In 2009, everything changed for Inland Empire resident Preston with a single accident. What began with prescription pain medication after a dirt bike injury slowly spiraled into a heroin addiction that would take hold of his life for years. But one decision made just days before Christmas would change everything.
By December 2015, Preston reached a turning point. With the holidays approaching, he knew it was time to seek help. “I told my mom I was fed up. I said, Let’s figure this out. I need help.”
Preston found his way to Cedar House Life Change Center and began detox on December 16, 2015. Recovery is an uphill battle, and despite the urge to quit, Cedar House counselors gave Preston the tools and motivation he needed not only to detox but to live a life of recovery.
His counselor shared a lesson he still carries today. She explained that life is like a backpack. If you throw a bunch of heavy stones into it all at once, you won’t be able to walk. Just like if you try to tackle all of life’s problems at once, you won’t get very far. But if you add just a few metaphorical stones each day and deal with just the issues you can handle, you can keep moving forward and progressing in life.
A decade later, Preston is happily married with five children and working a steady and successful job– living a vibrant and healthy life.
“If I could help even one more person, it would be worth it,” he says. “I wouldn’t wish that life on my worst enemy.” Looking back, he believes the challenges he faced helped shape the person he is today. “Without those struggles, I wouldn’t be who I am now.”
About Cedar House
Cedar House has been serving the Inland Empire since 1973. Each year, the Bloomington-based nonprofit serves more than 4,000 people through a continuum of care that includes the 24-hour Sobering Center, detoxification, residential treatment, outpatient services and post-treatment recovery support.
Overall client satisfaction is 97%, and more than 96% of clients say they would refer a friend or loved one to the agency.
“Beyond helping people achieve and maintain sobriety, we focus on improving the overall quality of life,” said Cedar House Chief Executive Officer Jaime Lamb.
Cedar House’s programs do more than help people in crisis—they offer a trauma-informed, structured path to long-term recovery. By combining evidence-based practices with personalized care, Cedar House addresses both substance use and mental health needs. The real impact goes far beyond treatment: through ongoing support like relapse prevention, family reunification, and community reintegration, the dedicated staff helps people rebuild their lives. This approach strengthens family systems and the broader community by reducing recidivism, improving stability and promoting healthier, more productive lives.
Additionally, Cedar House has built a strong reputation as a collaborative community partner, working closely with counties and other organizations to ensure coordinated care and positive outcomes across systems.
“This spirit of collaboration amplifies our impact, allowing us to reach more individuals and respond effectively to the evolving needs of the Inland Empire.”
Today, many Cedar House team members are former clients themselves, using their lived experience to guide and support others on the path to recovery. Their journeys are a testament to the trust, compassion and hope that Cedar House inspires.
Lamb and Daniel Chagolla, Chief Operations Officer, have been part of IEHP Foundation’s Champions for Vibrant Health Leadership Network, a two-year leadership development program for 80 nonprofit leaders representing 40 organizations from across the Inland Empire dedicated to improving health and wellness for families.
Along with two years of flexible funding, both leaders have shared how the Leadership Network has helped them grow professionally and personally. They’ve brought these lessons back to their team, strengthening Cedar House from within.
“The Leadership Network has created a ripple effect throughout the organization by encouraging leaders to bring back and integrate what they’ve learned into day-to-day operations, supervision, and strategic planning, shared Lamb. The opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives and innovative approaches has helped us think more strategically about how we sustain and grow our services while remaining responsive to community needs.”
Cedar House continues to grow, including the construction of a new 70-bed substance use treatment facility program to help more residents like Preston who are ready to get the help they need to live a long, healthy life.