"This is saving my life," said Vanessa Ruhle about the Salvation Army's Clitheroe Center. The facility is the only operating detox and rehabilitation center in Anchorage.

Ruhle has been at the Clitheroe Center for over 70 days, but she has been in and out of rehab programs over the past 10 years.

Although this is not her first attempt at living a sober life, Ruhle credits her children for providing motivation this time.

"In my disease, I've lost my children and I'm doing  everything I can again to better myself so I can have a relationship with  them," said Ruhle.

Clients can check into the facility and complete a program lasting between one and six months. Clitheroe is the first rehab facility in the state to offer dual diagnosis treatment programs. Part of the clinics specialty is treating clients with an addiction and another psychological issue.

Patients at Clitheroe are not always new to the rehabilitation process. Almost twenty years ago, Leo Tondreault checked into Clitheroe for the first time, "the other times I came in not even walked the walk, or talked the talk, just slide on through and it wasn't long before I relapsed."

Clitheroe operates with a series of programs designed for each clients needs. Part of the counseling process allows clients to evaluate each program and counselor as they receive treatment.

Along with a staff of nurses and counselors, Clitheroe provides peer mentors to it's clients.

"I think having been through recovery helps me better now as a counselor because I can give them better explanations, I can give them better scenarios," said Sasha Tsurnos, a recovering addict now leading the Recovery Life Skills program.

"For many of them it's the lowest point in their life and to bring them up to give them counseling, give them support and show them new ways of living so that when they leave here, they have a new life," said Salvation Army Captain Bill Finley.

For clients like Ruhle, getting to recovery is admittedly not the easiest road to plow, "this is the easy part, really. When you get out there, it's a lot of work."

The Clitheroe Center operates on a first come, first served basis.

for more information on how to receive help at the facility.