Substance use had taken over my life and I lost everything

Before coming to Portage, I was an alcoholic and I resorted to drugs that I would use everyday. Substance use had taken over my life and slowly but surely, I started to lose everything. My family did not recognize me anymore, my addiction was affecting my ability to work and keep a job, and I had surrounded myself with toxic people I called friends.

My days would revolve around my addictions. If I wasn’t drinking, I was using drugs. I tried many times to stop on my own but failed to do so. For the past 10 years, this vicious cycle kept on repeating itself. It got at a point that I didn’t have any hope that I could ever quit and take charge of my life.

In 2017, I started the Portage Daycare program of 4 weeks but decided not to go into the in-patient program at Lac Echo. I was sober for about 2 months, then I relapsed. This time, I came to Portage and decided to do the in-patient program for 6 months at Portage the Mental health and addiction program.

Doing the in-patient program at TSTM is a completely different experience that I am fortunate enough to be a part of. First, it has taught me that for people that have addictions, it is impossible to tell ourselves that we can just transfer our drug of choice to something else.

Doing the program was a challenge at first, integrating into the structure and starting to open up about my life. Although as the days passed by, I started having a new outlook towards my future. Waking up at 6:45am everyday, and being part of a routine and a community, we learn how to better ourselves. I have learned how to identify and work on my behaviours, by using the tools of the program.

I have understood more about myself at Portage that I have in the past years. The program allowed me to recognize everything that needs to change to stay sober and give up my addictions.

Portage is a therapy that follows an orderly structure which allows for a person struggling with substance use to change and improve their daily habits. We learn to be more organised and take on responsibilities. Helping each other grow, we adapt to being a part of and contributing to a great community. We take time to plan activities that show us how to reintegrate into society in a sane way.

I would recommend this program to anyone that is struggling with alcohol and substance use issues. It is a safe and well-organized environment that is best suited to people like me that also struggle with a mental health diagnosis as well.

Portage Mental Health and Addiction program changes lives.

Kamsha, Mental Health and Addiction program, 2023