“The program teaches you how to take care of your basic needs in sobriety as well as gives you access to people that can help you emotionally and mentally.”
“The Gold Strike trip and soaking and unwinding at the hot springs stand out to me because it felt so good to complete that hike,” Galperin said. “When I first came to B2B, I had let myself go and every hike was a challenge to me. It feels good to know the motivation I had to get sober and get in shape paid off.”
Galperin’s path to B2B and sobriety was a long one. He was born in San Pedro, Paraguay, and lived in an orphanage until he was 3. He was adopted by a Russian family living in Chicago. His adopted family helped him develop a love of the outdoors through skiing and hiking trips across the country. When Galperin was 15, his stepfather died of cancer, and dealing with that pain contributed to his substance use issues. The outdoor trips with his father were top of mind when he voluntarily entered B2B’s nine-month program.
“I chose Back2Basics because of its emphasis on the outdoors,” Galperin said. “Before my dad died, he was an outdoorsy person and ski trips with my family were something I always loved. The outdoor aspect of the program spoke to me and motivated me to become a resident.”
Galperin’s first stint in recovery was in 2020 through another recovery program. The three-month inpatient program didn’t stick with him because it was too technical and the COVID-19 pandemic made connecting with his AA group difficult since online meetings were too disconnected from in-person ones.
“The first rehab program I went to was too focused on clinical discussions about the brain, no one working there went through the program and I didn’t feel connected at meetings,” Galperin said. “Maybe I just didn’t want to hear what they had to say at the time, but I left that program and relapsed.”
Back2Basics gave Galperin a different perspective this time around, since he felt the program gave him tools that felt applicable to real life and helped him make connections with people who have been through similar experiences.
“I am not trying to be funny here, but I like Back2Basics because it really does teach you the basics,” Galperin said. “A lot of guys come in here with zero understanding of how to take care of themselves after years of substance use. I didn’t know how to cook for myself, exercise or consistently brush my teeth. The program teaches you how to take care of your basic needs in sobriety as well as gives you access to people that can help you emotionally and mentally.”
He said group meetings helped him come out of his shell because he felt connected to the other residents who also went through or were going through the program. That connection helped him share more.
“I spent the last 15 years of my life not being around people much, so it was hard for me to share, but these guys just slowly encouraged me to share more,” Galperin said. “That encouragement helped me open up and reflect on where I have ended up.”
The prevalence of alumni in the program either as employees or volunteers is an inspiring part of Back2Basics for Galperin, so much so that he is currently an Outdoor Intern with the hopes of being an Outdoor Guide for the program one day. Nearly six months into a nine-month program, Galperin is running his own group session at Back2Basics called “Sharing is Caring (SIC).”
“SIC is a group I organize where I pick a topic and the guys journal on it,” Galperin said. “After they reflect on what they wrote they share what they journaled on. It has been a great tool to help us connect.”
Nearing graduation from Back2Basics, Galperin has never felt better, and he hopes he can help others feel better in their sobriety, too. FBN
By Roy DuPrez
Roy DuPrez, M.Ed., is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps young men, ages 18 to 35, recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol.
Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males ages 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In our program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programming. For more information, visit back2basicsoutdooradventures.com, call 928-814-2220 or email rduprez@b2badventures.com.