Portage gave us our son back

After our son overdosed, we knew he needed help — and fast — only we had no idea how to get it. We felt like we were flailing and spiraling all at the same time, so we did what most lost people do: we took to Google. Turns out, we’ve never been so thankful for search engine results in our lives — because it led us directly to Portage.

The staff at Portage were so kind and so caring from the get-go. They understood that, as parents, we had a million questions — and with absolute grace and patience, they answered every single one.

Within a week, we were dropping our child off to complete strangers, and yet we both felt comfortable and at ease — we could finally take a breath, exhale, and relax. Our son was now in the best place possible to get well. He was safe, and we both felt that he was surrounded by people who truly cared.

Now, to be honest, we were ‘a bit much’ at first and probably drove our son’s counsellor crazy with too many phone calls — and yet, she answered them all with the same kindness and grace that we had been shown by the intake staff.

Portage not only healed my son, but it helped turn him into the well-adjusted, kind, caring man that he is today. And now, when people compliment us on how great our boy is, we wink at each other, knowing that, really, it wasn’t us. It was the hard work he himself put into an incredibly proven program — and the counsellors who led him to the finish line of Portage — that made him so great.

Even long after he had ‘graduated’ from Portage, the aftercare gave him an outlet to speak confidentially with counsellors and other graduates about the highs and lows of being a sober teen.

Oh, and the family group? Attend it. Trust us — you have no idea how badly you need it until you do!

We are forever in debt to Portage and its staff (you are only as good as your staff). They truly gave us our family back — and for that, we will be timelessly grateful.

Jaymee and Mark, Family Support Group Program, Portage Atlantic, 2025