Approximately 27 years
ago, a group of people who had received substance abuse treatment at Valley General Hospital wished to maintain contact with others they
had become associated with during treatment. They founded The Solberg Hall Alumni Association.
Dick
Solberg was a long time director of the nationally known Hazelden Treatment Center and was involved in the creation of many treatment centers and alumni groups. A
former Director of the Valley General treatment center was an alumnus of Hazelden and was aware of the benefits of an active
alumni as well as the reputation of success that Mr. Solberg had. The group was named in his honor. In 1996,
the group changed its name to Families in Recovery. It is believed to be one of, if not the longest continually running recovery alumni groups in the Nation.
In the beginning, membership
in the group was attained upon completion of the treatment program, and the patient’s spouse or significant other also became a member.
Membership is no longer restricted only to people who have received treatment at VGH. Now, all who are
working a program of recovery from drugs or alcohol are welcome.
