Reader comments
Blending in and giving back,ex-addict looks to support others in recovery

Now this is a news story...a man who has conquered his demons and now understands that which is of most worth in life, family and serving his fellow man. I'm impressed!

For an recovering addict, every clean day is a challenge and putting together a few years is a miracle to cherished. Good luck to you Steve, may the clean years continue.

Being able to give others the dignity they deserve is very refreshing in society today. Fellow man is out here waiting to be treated with worth. Good Job!!!!

Coming from an addict who is currently in an IOP setting with 60 + days of sobriety under my belt I find these stories to be inspiring and helpful in terms of my recovery. As it was mentioned in a previous comment every day indeed can be a struggle. However I find right now that all of the happiness I have ever wanted for myself and those I love is much easier to achieve just by living in the moment. Life is indeed a precious gift that all too often is taken for granted. It is nice to be able to appreciate life as a whole. Good or bad. And to be able to approach the decisions we all face with a greatly appreciated clarity.

Good Luck to Steve, addiction is a horrific thing. Those who can fight that fight and stay sober deserve a lot of respect for continuing to fight. You are never addiction free and while it is sad when people start down that road, it is all the more gratifying when they can fight it and begin the sober life.

Congratulations to JoeyKInWJ, 60+ is a great milestone and is the beginning of the rest of your life. My prayers go out to you!

This article has really helped me understand what my son is going through right now. He recently moved home after scrambling and struggling to live on his own as an addict for the last ten years. Now he is at the very beginning of a long road to recovery. It helps to read about other people's experiences and learn the best way to help those who are in recovery.

You go get em Steve. On December 31 I concluded 5 years of teaching and serving addicts in both the Utah State penitentiary and Adult Detention Complex (county jail). You are needed so much. We have got to find ways to better assist those who use and abuse substances.
The record number of times admitted to the jail, that I taught, was 47 times. He needs assistance not only jail. I consider jail to be a "hospital" or a "time-out place."
I have watched year after year the same individuals come and go. I've wept with them, prayed with them, blessed them, we have pondered life, meditated together...I've learned the addict must "hit THEIR bottom" before they humble themselves and admit they have addictions. My experiences teach me that it requires a spiritual change of heart, at least one buddy and group meetings daily.
And most poignant of all, "But for the grace of God there go I." We all are only a handful of decisions away from addictions and incarceration.
My prayers and faith go with you Steve. Be bold but loving, honest always and never embarrassed. There are hundreds of helpers out there who can serve.

This is a great story that needs to be told over and over! It is The American problem!! I am glad that the stigma is changing, that stigma kept a lot of people sick for a long time.

My parents have become victims to the greed of long time neighbors in thier cul-de-sac who decided to make thier home a "Treatment home" with out any permits in California. I say greed because people are paying BIG bucks to live in some of these places and get their "counseling" while neighbors are clueless to what kind of addicts are living near by. I'm concerned for my aging parents and the children in the neighborhood. My brother is an alchoholic and recovering drug addict so it's not like I have no sympathy here, but I have a heck of lot more sympathy for my parents, and all others in their same position, who live with so few answers or acknowledgements to their concerns from the owners and little being done by their city to protect them plus potential property devaluation. Half way houses should be located FAR from residential neighborhoods PERIOD! You can thank the overly liberal minded who think more about criminal rights than victims for including drug addicts as "disabled" and therefore deserving of the same housing rights as a wheelchaired bound non-criminal. What injustice!

I realize the tone of my first comment was very negative. I am proud of Mr. Brunken and wish him the best as he moves forward in his recovery as I have the same hopes for my alchoholic brother who has struggled with his addictions for years. However, when I read this article it seemed to me the focus was more on the "Positive" use of residential homes being used for recovering addicts and that is why I wrote in such a huff. I don't apologize for my strong opinion as I'm very concerned about safety for neighbors living around "treatment homes", but I am not heartless either and would prefer that cities would work with developers to make facilities in non-residential areas, for just this kind of housing need. Many of these people, my brother included, are past criminals and can't be fully trusted. My brother is one of the biggest liars in the world thanks to alchohol, but when he's sober he's one of my favorite people, though I still can't put full faith in him and would never entrust him with my money.

I knew Steve when we were kids. He was a year younger than me all through school and church. Steve was a nice kid and very talented athletic wise. I have often wondered about Steve and his brother Jeff over the years. Their father was a very patient and kind man. In fact, he took my brother flying in his airplane once. I'm glad Steve is doing well. I have a two nephews that went through the same thing. One sobered up and went on a mission for the LDS chuch, but the other did not and is still messed up. I'm glad Steve is now contributing back to his neighborhood. Steve, stay strong!

I've know Steve, his brothers Jeff and Dan and their father for many years. One of the nicest families I've ever known and true Christians in the truest sense of the word. The apple never falls far from the tree. Mr Brunken was a kind, generous and giving person and Steve obviously is learning to follow in his footsteps. I'm so thrilled to hear about him. Way to go Steve!

As i have too learned the path to God I can only thank my parents for their faith and teachings. As i patch my mistakes of the past..I grow, learn and soften. God Bless You all..and send my love to brother Brunken, Remember my diet cake?..ha..ha..God speed and keep in touch. I love You all so tender..your sister in Christ, Angela Parkinson
re:note e-mail.....

How fondly Max and I remember your family. I helped care for your mom before she passed and your dad helped us when Angela was very ill with a rare herb for the treatment of cancer. Your dad flew me to Provo to see our daughter, Lisa when she was at BYU. You, yourself, are in our family album with Lisa as you attended a prom together. That was in the mid 80's. Many years have passed and it appears trials and tribulations in life have brought you to the threshold of opportunity for a unique mission in service to humanity. We celebrate your courage in this regard. None of us are strangers to trials. We believe they are meant to awaken compassion, forgiveness, humility and all other virtues that have been overshadowed by the vices that can afflict humankind. It seems trials can be an important path to the Divine, if we have the eyes to see and the heart to understand. No parent wishes difficulties for their babies, but God willing, may they find angels, like yourself, along the way to lead them to the Light. We all need one another. God Bless.