The success of Northlands has been based on two major insights of the founding group:

• That you cannot work with the problem (drinker, drug-user, gambler or person with eating problems) unless you also look at the way the whole community approaches drink (drugs, betting, eating etc.).
  
  
  
• People in trouble don't always need expensively trained people to help them. People with similar experiences can help each other. Individuals with the wisdom gained from having overcome major problems have much to offer others going through similar problems.