My son, Gage, was a heroin addict for over 10 years.
He got hooked when he was living in Ottawa and going to university. He was hit by a guy in a Jeep and broke both legs. As he was healing from his injuries, he was prescribed OxyContin for the pain. I thank God for the doctors, nurses, hospitals and good pain medication. But Gage made some bad choices. My son went from using prescription painkillers to using street drugs. This is part three of GageSA国际影视传媒檚 story.
I comforted myself knowing Gage was a safe user. He was also very functional and worked two jobs. He was never homeless. This was because he was in a methadone program. Every day on his way to work, he stopped at a methadone clinic and took his medicine. This allowed him to function, work and pay his bills. He used the SA国际影视传媒渉ard stuffSA国际影视传媒� after hours. I am very grateful for those who operate these programs. They take a SA国际影视传媒渉arm reductionSA国际影视传媒� approach. This bought my son time and kept him alive for years.
But then I started to read about the many people who were dying from drug overdoses. There was an SA国际影视传媒渙pioid epidemic.SA国际影视传媒� My son was now in the middle of this national tragedy. Opioids include the very powerful and very deadly drug fentanyl. It was in everything. I worried about Gage. I wondered if he could really be safe enough. The drug scene was also being taken over by violent gangs. These younger, gangster SA国际影视传媒渨annabesSA国际影视传媒� didnSA国际影视传媒檛 care about anyone. It was time for me to act. I had to intervene. I asked Gage if he wanted to leave Ottawa and come to the NWT. He said yes.
At the time, I was working for the GNWT as the mental health supervisor in Inuvik. The opioid crisis was only just starting to hit the North. We were sending many addicts and alcoholics to treatment centres in Alberta, B.C. and Ontario. Going south had its pros and cons. The addicts and alcoholics got away from the drug dealers and bootleggers. It was a break from the community. It was a chance for a new start.
Addicts (or alcoholics) who completed treatment did well. They made new friends and started to deal with the underlying issues. They gained some tools for the hard work of recovery. They found a new start. As they say in 12 step groups, SA国际影视传媒渋t works if you work it.SA国际影视传媒� They returned to their communities excited about their new life.
Support necessary
Recovery works but it takes lots of support. Some communities had an Alcoholic Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous group. Others found support in their church, prayer groups, traditional healing camps, counsellors, Elders, nurses, doctors, etc. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 all good. Staying connected meant they could continue their journey of recovery.
On the other hand, some who went south did not have a good experience. They got homesick and returned before they finished the program. This is understandable. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a very big step to go from Sachs Harbour to Calgary. A small hamlet on the tundra to the big city. Sometimes we had to send people to treatment twice, three or even four times. Our hope was always, SA国际影视传媒淢aybe this time something will click,SA国际影视传媒� and full recovery will start.
Others, who were facing a court case, wanted to go to treatment so they would not go to jail. They would check out of the program after a couple of days and head for the streets. There, they met friends and other addicts. Things went from bad to worse. They did not SA国际影视传媒渇all through the cracks.SA国际影视传媒� They jumped into the cracks with both feet. But we all make mistakes. Usually, many mistakes. Addicts make the same mistakes over and over again. I know the pattern because I am a recovered addict.
Addicts eventually lose the power to choose. They become powerless. This is when they really need help, but they have to want the help and be ready. The good news is itSA国际影视传媒檚 never too late to get help and change. But the excuses must stop. Gage really wanted help. He was ready to change. Now back to GageSA国际影视传媒檚 story.
My son was true to his word. He finally arrived in Inuvik. Before Gage left the Inuvik airport, he was offered a job by a good friend from the SA国际影视传媒業gloo church.SA国际影视传媒� Now Gage would have something to do. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 important in recovery SA国际影视传媒� keeping busy. The people of Inuvik were very caring and they supported Gage all the way.
He camped on my couch. He started work at the local Home Hardware. The owners were supportive. Gage did great and he enjoyed working and living among the local Inuvialuit, GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n, Metis, English, French and settlers from all over the world. I really did not have to worry because the people of the Delta were so welcoming.
EveryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 journey of recovery is different. For Gage, life was different in Inuvik. It was a fresh start. We went to many community events together. He was in the SA国际影视传媒渉oneymoon phaseSA国际影视传媒� of recovery. But after four months, Gage was getting homesick. He missed his girlfriend. He told me he was feeling stronger and ready to go home. But four months is not a lot of sober time. I was concerned, to say the least. I did not want to lose my son now that he was so close a full recovery, but I understood about being homesick. Would Gage go back to Ottawa and relapse? Would I ever see my son again?
Stay tuned for part four of GageSA国际影视传媒檚 story.
SA国际影视传媒擠arrell Taylor is a retired mental health professional who has lived in the NWT and Nunavut for 20 years. He is originally from Ontario and is a member of the North Bay/Mattawa Algonquins.
