The recovery community marks success stories

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – Lethbridge Herald on October 24, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams speaks to the media along with Bruce Holstead, executive director of Fresh Start Recovery about what the province is doing to help Albertans have success on your recovery journey Wednesday at Lethbridge Recovery Community.

LETHBRIDGE HERALD[email protected]

Taking the first step isn’t always the easiest thing to do. For those looking to take the first step into addiction recovery, it can be even more difficult, but over the past year, Lethbridge’s recovery community has helped more than a hundred Albertans not only take this first step, but to stay on the road to recovery.

Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, spoke to reporters Wednesday about what the provincial government is doing to help those struggling with addiction right here in Lethbridge.

“This is community recovery in action and the truth is that every individual that walks through these doors means another life that had a chance to recover,” Williams said.

He said the center has helped more than 110 Albertans in the past year and they expect that number to reach 200 next year.

“Alberta deeply believes that all Albertans deserve a chance at recovery, that they have dignity and that facilitating addiction is not the way forward, that health care should build healing people who are in crisis and help people with addiction, which means recovery, treatment and a second life,” Williams said.

And that’s exactly what it means to Bryson North Peigan, a current client at the recovery facility who told the media that being there for the past 7.5 months has literally saved his life.

“Before I started again, I was on the streets, in and out of jail and dying and overdosing all the time. This place has given me a whole new opportunity in life to do things I never thought I would be able to do,” said North Peigan.

He said he never felt like he belonged anywhere and thought he would die alone on the streets, but thanks to the recovery program he sees the opportunity as a second chance at life and doesn’t take anything for granted.

Bruce Holstead, executive director of Fresh Start Recovery, said that over the past year, they’ve seen lives change and it’s all because of the model they’ve been able to follow.

“The model is a long-term model is a little bit different than your traditional 28-day, 90-day program. So there’s some involvement, so the organic growth will continue along the way, giving them big possibilities,” Holstead said.

Sean Perry, a current client who has been at the center for 38 days as of Wednesday, said the ability to stay longer than other places is what has made the difference in his recovery journey.

“Not only does the longevity of your stay give you more time and space to accept what’s going on with your life, but when you leave here there are so many resources, you’re connected, and it’s a warm handover.” Perry said.

When discussing the model, Williams said the province didn’t come back from the action model until the United Conservative Party came into government in 2019, and since then they’ve focused their efforts on building capacity.

“Our goal is wherever someone is, to give them the opportunity to recover, not to facilitate addiction, but to help them live a full life as a mother or sibling and other family member, again as a member of the community,” Williams said. .

He said his approach is to try to address the addiction with the individual, get them treatment, give them a chance at recovery.

“We will also introduce a law in the legislature next year called compassionate intervention. For those where there is no longer the ability for someone to freely choose to seek this addiction treatment, when they are a danger to themselves or others because of his addiction,” Williams said.

He explained that compassionate intervention will allow society to compassionately intervene on their behalf to compel these people to be treated.

And as for the location, North Peigan said being able to be out of town has played a key role in his recovery since he’s no longer able to go out and find someone to get drugs from.

“Being out in the city where you don’t have to worry about that and you can forget about all your outside concerns for a while and focus on the things you need to focus on to get better is something amazing,” North Peigan said.

For those looking to take the first step toward recovery, Perry and North Peigan have encouraging words.

“Absolutely nobody walks through these doors on a winning streak. It’s hard to look at certain parts of yourself, but you know you’re more than accepted, more than welcome here,” Perry said.

He said the first day he walked through those doors, he was welcomed with open arms, literally. He got lots of hugs and said it was very therapeutic for someone who has been lonely for a long time.

“This is life-saving stuff. You matter, your life matters. We all make mistakes, but we can take responsibility here and there are so many resources here that you can apply to your life, so come forward. You matter, you are important,” Perry said.

North Peigan said he was very scared to take the first step towards recovery, but when he did, he was very happy and felt very welcomed by everyone.

“I say if you’re scared, take the plunge and everything will fall into place,” North Peigan said.

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