Doug Tieman, president and CEO of Caron Treatment centers, said his March 2008 DUI arrest was part of God’s plan.
By day, Tieman said, he would travel to different cities raising funds for Caron, a Wernersville-based drug and alcohol treatment facility.
Under his leadership, Caron went from the verge of collapse to having an $18 million endowment.
However, once the work was done, Tieman said he would often spend the remainder of his night holed up in a bar.
“It’s a horrible feeling when your outside doesn’t match your inside,” Tieman said, addressing a crowd of about 150 people Tuesday night.
Tieman’s appearance was part of a speaker series hosted by Common Ground Recovery Ministry, a 12-step program that takes place at Atonement Lutheran Church in Wyomissing.
Before his arrest, Tieman said he would often ask God for the sudden ability to overcome his alcoholism, an addiction that started in college. Tieman said he turned to prayer because he was too ashamed to ask for help. He was the head of a treatment organization, after all.
“But God had a better plan,” Tieman said. “A very public DUI in Florida.”
After his arrest, Tieman said his life was put back on track. He kept his leadership position at Caron and sought treatment for his alcoholism. Even though his wife expressed hesitancy about continuing their marriage, they stuck it out and bounced back with a stronger relationship.
Now, Tieman has written a book that combines his story, his faith and some of the life lessons he’s learned over his 60 years.
The book’s title, “Flying Over the Pigpen,” doesn’t have a hidden meaning, nor is it derogatory, Tieman said. He grew up on a pig farm in Minnesota.
Tieman said the speaking engagement was a chance to put his perspective on his life.
“I think there needs to be a face on recovery,” Tieman said.
Tieman said he spent more than a decade working on his book, which he wanted to be practical and simple.
Every one of the chapters starts out with a farm story, he said. Though he had finished a version of the book nearly 10 years ago, it wasn’t published until this year. It was a good thing, Tieman said, because it allowed him to reflect on his addiction.
Tieman said proceeds from the sale of “Flying Over the Pigpen” are put toward the Caron Scholarship Fund, which financially assists people seeking treatment at Caron.
Introducing Tieman to the crowd was the Rev. Tom Scornavacchi, Common Ground pastor and mission developer.
The Common Ground speaker’s series highlights people who want to share their stories of addiction, Scornavacchi said, and is now in its seventh year.
“It’s important to us that what comes from the heart, touches the heart,” Scornavacchi said.
Common Ground, a 12-step, faith-based program, meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Lundin Hall of Atonement Lutheran Church on Wyomissing Boulevard.
For more information, visit http://www.atonementwyo.org/.
Contact Samantha Tighe: 610-371-5084 or stighe@readingeagle.com.
