First Nations female speaks about being 13 years free of substance abuse

This piece was written by guest author Geri B.

My name is Geri B., and I’m a First Nations female in long term recovery, abstinent from drugs and alcohol since June 7, 2004.

My Red Road journey began at an alcohol and drug treatment facility focused on substance use disorder and recovery. It was with courage and compassion that my family sought help from medical professionals and successfully convinced me to seek help.

To me, my life seemed somewhat normal: using substances to oblivion daily. I couldn’t see the harmful behaviour that came along with my disease. Yes, disease. Substance use disorder is a medically diagnosable illness.

Essentially, the addiction disorder that I was diagnosed with, which I came to understand was why I was living my life with wreckless abandon; needed to be treated with a multifaceted methodology of healing.

The medical model explained that I suffered from an illness to which there was no known cure, but there was however a way to recover from a hopeless state of mind and body. I learned that with support, and a holistic method of healing that included the psychological, biological, sociological, and spiritual interventions, methods, and practices, I could evolve out of my sickness.

After several months of medical treatment that included an introduction to the 12-step programs, educational sessions, shared spiritual knowledge, the science of addiction, and many other helpful pieces of information such as relapse prevention and how to obtain mentors and use resources in the recovery community to help me stay clean and sober I managed to move from institutionalization to a life worth living without drugs and alcohol.

My revived journey has taken me to places in my life and in my career I could only have ever dreamed of. Not only are my dreams realistic but highly attainable.

If this story sparks your interest then make sure you get tickets to the Recovery Capital Conference before they sell out.

See also

• Could Vancouver benefit from drug decriminalization?
• Award-nominated author shares his story of battling with addiction
• This doctor shares his secret of recovering from addiction

Recovery Capital Conference 

When: September 7 and 8
Where: The Anvil Centre in New Westminster
Price: $499 – Tickets available via Eventbrite

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