Pubdate: Tue, 20 Nov 2007
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2007 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Kerry Benjoe, Saskatchewan News Network

SUPPORT SYSTEM KEY TO RECOVERY: EX-ADDICT

REGINA -- Youth addiction can be difficult for a family, but with a 
strong support system it's possible for young people to recover.

No one knows what the recovery process is like better than Michelle, 
a recovering crystal meth addict. She is now using her experience to 
help others deal with addictions.

"Families need to support each other and love each other and get help 
for the whole family," said Michelle, whose last name was withheld to 
protect her identity.

Michelle told her story to a group of parents who participated in a 
four-part addiction awareness series hosted by the Regina Qu'Appelle 
Health Region's Addiction Services.

"The way I see it is my mom gave me the gift of life and the way I 
live my life is my gift to her. I never really looked at it like that 
before because I was too selfish," said Michelle.

She didn't always have that perspective. Michelle began experimenting 
with drugs at an early age and dropped out of high school in Grade 
10. She began drinking alcohol by the age 13 and in the matter of a 
couple of years she was using a variety of drugs. Michelle said as a 
teenager she was searching for the love and attention that she felt 
was missing in her life.

Her life took a dramatic turn at the age of 23 when she tried crystal meth.

"The first time I tried it I was addicted," said Michelle. "It was 
different from all other drugs I had ever done, because before drugs 
and alcohol was a lifestyle for me. Crystal meth was the first time I 
couldn't live without it."

For the next three years her life revolved around her addiction as it 
spiralled out of control and she slowly lost friends and family. When 
she reached her lowest point it was her mom who stepped in and helped 
her on the road to recovery. She said it wasn't easy, but her mother 
never gave up on her. Together they found a way out and now Michelle 
is using her story to give some hope to parents.

"It took me six months to get into rehab and I was a crystal meth 
addict, which was very disappointing. It is something I hope changes 
in the future for other people because crystal meth is a very hard 
drug to get off," Michelle said, adding she wouldn't have been able 
to stay on her path to recovery without her mother's unwavering support.

"I just wish we had more resources to help families with this. We 
need to as a community pull our pants up and help people. I'm 
definitely one of the lucky ones because I had a mom who loved me. 
When I didn't love myself my mom loved me."

It has taken some time and Michelle still attends Narcotics Anonymous 
meetings. Now she is speaking out about addiction and is hoping her 
story will help others.

"I thought if I put as much effort into changing my life as I did 
screwing it up then I can't do half bad," said Michelle.

Not only was she able to overcome her addiction she has decided to 
dedicate her life to helping others and is now a second-year social 
work student at the University of Regina. Her proudest moment to date 
was on Thursday when she received 98 per cent on an essay assignment 
for one of her classes.

"I just learned that if you want to help yourself you have to do 
things for other people," said Michelle. "I spend a lot of time 
trying to help other people."

Although she feels more services are needed to treat addiction she's 
happy with what Addiction Services is doing by hosting information sessions.

"We present a way of looking at addictions in such a way that parents 
are empowered to take a look at what they are doing so that they can 
parent smarter and not parent harder," explained addictions 
counsellor Don Fitzsimmons.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart