Raise the Bottom began with a simple but powerful mission: to offer hope, healing, and a way forward for those battling addiction. Founded in 2010 by Don Tennison—known to many in the recovery community as Chicano Don—our story starts with personal passion and deep community ties. Don had firsthand experience working in an Opiate Treatment Program back in 2005 in a small Oregon town. When that program shut down due to low participation, he saw an even greater need back home in Idaho, where opiate abuse was on the rise.
Though Don didn’t have the resources at the time to start his own treatment center, fate stepped in. After the passing of his mother, Don used the inheritance she left him to turn his vision into reality—opening the very first Raise the Bottom location. His heart was always in helping others find recovery, not in the day-to-day of running a business. So, in 2013, Don passed the torch—selling the remaining shares of the business to two employees who had been there since the beginning, sharing in the mission and the work from day one. Joining Don on this journey early on was his good friend, Dr. John Stohne, a respected figure in the recovery world. Together, they laid the foundation for a program built on respect, community, and real, long-term support.
Today, Raise the Bottom continues to grow while staying true to its roots—providing accessible, compassionate treatment for those struggling with substance use disorder. We believe in meeting people where they are, without judgment, and walking beside them every step of the way. Because recovery is possible. And everyone deserves the chance to rise.
Our mission is to treat the whole person in recovery, not just the disease of addiction.
We believe that any patient who desires to change can change with the appropriate support and resources. We strive to meet the needs of our patients no matter where they are at in their walk.
We are relentless in the pursuit of patient, employee, and community excellence and work hard to continuously enhance our accessibility, safety, professionalism, and quality.
Since our founding, we’ve helped countless individuals reclaim their lives and find lasting sobriety. At Raise The Bottom, we are committed to treating every person with dignity, respect, and unwavering support as they embark on their journey to recovery.