San Diego’s Premier SOBER Living Program for Young Adult Men
The Grounds Recovery is a sober living program for young men (18-30) who have struggled with substance use and addiction, and who have completed primary treatment, a wilderness program, attended therapeutic boarding school or participated in other intervention. Our typical member is looking for a supportive environment to strengthen their recovery, prevent relapse and integrate newly acquired skills into everyday life. We focus on helping members develop the independent living skills necessary for a successful transition into a healthier lifestyle. We know that the needs of young adult men are unique so we have developed our program specifically to meet those needs.
THE PROGRAM
Like life, everything at The Grounds is progressive, with challenges, expectations, and responsibilities increasing as members show they can make good, healthy choices.
THE LOCATION
The Grounds is located just minutes from California’s beautiful coastline on Soledad Mountain in between La Jolla & Pacific Beach—an ideal neighborhood for young men looking for a fresh start.
THE TEAM
We believe in individualized support through meaningful relationships. With mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships, and clinical support, we help members set goals and achieve them.
From Addiction to Recovery
The Grounds is a sober living program for young adult men ready to create a sober life. It is based on the model used by Founder Alex Zemeckis, MA, during his personal journey from addiction to recovery as a young adult. The foundation of the program is intensive mentorship, relationships and peer-to-peer accountability. We combine this with abundant recreation and work experience to follow the simple edict of “work hard, play hard” as a guiding principle and metaphor for a life in balance.
"Our family’s journey through our son’s substance use disorder and mental health challenges has been long and deeply impactful. During periods of stability and relapse, we experienced firsthand the emotional toll that addiction takes not only on the individual, but on the entire family. After completing a 90-day residential treatment program, our son made the decision to enter the Grounds Recovery program. From the outset, we felt he had found a community where he truly belonged. The program’s location, its proximity to the beach, and its closeness to family were meaningful, but it was the structure, support, and sense of community that made the greatest difference. The Grounds provided a safe and supportive environment where he could begin rebuilding his life step by step. As parents, we were encouraged to “drop the rope,” a concept that was both difficult and necessary after years of fear-driven involvement. The weekly parent calls with our son’s case managers were invaluable. They gave us a clear understanding of the program’s structure, expectations, and benchmarks, and helped us regain a sense of trust and relief. One of the most impactful aspects of the Grounds Recovery program is that every staff member brings lived experience in recovery. This authenticity fostered immediate trust and acceptance for our son. He knew he was surrounded by people who understood his struggles and met him with compassion and accountability. Our son successfully progressed through all three houses and is now in early recovery. He continues to work closely with his case manager, Scott, through weekly meetings that include recovery support, life skills development, financial guidance, and participation in AA meetings. When challenges arose, Scott responded promptly and effectively, drawing on the Grounds’ strong connections within the San Diego recovery community to ensure our son received the support he needed. These connections have also been instrumental in helping our son secure employment, find sober living housing, and establish a strong recovery network. As a result of the Grounds program, he now has the tools, resources, and support system necessary to continue moving forward in his recovery. We are profoundly grateful for the Grounds Recovery program and the lasting positive impact it has had on our son and our family. Today, we take things one day at a time—and today is a good day."
Parents