THIS week has been an extremely sad one as our community lost one of its finest members. Mr. Clarence Young, the founder and coordinator of the Phoenix Recovery Project, passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2017. He was a loving husband and father of two.

I would like to dedicate this piece to him and his invaluable work in Guyana.
Mr. Young was a pillar in the substance abuse field and is responsible for the recovery of hundreds of people. He was an inspiration to even more –myself included.
Although born and raised in Trinidad, Mr. Young was everything I love about Guyana. He was compassionate, understanding, inspiring and forgiving. He cared only about two things – to better the lives of every addict who entered the doors of Phoenix and to educate everyone else on addiction and how they can help.
He never did it for praise, recognition or support which is a good thing as he rarely received any from those he should have.

Mr. Young, a grateful recovering addict himself, was the most knowledgeable person about substance use and recovery in Guyana. He taught me something new every time I spoke to him. I believe his own past gave him invaluable knowledge which he only used for good. When he successfully became sober in 1991 after years of illicit substance use, he decided to dedicate his life to helping others do the same. He started training to become a drug counsellor and studied addiction at the University of West Indies.

In 1995, Mr. Young was invited to Guyana to facilitate a drop-in clinic. Someone suggested that he make a more permanent move as there was not sufficient treatment for addiction at the time. Thankfully for us, he agreed and permanently moved to Guyana shortly after.
Upon his arrival, Mr. Young got involved with Guyana’s first structured drug rehabilitation treatment programme at Prashad’s Hospital. Then, in 1996, he designed and implemented the Salvation Army’s Drug treatment programme.

In 2000, his own mission, Phoenix Recovery Project, opened its doors. It is an inpatient centre which means clients live at the facility and work together to become sober and remain abstinent. Phoenix was awarded the Silver Medal of Service after they dedicated over 10 years to good public, government and industry service within our society. It is also the only inpatient centre which admits both men and women in Guyana. If one does not want to live in, they offer community meetings which anyone can attend on the following days:
Alcoholics Anonymous: Tuesday’s 18:00 hrs- 19:30hrs
Cocaine Anonymous: Thursday’s 18:00 hrs- 19:30hrs
Narcotics Anonymous: Sunday’s 18:30 hrs- 20:00hrs

I have worked with Phoenix for more than four years and while I believe Mr. Young is Phoenix and Phoenix is Mr. Young, I know many people – of course, myself included- who will work tirelessly to ensure that the programme successfully lives on.
Based on his level of understanding and positivity, I know Mr. Young would have wanted me to talk about getting help. If you feel as though you, a friend or family member has a problem with drugs or alcohol, you/they are not alone. A substantial number of people in Guyana have issues with substance use and subsequently correlating mental illnesses or suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The first thing to do is accept that you may have a problem.

Do you often think about using drugs or alcohol?
Do you use it despite it interfers with your daily activities?
Do you become intoxicated most of the times you use?
Do you feel guilty when you do?
Have you lost interest in any activities that do not involve this substance use?
Has anyone ever expressed concern about your use?

If the answers to most of these are yes, then you may have a problem with your substance use.
If you do, please visit your nearest health centre and share your concerns. You can also come into GPHC, psychiatric clinic to see me or attend the available community health meetings.
Brickdam Presbytery
Tuesdays – 19:30hrs-21:00hrs
Fridays and Sundays- 18:30hrs – 20:00hrs
These are group sessions where you can go and share your concerns with other individuals who have issues with drugs and alcohol.

Based on his level of forgiveness, I know Mr. Young would have wanted me to talk about relapses and not losing hope and faith. If you have been attempting to become sober and having an issue doing so, you are also not alone. The average person will relapse (start back using the substance) three to five times before successfully quitting their substance of choice.
Mr. Young believed it is never too late for recovery with one of his favourite quotes being “To use is to lose.”
If anyone is interested in contacting Phoenix Recovery Project, you can do so at 220-6825 or visit 90 Block C Mon Repos.
I hope we all take today to remember Mr. Young for the invaluable work he did within our community and for his kind and inspiring nature. May we all do a good deed in his name today.
Gone but never ever forgotten

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com
Or come in to see me at:
Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department:
Monday- Friday – 8am- 12pm
Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department
Drug and Alcohol group meetings – Mondays 16:15 hrs
Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 16:15 hrs
Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896

Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always