REGINA – Michael Smith’s life has been full of change in recent months with a new baby and a new home. Looking at everything he has now, he knows he has come a long way from his days and nights of doing drugs.
“Today, I don’t even recognize who I was,” said Smith, 23.
His addiction began at the age of 12 with marijuana. It progressed to alcohol, and then to harder drugs like crystal meth.
“I remember talking to my girlfriend at the time, saying we’d only do it once a month because we knew it was bad,” explained Smith. “But the next day I bought more without her knowing, the next day, I convinced my buddy of mine to get it, did that.”
Smith’s life was falling apart. He lost his job and ruined relationships with friends and family. That’s when he realized he needed help. Smith went to a treatment centre then joined a 12-step program and is now four-and-a-half years clean.
“I’m extremely grateful, there’s no way I could’ve done it without that,” said Smith.
He is not alone. Many people in Saskatchewan are looking for help, whether at one of the province’s treatment beds or attending counselling.
In 2008-09 there were 23,000 admissions for alcohol and drug services in Saskatchewan. In 2011-12 the number jumped to 34,000.
Provincial addiction services director Kathy Willerth says that does not necessarily mean addictions are on the rise.
“We don’t have any evidence that there are more people addicted, but what we do know is there are many more services available, and some in particular services that people might access them many more times than just once,” explained Willerth.
Smith does believe more people are getting involved in drugs just based on what he has seen around him over the years. He even goes as far as to provide a type of halfway house for people leaving therapy.
“The key is to find something stronger than the drugs, more powerful than the drugs,” said Smith.
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