DURING many of my drug recovery sessions in the last two weeks, I have seen many users who feel hopeless and helpless in their own drug recovery. They seem to believe that total abstinence will never be possible. I am sure that many of you out there do not seek treatment (at all) simply because you feel this way. I decided to share my favourite success story with the intention of providing you all with hope, confidence and assurance in your own recovery.

Today, I am going to talk about Sandra (last name omitted by request) who describes herself as “a very grateful recovering addict.”
Today she is a house mother at Phoenix Recovery Project (a drug rehab facility in Mon Repos, Guyana), bringing hope, inspiration and care to many addicts in recovery. However, this was not always the case – she, at one point, needed more help than most.

Sandra was not very interested in drugs growing up. Unlike most, her curiosity for them came later in life. During her teens, 20s and 30s, she would take the occasional alcoholic drink, cigarettes and marijuana. She looked after her two younger sisters, as well as five children of her own in Plaisance (ECD). She had split from her partner but received help from her sisters to raise her own children – and they were doing quite a good job.

At age 40, a very unusual age to start new substance use, one night and literally a one-time use of crack-cocaine changed everything. Sandra went to see a family friend who had parcels of crack-cocaine as he had intended to ship them out of Guyana. He offered her a taste since she had never tried it before. Sandra claimed that curiosity got the best of her and so she tried a small amount. That night after she went home, she grabbed some money, and went to find someone who sold crack-cocaine; that very same night, she became hooked.

Sandra is a perfect example of the still controversial gateway theory which claims that less potent/dangerous drugs lead to more harmful and added use. For example, someone who smokes marijuana is more likely to try crack-cocaine than someone who does not. Sandra believes in this theory as her use went from alcohol to cigarettes to marijuana to crack cocaine.

QUICK DECLINE
After a few months, like anyone would be after repeated drug use, Sandra became an absent family member. She had stopped looking after her children while her sisters were bathing, feeding, putting them to sleep and taking them to school. Sandra was too preoccupied with obtaining and using crack-cocaine to do anything for her family. A few months after that, Sandra started to sell her personal belongings for her drug habit.

When those ran out, she started to sell everything in the house that they all lived in. She sold everything, from lamps to the stove. She claims that no one in the family stopped her as they had all become afraid of her and her outbursts. She had a boyfriend living at home during that time who was bothered by her use. He asked her to stop but she was “too far gone”. She remembers that he started moving his belongings out slowly until one day she noticed that he was completely gone.

When nothing but four walls, her two sisters and five children were left in the house, Sandra moved out as she had literally nothing left to sell. She left her children with their aunts and went to live in the closest cemetery where she thought she’d have full freedom- with no one to take care of but herself. It only took a year and a half of drug use for her to lose everything she had.

While living in the cemetery/on the street, Sandra claimed to do any and everything for the money to subsidise her habit. She stole from random people’s yards or cars-as well as her own family. She especially stole fruits (mostly mangoes) from people’s yards to sell. She worked “street jobs” such as washing clothes, cleaning gutters and even removed dead animals from properties.

She remembers a time when she was almost killed because of her stealing habit. One evening, during an attempt to steal a car battery, the owner came out with a gun. He put the gun to her head and when she suddenly bent down, the gun went off. She claims that she was terrified but not enough to stop stealing or using drugs. Every dollar Sandra made went towards cigarettes and crack-cocaine- she recalls only occasionally buying juice with the money- but doesn’t recall eating during her time on the streets. She remembers how many people, particularly men, used to trouble her on the street. They would do anything from screaming at her to physically abusing her. She actually remembers getting beaten up a lot on the street.

THINGS GOT WORSE
Fast forward to a few months, she was now living with a man in Albouystown who was also a crack-cocaine addict. This man was responsible for her first serious injury during her drug use. She recalls one day receiving money from her street work and naturally, spending it all on crack-cocaine. Her boyfriend found her and asked for some. When she said no, he started to become angry and demanded the drugs. When she further refused, he hit her so hard in the eye that her pupil was blown.

She is still blinded in her left eye today. At the time, she tried to report the incident to the police but claimed that police never took her seriously and always chased her out of the stations as they referred to her as “junkie on the road”. However, she does remember spending many nights in jail for her crack use and stealing habit.

Her second injury was a broken hand from falling out of a mango tree, trying to steal mangoes. Sandra never sought any medical treatment for her injuries, as all of her time and money went to obtaining and using crack- cocaine. She vaguely remembers using Aloe Vera, which she obtained naturally, for both injuries. She mainly felt she had nowhere to go as her entire support system (family and friends) had stopped speaking to her.

SANDRA’S RECOVERY
Sandra mentioned that she had seen Malcom Ferreira, a family friend, during her time living on the streets. He would always offer her rehabilitation help and give her money. However, she would use it to buy more crack cocaine. Sandra had no interest in getting help at that time, despite her disastrous situation.

One day, Malcom tricked her to go with him to see Phoenix Recovery Centre. He told Sandra that he was going to take her to her daughter. Sandra knew he was going to take her to get help after but agreed to go anyway, as she believed her daughter would give her some money and then she would run away again. She did attempt but luckily did not escape Malcom. She remembers her first thought on the drive up to Phoenix on the September9 2008, after more than 15 years on the street. She passed a lot of mango trees and thought that when she escaped from rehab, she would “be able to steal all the people mangos and go sell them to buy crack.” She thought “this is actually good for business”.
When she arrived at Phoenix, she remembers being overwhelmed with the kindness that she received from the staff.

She was greeted at the gate by Miss Lucinda Williams (head counsellor) who hugged and kissed her on her forehead. She remembers thinking no one has touched her with compassion for years. Williams asked her what she wanted to eat or drink- that she can have anything. Sandra asked for chicken fried rice and a sweet drink- thinking that it was probably too much. She received just that, much to her surprise. She then remembers taking a tour of the building, a shower and then being shown to her room. Her thoughts at the time were that “recovery can’t be that bad. There are food, drink and a bed. Let me give this a try”.

After two and a half years in recovery, Sandra was sober, grateful and decided to go find some friends she had on the street while using. She wanted to offer them the recovery that she was offered- to pay it forward. Sandra said her closest friends had passed away and she then realised how close to death she was.

Today, at age 65, Sandra is nine years into recovery- without a single relapse! That is almost unheard of and shows tremendous strength and pride. Over the years she earned back the respect and trust from her family and gained many friends. Her children and grandchildren come often to visit her at Phoenix- where currently she looks after seven women and is a daily inspiration to many.

When I asked Sandra if she had any last comments, she stated “I would like to thank the following people who were instrumental in my recovery- Malcom Ferreira, Colleen Emanuel, Michelle, the team at Phoenix Recovery Project and all remaining family members.” She further stated, “There is hope…recovery is possible but you have to want it for yourself. Help is available.”

Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. Also please remember when you can come see me.

Georgetown Public Hospital: Monday- Friday – 8am- 12pm
Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department
Drug and Alcohol group meetings – Mondays 4:00pm
Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 4:00pm

Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896
Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!