On that November morning in 1999, Kent Logan had no intention of admitting himself into recovery for his alcoholic addiction.
He was at the peak of his professional life; he had just sold a company and was retiring for the second time. Kent and his wife, Vicki, were also amassing one of the world’s most impressive contemporary art collections.
Although Kent’s material success appeared plentiful, many did not see the internal downward spiral he was suffering — and how he used alcohol to self-medicate.
“I knew I was an alcoholic,” says Kent. “I knew if I kept drinking the way I do, it would kill me, but I didn’t care.” And that’s the nature of addiction; he explains, “It’s not a failure of willpower, it’s a disease of the spirit. It’s a genetic disease, and it really is a form of insanity.”
Kent doesn’t know what caused his moment of clarity that day when he agreed to enter a recovery program. At the time, Kent and Vicki were living in San Francisco. As soon as he answered that he would, Vicki and his friend quickly found a 28-day program in Sonoma, California.
“Once I got there, I understood very quickly that I had to stop drinking if I wanted to live. And so I did, and actually, it’s now been 22 years of sobriety.”
Finding a Home in the Valley
After years of visiting the Vail Valley from New York to spend the winter months skiing here, Kent and Vicki purchased their first residence in Vail in 1994 when Kent first retired. In 2000, they built a home in Potato Patch, which included a large detached gallery that held a portion of their immense art collection.
Although the couple has officially hung up their skis — now spending winters in Arizona and summers in the mountains — Vail’s strong sense of community continues to draw them in.
The Logans now live in Arrowhead for less snow and to be closer to golf, a sport they have grown passionate about after their years on the slopes ended.
Help is Available
When Kent learned about Vail Health’s Eagle Valley Behavioral Health’s (EVBH) efforts to raise awareness for local resources and support around alcoholism and substance abuse, he knew he wanted to be involved.
“Alcoholism is an insidious disease, and it’s so painful for anyone close to the alcoholic. You see the destruction that they’re creating, you see them ruining their lives and relationships daily, but there is nothing you can do. You can only be there when that person finally crashes and says, ‘I give up. I’ll do anything.’”
For Kent, spreading greater awareness of how pervasive the disease is and the local resources available in the community is crucial — so that when someone hits rock bottom, help is there.
Support for Alcoholism, Addiction, and Substance Abuse
To support EVBH’s ongoing commitment to addressing alcoholism, addiction, and substance abuse in the valley, Vicki and Kent committed a generous estate gift to the It Takes A Valley: Transforming Behavioral Health campaign.
Thanks to philanthropy from people like the Logans, Vail Health and EVBH can connect community members experiencing addiction or substance abuse with the support they need, such as local therapists, healthcare facilities for recovery, and medically assisted and traditional addiction treatment. Olivia’s Fund provides up to six free therapy sessions per year for anyone living or working in Eagle County who demonstrates a basic financial need.
Your Hope Center, a nonprofit partner of EVBH, has a 24/7 line at (970) 306-4673 for those in crisis needing immediate clinical assistance. They also offer a Community Stabilization Program with a licensed addiction specialist.
Vail Health’s centrally-located Edwards Community Health Campus will include in-patient and out-patient behavioral health facilities providing even more specialized services close to home for those with mental health and substance abuse disorders. Construction is expected to begin in summer 2022.
Living With the Glass Half Full
“I drank to escape a distorted reality. The disease will magnify anything negative in your life and take everything positive for granted,” shares Kent. “It’s an exaggeration of the glass half empty instead of half full. As that distortion of reality keeps closing in, you’re drawn more and more into yourself in a very isolated, circular way of thinking.”
Kent hopes that sharing his story will help others understand the disease, especially family members struggling to find ways to support their loved ones through alcoholism.
“You can’t force an alcoholic into recovery, but you can provide support,” Kent explains. “People can regain control, learn to manage alcoholism, and enjoy their lives. This isn’t a death sentence. There is hope and reprieve.”
If you or a loved one is in crisis and need help, call Your Hope Center at (970) 306-4673. View more addiction resources and programs with Eagle Valley Behavioral Health community partners.
“Dramatic progress has been made in a very short time, thanks to the efforts of Vail Health’s Eagle Valley Behavioral Health. It’s nothing short of miraculous.”Kent Logan