Hi. My name is Crystal Arriaga. I love hiking, camping, backpacking, road trips, baking, cooking, candy making, adventures, traveling, canoeing, crafting, rafting, fishing and cuddling my little Yorkie Zeke. Zeke also likes adventures.

Tucson Arizona, May of 2003. I had recently finished all my classes at Pima Community College , Center for Training and Development. The paper I held was proof that I had passed my NCLEX. I nervously walked into a small freestanding building and showed it to a woman who interviewed me for what would soon be my first job as an LPN. What I didn't realize about this job was that it would stir a passion within me for a population of people who strive and fight for recovery. It set me on a path of discovery. The next 13 years I spent in different modalities of substance use medicine. While the medical side of treatment is interesting it is the humanity that brings it to light.

Step 1) see the person as whole
Step 2) foster an environment rooted in hope
Step 3) embrace the hard work.