The 4th Dimension Recovery Center got it's name in 2012 when Devin Andrade recalled a passage from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. In the passage, AA co-founder Bill Wilson wrote that working with another alcoholic [or addict] to overcome drinking [or drugs] was like "being rocketed into the 4th dimension.”
Devin, along with his fellow founding members, had captured perfectly what before had been difficult to explain about their nascent operation, the first of its kind. The team imagined a physical space where addicts and alcoholics could meet, socialize, and work with peers who understood their struggles. In contrast to the more established recovery pathways (institutions and jails) they well knew. Together, they imagined a community recovery center where people seeking recovery would come for one very simple reason: because they wanted to be there.
4D’s impact and recovery model has evolved since the early days when 4D’s primary purpose was to provide a safe, drug-and-alcohol-free environment where young people seeking recovery could hang out and socialize.
While many people are responsible for this growth and evolution, we owe special thanks to Winston Murray, 4D’s first president, who played a special role in elevating the organization and transforming our dreams into reality. His unwavering grit and commitment – demonstrated in a series of early fundraising events and community outreach efforts – resulted in 4D attracting several recovery old-timers, public officials, and government contractors. Because of Winston, 4D’s purpose began to grow.
Tony Vezina, cofounder and current Executive Director of 4D, worked with Winston to grow 4D’s mission and impact further. Soon, Tony and Winston had set the foundation upon which a transformative, first-of-its-kind organization would grow. Key stakeholders within Portland and Oregon began lending a hand, and just like that, 4D was fastened to Portland’s recovery community.
So while 4D looks very different today than it did in 2012, its primary purpose remains the same: to discover a new dimension and understanding of recovery – together.