life, the choices you've made, the pain you've cause. That's the hard part. I listened to others tell me what a piece of crap I was, looked at myself and realized what they were talking about. RVC gave me a chance to change. RVC did not change me, it GAVE ME A PLACE TO CHANGE MYSELF. It gave me a place to save my life and almost 4 years later, I'm still accountable for MY life and still SOBER! Had the staff not been hard on me, forced me to look at myself, step out of my comfort level....I would have never pressed on and surely wouldn't be sober now. Thank you RVC and than you Suzy Bennett for giving me the chance to save my own life! I'm am forever grateful.

Recovery Ventures saved my life. It is as plain and simple as that. When I was desperate, living on the streets of Newark, NJ, detoxing from heroin, they welcomed me with open arms. It is not your typical drug rehab. It is more like altering experience which not only addresses the addiction but the life choices that lead me there.

RVC is by far the most challenging, physically and emotionally, thing that I have ever experienced in my entire life. I should me what I was capable of. I was willing to do what ever it took when I was chasing my next fix, so when I was offered a chance at a sober life, I found that same willingness. Were there times that I had to work long hours with not a lot of sleep? Of course. I still have those days today. I can honestly say that if it wasn't for this program, I never would have thought that I have the strength to have a full time job, full time single mom and a full time student in the Bio-Medical Engineering Program at NAU. I am up with my son at 7am, class till 11am, then I get to come home to do house work/home work then off to work from 5pm to 1am. What people need to realize that in this program you have to work for your recovery. You have to work for the clothing on your back, the house you sleep in, the food you eat and the training that goes into the ones who conduct your groups. Also, it is a voluntary program. You are told what to expect and what the rules will consist of.I was one of those residents that was extremely hard headed and stubborn. I spent 162 days straight in restitution. That meant 164 days were spent either working or on the move at the house. It was nobodies fault but my own. And it was the first time that I was held accountable for my own actions. I grew up in a comfortable home where I never had to face a real consequence. The program did not kick me out, instead they provided me a lesson in accountability, humility and acceptance. I could have left at any point. But the life I knew was utter hell compared to what I was facing there. It came down to one question, did I want to live or die?

No where on the web site or in the intake process does it promise to be easy. After being at RVC, I have a relationship with my family. I have been able to keep steady employment where I am in a management role. I am able to cope with life on life's term without putting a needle in my arm to do it. I have remained heroin free going on 8 years this January. If you want recovery served to you with a silver spoon, patted on the head and told it is all o.k., not your fault, this is not the program for you. If you have hit your rock bottom and are willing to do what ever it takes to remake yourself, then it will do just that. At some point in my addiction I lost what it meant to be a productive, law abiding person. RVC gave me my humanity back. It was my second chance at life.

I am astounded by the so-called "treatment" that RVC attests to. RVC is at best a scam. At worst, they are simply a facade that pretends to help you while exploiting the very vulnerable clients that they profess to be helping. If you decide to go there, you should be expected to be treated like a modern-day slave. The correlations between the rules of RVC correlate exactly to the rules of any other cult. As an "associate", you should be prepared to be stripped of all personal belongings - even if you brought those belongings in exact accordance to their rules. One of the reasons that there is "no cost" is because RVC lines their pockets by literally stealing from their "associates".

"Treatment" at RVC consists of extreme sleep deprivation, lack of contact with family, and severe punishment for any honest expressions of how you feel. You are required to rat on friends - even if you have no problem with them, or expect more punishment. The program thrives on friends betraying each other.

It is extremely sad to me that RVC represents itself as a last resort for families and those suffering from a serious disease. They prey upon the most desperate for help, just as others prey on desperate cancer patients. They know you will do anything for help and will exploit those they claim to help. The only reason they want you is to steal from you and to take wages for the work you are required to do while you're there.

I am writing because I want people to know that there are so many legitimate places to get help for substance abuse treatment. Don't let anyone tell you that you will fail - no matter how many times you have tried before. RVC haves no legitimate treatment for you and they offer no such treatment of any kind. 12- step groups is not even a part of their repertoire.

Families - please don't subject yourselves to this scam. I urge you to seek help from legitimate professionals. The worst harm that RVC does by pretending to help is that they prey on the most vulnerable people. Addiction is literally a matter of life and death. I pray that you do not put your lives in the hands of this corrupt organization.

Life isn't easy; life as an addict isn't life at all. The best you can hope for is surviving. My survival skills had just about run their course when I showed up at RVC. This program offered me a chance to reclaim my life, but more important, RVC gave me respect the day I walked in the door. Don't get me wrong, I had to work each day to keep it, but it is the same in the "real" world. I learned the gifts I was blessed with don't qualify me for handouts...one earns everything of any real value.
Yes, you do work long hours at RVC. Most successful people do work long hours because they know nothing is guaranteed or free.
Yes, you are held accountable for your actions at RVC. I am pretty sure this applies to civilized society as well.
This program isn't for everybody, but it is for people who are serious about getting their lives back. The last question asked of an individual during the interview is " Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get clean/sober?" In fact, the question is usually posed twice to emphasize this.
I will close by saying RVC is the only program I have ever been part of (and trust me, RVC wasn't the first rodeo for this drugstore cowboy) that
1. GIVES you room, board, clothing, transportation, counseling, and therapy
2. Puts you in a safe environment where you have time to truly work on yourself.

Life still isn't easy, but I have the opportunity to endure the struggles and enjoy the fruits of my life because of RVC.

This recent surge of positive reviews (most likely encouraged to be written by RVC staff themselves) was written by either male associates of the program, a mother of a male associate, and a female who was in the program quite a while ago. In my opinion, these people know nothing of how female associates in the program recently were treated. Fear is not a healthy way to run things. And it seems that putting people down and talking to them like they are crap is the way a certain female staffer likes to run things. This program was once about breaking people down and building them back up. There is no building back up, unless of course you are one of the favorites. In my opinion, a change in the leadership of the women's staff would be a huge improvement.
Let me just say, there have been a few good female staff members, who, unfortunately left, partly because of the way they were treated by the most senior female staff member. This woman has a need to control that overwhelms her ability to be effective. She has been known to twist people’s words, claim donations for her own personal use, lie on a regular basis, and steal medications from clients after they have left, or that were taken away during intake. The problem is that it seems that everyone turns a blind eye to all of this behavior. It has been brought up to them by associates, but they find a way to rationalize her behavior or simply cover for her. But why? Her behavior is unacceptable. To people on the outside, she may not come across as a bad person, but for the women in this program, they know the truth.
Women that are thinking of coming to Recovery Ventures, there are other places out there. Men, it is a hard program but if you are willing to do whatever it takes, you may have a chance at semblance of recovery. That is, as long as you steer clear of the a fore-mentioned female staffer.

I am writing this not as a past participant in RVC but as a grateful father who thanks God and RVC every day for the return of my beautiful and talented daughter.. For years we suffered the agony and disappointments of seeing her move from program to program always hoping that this was the one that could help her only to see her relapse and resume her debilitating behavior once again. Then she discovered RVC.
For over five years now we have seen her life restored, she has found new purposes to pursue and has become a contributor in helping others over the same hurdles that she has experienced. From what she has told us the RVC program was not easy. But then most things in life that are worthwhile come at a cost.
For those of you who sampled the RVC lifestyle for a few days or weeks and were disappointed I would suggest that you may need to reevaluate just what it is that you are seeking. I can assure you that it is not going to be easy to rid yourselves of your addictions that took many years to cultivate. Please for your own sake and in consideration of those family members or friends who love you find help soon before you become yet another wasted life.

I'm a graduate of RVC and let me tell you that change is hard for anyone. I was a failure in life when I found RVC and had to learn how to live my whole life over. It wasn't easy but I stayed and it saved my life. I can say for sure without RVC I wouldn't be writing this for sure. They tell you before you start that it isn't easy and ask you one question on the end of the phone interview , are you willing to do what ever it takes? I said yes and I am clean and sober since 10/01/09. I see RVC as a cure for alcohol addiction. As long as you keep attending meetings. It doesn't have to be at the facility but anywhere. RVC taught me how to live my life without drinking to cope with my issues. These other posts remind me of what addicts are like. Blame everything around them because they can't see that they themselves are the problem.

Wow! In reading over these reviews, I find myself saddened by all of the people who made the choice to give up on themselves, for that is exactly what they did, and are now blaming the program for their own bad choices. I entered the Recovery Ventures Program in July of 2004. At first, I too was disillusioned. I didn't like the work, after all I had been laying on a couch, doing exactly as I pleased, and mooching off of others for years. Eight to ten hours a day as a sever, kitchen worker, or simply as someone doing household chores?? No thank you very much!!!! Working a regular job, contributing and being responsible are difficult for addicts, who have spent their lives crafting ways to take advantage of others and pursuing their demons every single second of every single day for years.

When a client enters RVC, they are asked if they are "willing to do whatever it takes" to change their lives and enter recovery. Many people forget this when they are faced with the realities of daily life in the program. I know that I did at first. However, even though adjusting to the work and group schedule was difficult, I knew that the staff members at the time really did care about me and that they accepted me without judgment or condemnation. As someone who had tried 7 other inpatient rehabilitation facilities and still couldn't stop; who lost everything, including a son, during her addiction and who survived two suicide attempts, Recovery Ventures was really a last resort. A two year therapeutic community is designed for chronic substance abusers who need intense treatment to change a lifetime of self destructive behaviors. Recovery Ventures intake staff make this clear during the initial interview. I know they did with me. I understood and agreed, as does every other person who is admitted as a resident of the program.

The two years I spent at Recovery Ventures were the two most difficult, challenging, and rewarding years of my life. Extra duty, "being on the move", was something I had a hard time with. What addict wouldn't? What addict likes to be accountable? None that I can name. However, time "on the move" taught me a valuable lesson. It taught me that my actions, even small seemingly insignificant ones, have consequences. It taught me to be aware and to be responsible. It taught me that I couldn't just act on my feelings simply because I wanted to and that my actions affected not only myself, but those around me. It taught me acceptance. It taught me that not everything in the world works the way I think it should. It taught me that I am not always the one in charge and that sometimes saying OK and doing as I am asked really can be the best choice. I needed to be held accountable, as I had always been able to manipulate myself out of every single situation in my past. I had always been able to convince my family to rescue me. ( Family members, understand that an addict cannot be an addict by themselves. It is impossible. Remember that when you buy into complaints from the addicts in your lives. It is possible to love someone to death. Literally.). Being held accountable at Recovery Ventures taught me to take personal responsibility and to hold myself accountable. Those lessons have served me well in the years since I graduated the program and stepped back into my life. I am grateful for every single second I spent "on the move." With me, it worked as it was designed to. I was ready. I was willing to do anything.

For me, the hardest part of RVC was not the extra duty, the confrontation, or the sometimes long work hours. It was the fact that, at RVC, I was forced to face myself. In my life before RVC, I had always been able to blame someone else for my problems. It was never really my fault. I was "sick" or someone who loved me hadn't stepped up to the plate when I needed them. At RVC, I came to understand that I alone am responsible for my actions and that even though I feel something strongly, that I do not need to act on it. My behavior is a direct result of my thoughts and feelings. No-one can "cause" me to do anything. I am responsible for myself. I learned that, even though others might engage in behaviors that I strongly disagreed with, I was there to heal myself and reconcile my past. I was there to build a foundation for a future for myself. I learned that to blame someone else's actions for my bad behavior was my problem, not theirs. This has proved to be the most valuable lesson I could have ever learned. It has allowed me to remain in recovery, with my life continually moving forward, since my graduation in 2006. Does this mean I'm perfect or that I haven't faced hard times? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that RVC taught me how to make mistakes, take responsibility, and pick myself back up.

As for the work schedule, I laugh when I hear people complain about how hard it is. Does anyone have any clue what they would be paying out of pocket for two years of quality residential treatment? The most affordable inpatient treatment center I am familiar with charges around $7,000 per month. Multiply that times 24 and you have about $168,000. No-one I know has paid that much back to the program through the work they did there. Yes, work was tough and the hours could be long. The lesson I learned from that was humility. I thought I was "too good" to wash dishes or to sweep floors. I learned better. I learned to be grateful for any opportunity to do good work and develop my work ethic, which was non-existent before walking through the doors of RVC. The work schedule taught me what it was like to get up every single day, put my feet on the floor, go to work, come home and do what it takes to take care of myself and my family. I can tell you that, nothing that I did during my time at RVC has been as difficult as dealing with life outside of a therapeutic community. Without the lessons I learned at RVC, I would have given up along ago and would not be the student, wife, mother, counselor, friend and volunteer that I am today.

Recovery Ventures gave me the opportunity to save myself from myself, and I took it. Many others do not make that choice and I have compassion for them. Recovery is not about who you are allowed, or not allowed, to date in the program. It is not about what clothes you wear or if you like the staff or they like you. It is about learning to get up and do what you need to do every single day regardless of anything that is making you angry or making things hard. It is about personal accountability and holding yourself to a standard so that others don't have to. It is about developing gratitude and giving back. It is about learning that your family and friends owe you nothing and that your job in recovery is to make amends to them and to repay, where you can, all they have given you.

Nine and a half years into recovery, I am still grateful for the program and credit it with giving me the opportunity to save my life. The program offers everyone the same opportunity, but the road is a difficult one and many choose to give up on themselves and their families and blame the program and the staff for their lack of dedication and commitment to themselves.

I have known David Martin, Will Carter, Mark Somers, William Faulkner, Brent Child, and Michael Fort - all directors and staff members at RVC, almost since I walked in the door. I know without a doubt that each of these team members learned the same lessons that I did in the program and that they try to help others learn the same lessons every single day. David Martin and Brent Child were present in my marathon group. I remember the fear and shame I felt as I poured out every single painful detail of my past. I just knew that I would be judged, turned away, ridiculed as the failure and horrible human being I believed myself to be. What I remember about that are the hugs I received from both of my recovering brothers and the words of understanding and acceptance I received from them. There was no judgment. There was no condemnation. There was only respect, understanding, and empathy. That is what RVC is really about. It is a recovering community. It is not always easy and, at times, is incredibly hard. However, no matter how hard it gets; no matter what mistakes you make or how much you want to give up and walk out the door, there are people there who have walked in your shoes and who support and genuinely care for you. That was true when I was there and it is true now.

Recovery Ventures gives people society has long ago turned it's back on another chance at life. The path is a difficult one and it is designed to be so. If it had been easy, I do not believe that I would be here today writing this. I would be dead or in jail. I needed to face myself. I needed to be held accountable. Also, I need to be accepted, loved, and supported. The people at RVC recognized my potential long before I did and they supported as I fought my way into beginning to realize it. I am grateful for the program. I appreciate those who work there and know that they truly want each and every associate to succeed and go on to live productive and healthy lives. However, not everyone succeeds. Not everyone thrives and not everyone makes it through the program. From experience, I know that this is purely a matter of personal choice, of lack of commitment, and a decision to continue to try to do things "their way". It is not the fault of the program itself or anyone who works there. It is a sad reality that many addicts will try to continue to actively choose not to fight for themselves; they are not willing to do "whatever it takes" to change their lives and improve their relationships. However, for those who are willing to work hard and truly face themselves; for those who are willing to be held accountable, take personal responsibility, and hold themselves accountable; for those who are looking for the support and unconditional acceptance of other recovering addicts, Recovery Ventures is there for you and it will work for you. It is up to each and every client. It is up to you.

My name is Joe. I arrived at RVC on April 8, 2008 a broken, hopeless human being. I had been using drugs for many years, and had been a complete failure at life. I was unemployable, unstable, and had no clue how I was going to make it clean and sober. I had spent the previous 8 months in jail befor I arrived at RVC, and that made my first few days all the more terrifying. I had tried numerous detoxes and nice cozy treatment programs where you are basically on vacation. Those programs work for some, but they didnt help me. I have read some of the other reviews of the program that saved my life, and honestly, a lot of it is fact. Associates in the program work long hours and attend groups that do not end until late. Associates also atten a group once a week where character defects were pointed out. This group was in fact intense a lot of the time, and was definately uncomfortable and often felt cruel. All of these things are fact, but those are the very things that saved my life. Anyone who lives a productive life and has a family and even children and other responsibilities is going to work long hours and often not get a lot of sleep. Additionally, anyone that plans on maintaining sobriety and helthy relationships with others better plan on having their character defects brought to their attention. All of these thins are very difficult and uncomfortable, especially to addicts and alcoholics who are suddenly without the things they used to cope. Its true, RVC is one tough program, but guess what, lifes tough. It makes perfect sense to me to have a program as tough as RVC. Life is hard at times, and RVC showed me how to cope with life without running, without turning to drugs and alcohol. No other program gave me that experience. Other programs were all talk. RVC allowed me to apply some new principles in my life, and surrounded me with a community of people who struggled just like I did.So, in spite of all the long hard and uncomfortable days at RVC, I am forever grateful for this program. I will never be the same person, and I now have hope.

I am the Mom of a young man, who began in high school...having 'fun' w/friends...the usual 'high' they feel at the time to be quick fun, unknowing that one substance to that 'high', only leads to another, then something stronger, etc, and so the sad, 'strung/out'...ruining his life goes...and went, until he was stealing from his friends, his relatives...even from his own Mom and Dad. We were truly clueless for many years. He found how to hide and disguise a lot. ON w/his journey of a miserable life for him and his dad and me(Mom), he got into much trouble...long story short, we found out about Recovery Ventures Program in the NC mountains. Our son went there, w/only bare necessities. , of a couple pair of jeans, shoes, personal items to a minimum, and he began the gradual learning and changing to a healthy, responsible, young son that I again began to recognize...not just in a more clean, healthy appearance..but he was back to his 'old loving and helpful self'...MY SON. I attribute this great helpful change in my son's life to his classes, of which there were many,,,that lead him to a cleaned up...totally more happy life. I am truly thankful to RVC Recovery Ventures Corp. to this day. Thanks and my prayers to anyone who needs help will receive it thru RVC.

My name is Kyle, I walked into R.V.C. on June 26th, 2008. I had a shattered life, I was broken, mind, body and soul. I had used drugs since I was 12 years old until then age of 24. Most notable was a hard opiate addiction. I had been to 30 day programs, jail, detox, 12 step programs. Nothing had worked for me. R.V.C. changed my life. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Nothing happens for anyone overnight. Change comes from hard work, dedication, and willingness. I finished the program in two years. I didn't get my life back, I got a better life that I didn't even know existed. I am still active in A.A. I have been clean now for five years. I have a wonderful life, not only for myself but I provide for my family. What I received from Recovery Ventures Corporation was more than just another chance at life. You can not put a price on Recovery from Addiction. When I was at R.V.C. one thing was for sure many people gave up and didn't find recovery. Nothing worth doing is easy. I would never want to go back to what I was before going into this program, and not a day goes by that I don't think about how it has helped me. Also This is not just a two year program. As a graduate I have spent many days in this community, giving back what was so freely given to me. Many Thanks, to R.V.C.

Oh and just as a foot note I have read a lot of negative reviews. It makes sense, because drug addicts will embellish the truth to make themselves a victim. I know from experience. So for all the people who are downing this program, "It didn't work", "It's the programs fault", "It was horrible torture", sure but the drug life doesn't have any negative effects. Give me a break. Anyone can leave the program at any time, there are no walls. no one was abused when I was there, it is a no touch program. It is not for everyone, but how much do you know if you were there for a week, a month, two months. Recovery takes time, a lot of time. Even after completing two years I stayed around for another year. Best thing that has happened to me.

As I read all of these reviews and take into account the stories about this place expressed to me by my own relative, that was a resident at RVC, it is quite obvious what each of you should do. The way to protect future residents from what could be abusive treatment is to hit them where it will hurt them the most, their revenue sources. Those revenue sources are the places that some of you say that you worked for 14 to 17 hours a day with very little sleep if any. It is my understanding those places are The Biltmore Estates restaurants, The Grand Bohemian Hotel and the Baptist Retreat at Ridgecrest. If you let these businesses and organizations know how you were treated and the condition you were in, when reporting to their facilities to preform work, believe me they will be interested. If you do call you will want to speak to their corporate compliance office. It is his legal responsibility to act on these situations.

i have a family member at this facility the time frame they give you is always extended. i figured out that they say a certain time frame and that time frame is extended. you will hear from your family but it will be a short call. i really dont think the new associates get many perks for awhile. keep calling and staff will try to keep you up to date on your family's status. go there whenever you can to visit i see all the comments on this place and it is hard to believe that a rehab could be so rude to poeple that are there for help. i find it difficult that they yell at them and treat the associates like dogs basically but who knows. i think as the associates move through the program they will get more perks. just try to stay in touch with your family member write and they will write back. one thing the one person said the org has the state there for whatever reason i thought this was not a state facility why are they there? anyways hang in there and i hope you hear from your loved on soon. call and talk to the staff let them know your concerns.

Hello, I want to thank all of you for writing reviews about your experience at RVC. I am a sister of a current RVC member. My sibling has been at RVC about 2 months and we have not has any contact with him/her or a counselor yet. We were told that he/she may be able to write us 45-60 days after depending on how well he/she was doing and that in about 1-2 weeks his/ her counselor would call us. Well it is 8 weeks later and we are very concerned. I would like to know more information about RVC from any one that may have attended..anything that you would like to share. Please help me help anyone who may be in trouble there. If in fact the state has or is investigating please help me try to help you and others. Your reviews have helped us and we want to help
someone else from experiencing this. Email me at Help.A.Concerned.Sister@gmail.com with anything you want to share with me. Thank you!

This place is for people who have nowhere to go and either are facing prison or jail.there is no recovery there except what you get from watching staff verbally abuse anyone who speaks there mind and has any pride.the video is a joke it is nothing like what you experience when you get there.staff is so corrupt and dirty that they keep all focus on making you miserable so that they can feel happy.it has been under investigation for abuse as well as sexual investigations.staff stays on vacation,and says that they get no money for there work.I do know that staff uses program vehicles to drive on personal trips as well as using the clients food stamps money for personal vacations.they are graduating people now for the benefit of the program and not because they have met the requirements for graduating,you can think the director of the women's facility for that.no-one deserves to be talked to like a dog,or worked like a slave.who wants to get clean only to see your family once or twice a month.the best it has done for the staff there is allowed them to play God ,cover up relapses and use our skills for personal gain.we work 16 to18 hours a day first half on contract jobs ,the other half doing personal pet grooming or landscaping.they don't deserve to have a license.

I left RVC after 10 days because I was tired of being yelled at and overworked to pay for recovery I was not receiving. Everything I've learned in my previous attempts to get clean has taught me recovery must be put first, here it is their second or third priority. Conflict Resolution Group is code for bottle up your emotions till weds night and then take them out on someone. It was downright scary how angry these people are. I'll paraphrase, but I heard a female staff member call her client another word for a cheap prostitute. After I told them I wanted to leave they were nice at first trying to convince me to stay, but staff said some very spiteful and angry things as I walked out of the facility to go wait at a bus station for my dad. If I hadn't been clean for a while before I went I would have relapsed while I was waiting on my bus. They brag here that 80% of people drop out, which they think means the program is successfully weeding out those who aren't serious. I would argue that they dump 80% of clients back onto the streets angry, bitter, and emotionally exhausted, which is a dangerous place to be for an addict in Asheville if you're trying to stay clean.

If you like working 18 hours a day washing dishes and doing menial labor around the house this is the place for you. If you want to learn about addiction and work on your personal issues I'd recommend finding somewhere else to do this. I averaged about 4 hours of sleep a night, 10 hours on a job site washing dishes, 4 hours on waiting to be transported or being transported, and 6 hours "on the move" which is code for sweeping the same floors 10 times or so. Every two or three days I might be able to sit in on a group, but only if my work schedule allowed it.

The staff are angry bitter people and if I didn't know a lot of recovered addicts that are full of joy and hope, I would have relapsed because I'd rather die on the streets than live the angry and bitter sober lifestyle they lead in front of clients.

THERE IS HOPE AND JOY IN RECOVERY but you won't find it here. I'd been clean for 75 days before I went and I had made a lot of progress. Honestly I feel I've been misused and abused by this place and I think I've undone a lot of that progress. But don't try to voice those opinions to anyone there, you're not allowed to express how you feel about the program. If you do they'll make you sweep more and sleep less.

Not only would I not recommend this place, I would beg my friends who want recovery not to go.

This place is a slave camp!! I was worked 18hrs a day for 6 months with only 2 days off. These people have an office of people doing nothing but getting donations the residents don't see. The reason they don't see them is because they set up at a local flea-market and sell them. (jeans,tires,shoes,book bags,etc.)

Oh! did i mention that this place is under investigation with the State of NC? The State would come in once a month and ask people questions, of course the only people there were staff and people too scared to stand up for themselves, As everyone else was getting slaved!

While my time at RVC was brief, it was short-lived for the reason that it took me only days to grasp that the reality of this program was very different than promoted on their website. In a matter of weeks, I became increasingly appalled at both the lack of therapy and the unorthodox means to recovery employed. I was indeed expecting to stay active; what I was not expecting was to be overworked and sleep-deprived. 12 to 18-hour days performing intense labor can be commonplace, especially in summer. Sick days, days off, and downtime are extremely minimal. Their "Intensive Therapy Retreat" (a mere euphemism) entails being forced to stay awake for three days straight. Time designated "on the move," as the schedule denotes, is actually time spent at the house meaninglessly rewiping, redusting, resweeping common areas that have already been cleaned upwards of 20+ times in a day. It was a complete waste of time that could have been used more productively aimed at one's own recovery. I spent every minute trying to plan my escape from this God-forsaken place. Counseling and treatment is not available to new 'associates,' -- what I most needed coming into the program. Negativity, tattle-telling, and punishment are prevalent and seemingly encouraged. Punishment is excessive (ie - accidentally dropping a pill on the floor results in 7 days of extra labor / "on the move" time). Conflict Resolution group, another euphemism, is a sickening, degrading weekly group where all 'associates' meet together, and each person takes a turn getting oftentimes yelled at and berated by others, including staff. It is impossible to relay how horrified I was when I experienced the group for the first time and can only fathom that many of the others had become desensitized to what was going on around them. The use of intimidation, condescension, fear, excessive labor, and sleep deprivation are NOT the methods by which I want to be 'forced' into sobriety. I left at the point I realized that I would not be able to tell my family the truth, for their means of censoring communication wouldn't allow it. I left in order that I would not walk out of there a 'dry drunk' and a shell of a human being. Today, I am SO grateful to be living in a healthy, positive, safe, sober halfway house with other women in AA. I am certain that God placed me at RVC so that others become aware of their reality and choose a better option to attain sobriety.

I was a client of Recovery Ventures from 2007-2008. During the application process I was told that I would recieve job trainning. I was very intrested in not only getting clean and sober but in also recieving job trainning that would allow me to enter into a new vocational field. I had performed construction work for twenty years, but had fallen off a house in 2005 and broken my back. I expressed intrest in recieving training in another vocation. I was told that I would be required to use my knowledge and experience in construction to benifit RVC's in house remoldeling business. I did work on other jobs as punishment for expressing my desires not to work for the in house business. There were times at RVC that I worked 60 to 70 hours per week. I also worked for peroids in excess of thirty days straight without any days off. Rvc Did provide me with excellent Theraputic services. I have remained Clean and sober since graduating. However RVC did not help me in any way with job training services. They are very interested in producing revenue for the CEO who makes in excess of 95,000 dollars a year And only appears at the program on special ocassions and at weekly staff meetings. while their clinical staff make less than half of that and are expected to work 10 to 12 hours a day 6-7 days a week. Now I hear that they are merging with another non-profit which has only part time clinical staff, and that they have fired their theraputic director (The Theraputic Compontent was the best part of the program) In conclusion I would like to say that although they HAD an excellent theraputic compontent . They seemed very profit driven and it appears that it is even more so now that they are dismantling the clinical staff. I would not refer anyone to their organazation now or in the future.