WHO ARE WE?

Bridges is A Safe, Sober Space For Teens To Recover. We are a youth peer support group for adolescents in recovery from addiction serving the greater Seattle area. Our services are empirically based and effective at providing both immediate and long-term benefits to teens living with addiction.

WHY DO WE EXIST?

Addiction rates and fatal teen overdoses are on the rise. Funding cuts and facilities have been closing in WA State. These closures have left our teens with no resources and no help. Youth addiction rates and fentanyl (opioid) death rates have doubled within the last two years. The best practice for teens after completing residential treatment is to be discharged to a supportive outpatient program. Unfortunately, most behavioral health organizations have discontinued intensive group support. A safe space for teens with peer relationships in their age group is non-existent.

OUR VISION:

We empower teens to develop their identity as people in recovery. We build a safe community to support families and teens, allowing them to reimagine what’s possible for their lives.

ABOUT US:

Bridges is a Seattle-based grassroots organization dedicated to bridging the gap from active substance abuse to meaningful, long-lasting, fun and individualized recovery for adolescents and their families. We believe the best way to achieve long-term adolescent recovery is an empathetic, inclusive, positive, fun, and enthusiastic network of peers with similar goals. Bridges uses the peer model combined with wraparound services to create sustainable sobriety/recovery for teens and their families.

The Bridges model was created to address the emotional, psychological, and social needs of teens struggling with substance abuse issues. It focuses on peer connection, support, education, family involvement (whenever possible parent/guardian participation is required) and, most of all, recovery and fun.

Peer connection and support is forged in group sessions and optional 12-step meetings, and followed up by fun group activities, which can include music and art programs, camping, hiking, bowling, day trips, kayaking and more. Making sobriety fun is what Bridges is all about.

Support and education is an ongoing process. Knowledge is power and because addiction is a disease there is a lot to learn. At Bridges we weave support and education through recovery support meetings for the teens and weekly meetings for the parents to connect with peers who have similar experiences.

Family involvement is required. As the teen recovers, they change. For these positive changes to sustain, parents must also be on a new path of recovery as well. Research indicates that when the whole family is part of the recovery process, there is a much higher likelihood of long-term recovery for the teen as well as improved family relationships.