When I was 14 years old, I had my first sip of alcohol. I was hanging out with a friend and thought it would make me look cool. By 16, I was smoking weed every day. I told myself I didn’t have a problem — it just helped me have fun and relax.
By 17, I was in psychosis, smoking whenever I got the chance throughout the day. It became my favourite hobby. I quickly started relying on it, believing I couldn’t have fun without using. I tried stopping for three months to get a surgery I needed, but I failed every time.
I moved out of my mom’s house and into a friend’s home where drugs were used daily, and where my friend was being abused. They taught me that all of this was normal — that weed was just a plant to help you relax and have fun. I believed them, and it completely changed my mindset. I was convinced I would smoke weed for the rest of my life and eventually move on to harder drugs.
Later, I moved into a group home, but I was eventually kicked out because of my drug use and behaviour. I started couch surfing again and, once I had nowhere else to go, I finally accepted that Portage was my last option.
When I arrived at Portage, I never planned on staying sober. I told myself I would at least keep using marijuana to “calm myself down,” when in reality it never calmed me — it only made me more anxious, unreliable, and impulsive. I didn’t recognize the person I became under the influence.
At first, I didn’t like the program. I thought nothing could change me. I had looked the place up online and assumed it was just like every other rehab that didn’t actually work. But now that I’ve lived it, I can tell you with 100% certainty: Portage works.
Portage helped me get sober by teaching me how to live a healthy, substance‑free lifestyle — how to take care of myself and others. Now that I’m sober, I see a real change in myself. I’ve reunited with my family. They have the old me back — and most importantly, I recognize the person in the mirror again.
I have my old hobbies back. I graduated high school, and I’m looking for jobs. I even have a new friend group that I met at Portage, and they live in my city. I will always be grateful for Portage.
Congrats on 30 years Portage Atlantic!
- Riley, alumni, Youth Centre at Cassidy Lake, New Brunswick
Leave a Reply