Alumni Community
The Northbound Alumni Family
Recovery built in community lasts. Northbound's alumni association connects 500+ former clients through weekly meetings, monthly adventures, sobriety milestone celebrations, and lifelong support — because the relationships formed in treatment are among the most powerful forces in sustained recovery.
500+
Active Alumni Members
38
Years of Community
1,000+
Graduates Per Year
1/3
Staff Are Alumni
“What Northbound offers is a long-term solution. There is a huge difference between physical abstinence and living in recovery. The Northbound alumni are made up of people in recovery who are emotionally balanced and spiritually fit. We help people find that enlightened state.”
Paul Alexander — CEO & Founder, Northbound Treatment Services
Community Events
How the Alumni Program Works
From weekly meetings to monthly adventures, Northbound's alumni program provides ongoing connection, accountability, and celebration throughout every stage of sustained recovery.
Weekly Monday Evening Meetings
In-person alumni meetings at our Orange County headquarters every Monday evening — with guest speakers, open shares, and community.
Friday Morning Meetings
Friday morning alumni meetings with an optional lunch together afterward — a standing weekly ritual for the Northbound community.
Wednesday Family Support (Zoom)
Weekly Zoom meetings for families impacted by a loved one's addiction — open to anyone in the Northbound family circle.
Monthly Adventures
Past events: indoor skydiving, K1 speedway racing, mini golf, go-karts, bowling, camping, concerts, and movies on the beach.
Quarterly Sobriety Celebrations
Quarterly milestone celebrations honoring one year — and multiple years — of continuous sobriety, attended by staff, alumni, clients, and families.
Community Volunteer Work
Alumni participate in ongoing community service — beach cleanups, mentorship, and service activities that reinforce the giving-back principles of lasting recovery.
Open to all Northbound alumni and anyone in the recovery community — you don't have to have been a Northbound client to join.
Alumni Voices
Lives Transformed
“Sobriety is not something anyone can do on their own. I could have never gotten sober without a healthy and fostering community of people to build me back up when I was broken to the core. Northbound provided me with a safe place to teach me the tools to live a life of sobriety and instilled a sense of self-love that I didn't know I had before.”
Tony M.
Northbound Alumni
Career in Recovery
The Work Exchange Program
Eligible Northbound alumni can apply for the Work Exchange Program — working at Northbound after completing treatment while studying to become a Licensed Addiction Counselor. It's one of the most powerful bridges between personal recovery and professional purpose we offer.
- Work at Northbound post-treatment in a sober professional environment
- Pursue Licensed Addiction Counseling credentials concurrently
- Support new clients through the same recovery process you completed
- Build professional identity, income, and purpose in early recovery
- Stay embedded in a therapeutic community during the most vulnerable period
One-Third of Our Staff Are Alumni
About one-third of Northbound's clinical and support staff are graduates of the program. This means every client is supported by people who have walked the same path — who understand addiction not just academically, but personally.
Join the Family
Ready to Start Your Recovery Journey?
Whether you're seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one, or you're a Northbound alumni looking to reconnect with the community, we want to hear from you. One call starts it all.