Von SMith
TRUDGE
Bowling Green’s Men’s Addiction Recovery Campus (MARC) houses over 100 recovering drug addicts during their six month process to recovery.
From Monday to Thursday, dozens of addicts make the 2-mile walk from campus to Crosslands Community Church where they hold therapeutic meetings.
A daily pilgrimage known as the “trudge.”
The trudge represents a journey or commitment to becoming sober. While the program is focused on helping men find sobriety, the real progress comes from acknowledging and processing past trauma that underscores addiction.
From Monday to Thursday, dozens of addicts make the 2-mile walk from campus to Crosslands Community Church where they hold therapeutic meetings.
A daily pilgrimage known as the “trudge.”
The trudge represents a journey or commitment to becoming sober. While the program is focused on helping men find sobriety, the real progress comes from acknowledging and processing past trauma that underscores addiction.
Recovering addicts make the journey to Crossland's Community Church from the MARC every day.
Dusty Westmoreland of Glascow, Ky. found himself at the Men’s Addiction Recovery Center following a federal drug arrest in 2o20. After spending 5 years in federal prison, Westmoreland requested to be transferred to a recovery program, suffering from years of crippling opioid addiction.
Now in the process of becoming sober, Westmoreland is forced to confront the traumatic memories that led to his addiction following his brothers suicide and the death of his mother at a young age. As long-buried feelings resurface, Westmoreland struggles with his own sobriety and suicidal ideation.
Now in the process of becoming sober, Westmoreland is forced to confront the traumatic memories that led to his addiction following his brothers suicide and the death of his mother at a young age. As long-buried feelings resurface, Westmoreland struggles with his own sobriety and suicidal ideation.
Westmoreland reads from his 12 steps book during his trudge meeting.
While women are diagnosed with depression at twice the rate as men, upwards of 6 million men are estimated to suffer from depressive disorders in the United States.
Men represent %80 percent of suicide deaths in the United States alone and overdose at 2-3 times the rate of women.
Men find themselves increasingly isolated, directionless and depressed as societal standards and stigmas around masculinity leave men unable to process their pain. As it becomes more challenging to find work, provide for families and adhere to strict standards of masculinity, men look for any avenue to find relief.
Men represent %80 percent of suicide deaths in the United States alone and overdose at 2-3 times the rate of women.
Men find themselves increasingly isolated, directionless and depressed as societal standards and stigmas around masculinity leave men unable to process their pain. As it becomes more challenging to find work, provide for families and adhere to strict standards of masculinity, men look for any avenue to find relief.
Westmoreland returns to the MARC after his trudge.
Facing another setback after his second relapse, Westmoreland must make the decision to continue pursuing recovery, or to “go back out.”
“When I leave these walls I know where to go, I know where to get it,” Westmoreland said, “I need this place, it's like a fort to me.”
Westmoreland is currently barred from trudging after restarting the program, unable to leave the building until completing his rehabilitation.
“Relapse isn’t part of everyone’s story, but it's part of mine.”
“When I leave these walls I know where to go, I know where to get it,” Westmoreland said, “I need this place, it's like a fort to me.”
Westmoreland is currently barred from trudging after restarting the program, unable to leave the building until completing his rehabilitation.
“Relapse isn’t part of everyone’s story, but it's part of mine.”