Betty Ford Center
When you think about the Betty Ford Center, one woman comes to mind. The former First Lady who founded and named this treatment facility after herself. Ms. Ford actually completed her own rehabilitation treatment for substance abuse and dependency at the Long Beach U.S. Naval Hospital. After her experience she spoke to her friends at great length about the desperate need for a treatment center that recognized and responded to the unique needs of women. One of those friends, Ambassador Leonard Firestone, gave her the encouragement she needed to get her dream off the ground. In 1982, they founded the not-for-profit center located in the California town of Rancho Mirage.
Although the initial thoughts of Ms. Ford were to create a treatment center for women, the center bearing her name actually treats both women and men who are suffering with addiction and/or dependency.
