Addiction intersects with nearly all of our lives - directly or indirectly. Whether it's alcohol, pills, or other forms of drugs, addiction not only impacts the individual, but is felt through entire communities, having an immense impact on human life, economies, medical services, and more. But current mainstream pathways for addiction recovery in the U.S. are costly and can perpetuate vicious cycles of addiction.

In this episode, we look at the topic of addiction and improved pathways to recovery, by focusing on the organization Alliance for Youth and one of their programs, The Sober Life, based in Great Falls, Montana. Their approach fills a critical gap by creating community and joy around sobriety, which has lead to long-term recovery success, with measurable impacts to public health, local economies, and overall community well-being. We hear from Alliance for Youth's Development Director, Thomas Risberg, and learn about the Wellbriety Movement, which provides culturally based healing for Native and non-Native folks. We also hear from participants and group leaders in The Sober Life's Red Road to Wellbriety program; Bobby Takes Enemy and Destiny. 

This episode is made possible through support from Headwaters Foundation, working side-by-side with Western Montanans to improve the health of our communities.

Stories for Action is a hybrid production company based in Montana, that produces short films, a podcast series, and hosts story workshops…all with a mission to spark positive action through the power of storytelling. Learn more about our work at www.StoriesforAction.org or on FB & IG @StoriesforAction.

LINKS:

Alliance for Youth

The Sober Life

Substance Abuse Prevention Alliance of Cascade County

Wellbriety with Don Coyhis - full talk

White Bison, Inc.

Healing Together Conference (Colorado, June 2025) Hosted by Wellbriety Movement & other partners

Wellbriety Movement 

Montana’s Peer Network

Rocky Mountain Treatment Center - (Great Falls, MT) 

Never Alone Recovery Support Services-NARSS (Ronan, MT)

Beautiful Minds Recovery - (Butte-Silver Bow County & Missoula County)

Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Services - including substance abuse services, for adults & youth

Services for Veterans (Western Montana Mental Health Center)

Eastern Montana Veterans Home (Glendive, MT)

STEP, Inc. - sober living (Billings, MT)

Rimrock - rehab services (Billings, MT)

Many Rivers Whole Health (Kalispell, MT)

Free Alcohol & Drug Rehab Centers in Montana

Recovery Centers of Montana

MT Dept of Health & Human Services - Substance Use Disorder Services & Resources

Addiction Recovery: A Systematized Review 

Effects of Social Support and 12 step involvement, article

Role of Recovery Support Services in Addiction Recovery, article 

SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - Helpline

SAMHSA Treatment Locator

Info for family members of those experiencing addiction

Western Montana Health Center, Youth Services

Neighborworks Montana - home lending & ownership resources statewide

“The Montana Legislative Session from an Indigenous Perspective” - Stories for Action podcast episode

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