In my last series of articles I told the story about my son, Gage. He was hooked on opioids: Oxycontin, heroin and then fentanyl.

He was addicted for many years. The good news is Gage has been clean and sober for six years. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 doing great. He needed a lot of support. There are different kinds of support an addict or alcoholic will need, especially when they are just starting their recovery journey.

Without ongoing support, very few addicts stay sober. (When I talk about addicts, I also mean alcoholics.) People in recovery need good support. They need help from others. It is very rare for people to recover on their own. A good start on the healing journey is joining a recovery program.

There are different types of recovery programs. One program that has been around for years is Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. Another good program is Narcotics Anonymous, or NA. We have both groups in Yellowknife. These are great programs. They are free and they really work.

Anybody can join an AA group at anytime. There is no wait list. There are no forms to fill out. No one has to call and make an appointment. There is at least one meeting every day in Yellowknife. Other communities may have fewer meetings. When I lived in Inuvik, we had three meetings per week.

These programs have helped many people heal from addiction and trauma. AA and NA groups are made up of addicts supporting each other. There are no paid professionals. There are no uncomfortable questions. No one is judged. There are men and women from all walks of life, from different backgrounds and different cultures.

These programs follow the SA国际影视传媒�12 steps.SA国际影视传媒� This is why these programs are called 12-step programs. These groups are anonymous, which means everything said in the group remains confidential. Privacy is respected. No gossiping allowed. SA国际影视传媒淲hatSA国际影视传媒檚 said in Vegas, stays in Vegas!SA国际影视传媒� Gossip keeps people stuck in addiction and trauma. If you want to know what the 12 steps are and how they work, you can drop in to a meeting. Even if you are not in recovery, you can attend any SA国际影视传媒渙penSA国际影视传媒� meeting. There will be lots of support. There is usually a list of groups in the Northern United Place 5403 Franklin Avenue. You can also go online for more information.

Other types of programs are SA国际影视传媒渞esidential treatment programs.SA国际影视传媒� These are live-in programs. You get a bed and every day you attend groups, teaching sessions, and other activities. These are run by professional staff, including addiction specialists, counsellors, doctors, nurses, etc. To join, you usually need to talk to a counsellor, wellness worker or social worker.

These programs are promoted by Health and Social Services. We do not have a residential treatment program in the NWT. At least not yet. You will have to fly south to Alberta or B.C. These programs are intense, but they really work. Once you have been accepted into a residential program, the counsellor will help get you prepared. There may be a wait time because a bed must become available. They are very expensive, but the GNWT usually picks up the tab for any Northern resident. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a great start to recovery for those who complete the program.

Another type of program is a SA国际影视传媒渢raditional healing program.SA国际影视传媒� These are often SA国际影视传媒渙n-the-landSA国际影视传媒� camps. In Yellowknife, we have a healing camp behind the Fieldhouse on Kam Lake Road. It is run by the Arctic Indigenous Healing Foundation. In the communities, healing camps are often run by the local band or municipality. Inuvik will soon start regular programming at their newly refurbished GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Wellness Camp. This is great news!

People in recovery also need spiritual support. This is usually a part of all the programs I just mentioned above. People in recovery need to make contact with a SA国际影视传媒渉igher power.SA国际影视传媒� A higher power could be God, the Creator, the ancestors, or simply "love." Connecting with a higher power may include a return to Indigenous traditions and practices. Spiritual support can also include attending a church, prayer group or a meditation group. All these supports are important for long-term recovery.

People in recovery also need supportive family and friends, and they need a supportive community. This is super important! Communities need leaders who are good examples and who will promote recovery. The good news is I have attended many community events where our courageous leaders have spoken openly about their own healing journeys. I have heard these leaders SA国际影视传媒� good men and women, Inuvialuit, GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n, Dene, Metis and other folk too SA国际影视传媒� speak about their recovery. These are the role models who can lead the way. Our youth, especially, need positive role models.

I thank my higher power, my Creator, for my sonSA国际影视传媒檚 recovery. Gage got the support he needed, and he kicked his habit. For any parent or grandparent, there is hope. Keep praying. There are supports. There are good people who want to help. There are people in recovery who turn around and help others. Gage is proof that a new life is possible. Today he is alive, happy and free from addiction.

Quyanainni. Miigwech. Mahsi Cho.