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8 - hdanaidian Champion, Tuesday, September -12, 20 00 *01 mpùrn L£ ohwr Halton Recovery House celebrates milestone By IRENE GENTLE The Champion August 26 was a double celebration for Rick Moir, but the glass he hoisted was filled with just coffee, juice or water. That day marked the 25th anniversary of Halton Recovery House (HRH), a residence for men recovering from drug and aicohol abuse. But il also highiighted a personal triumph for Mr. Moir, a HRH intake worker who went through the 90-day program some rive years ago and has been clean and sober since. For those who have managed to kick an addiction, every sober day is a celebration. And there's a lot more of those men since HRI- began heiping maies aged 25 to 60 [rom acroso the province gain control again. It does so by olfeéring theru a place to stay with rules, pienty of structure and ioads of counseiling and peer support. The non-protit bouse iocated on Traflgar Road north of Hwy. 401 bas eight staff members and is funded largely through the United Way. tndividuais can refer themselves to the progrors, or referrols can be made tbrough community agencies, legal professionais, doctors or industry. Once a resident is accepted, ail be needs to bring aiông is a desire for a different life. "Reaiiy ail we're looking for is a willingness to change," Mr. Moir. -We'il work witb that." For many residents, HRH represents a final shot ai patcbing up lives wom painlully thin by a reliance on drugs, aicobol or both. "We deai wiih a lot of men wbo' vc gone tbmougb other treat- ment centres," said Mr. Moir. "We're aiways cbailenging thers to keep doing the work necessary for change." Those who don't are asked politely to Icave. Others exit the 21 - bcd residence on their own stcam, unable to deai witb a buit so strong it màde substance use seem enticing in the firsi place. "By the time tbey gel bere, they've closed off 10 famiiy and friends. They gel selfisb, thinking only oftheroseives," said Mr. Moir. The program steadily erodes that self-absorption, teacbing residents bow to open up, share, and uitimately love. In the bouse, bonds are developed. The men begin speaking of thingo they'd kept locked up in somne dark place before. "It's painlul. It's an emotionai pain," said Mr. Moir. "For so long they baven't talked about it." If there's nowhere sale lfor the men 10 go after graduating, HRH staff wili find o bed for them in the community. But for the moot part, residents returu 10 their regular lives. And despite the bolstering of ongoing support meetings for boîh former residents and their [amilies, that con be tough. "It's really scary 10 leave. A lot have been dîsconnected [rom people for s0 long and then they start 10 build a brotherbood bere," said Mr. Moir. And at some point, the guit kicks in. Besting bock addiction means taking an unflinching look at the carnage etched in the lives of the addict and those around hiru. That can make the strongeot men wsnt 10 mun for cover, and Mr. Moir was no exception. "There was o lot of shame and guilt and remorse," said Mr. Moir. "11 wao very difficuit 10 be with my famiiy because I feit Photo by GRAH-AM PAINE Mayor Gord Krantz <buf) attended 25th annlversary celebrations of Halton Recovery Houa. (HRH) recenty. Whils there, h. presented HRH director Derek Callaghan (centre) and board of directors president Irma Coulson wlrth a con- gratulatory plaque. terrble for ail the things I had done." Mr. Moir began drinking at age 14. He kept at il because he craved being in the peacel'ul place il brought bim 10. When alcohol stopped taking him there, he moved on 10 crack. And when that no longer workcd, lie stepped it up 10 heroin. "When il wasn'î taking me there anymore," said Mr. Moir, "I tumed to here." At HRH, he learned 10 scale the wall addiction had erected between himself and bis family. "Il was a difficuit transition, but as lime went on I began 10 gel 10 know îbem a little bit," said Mr. Moir. "They began 10 gel 10 know me. 1 started feeling comfortable around my family." Now 37, Mr. Moir bas been dlean for five years. After graduai- ing (rom HRH, he began volunteering ai the bouse. In lime, be was hired as s staff member. And tbrougb il ail, he bas stayed dlean. "t know I want 10 live Ibis way of hife, so I've surrendered," he said. "At the beginning 1 wss fighting it, because Ibis is ail I knew. But then il was like a kind of freedom." Coing drug and alcohol free means pluggîng the holes sub- stance use once fild. "I was taught 10 pray bere. 1 was taught 10 share every day witb alcoholico and spend lime, qusiîy lime, with my family," said Mr. Moi r. "Wben I'm on that track, it's very easy 10 stay sober." For more information, or 10 make donations 10 HRH, coul 878- 1120. Donations are tax deductible. ¶iiMÉO;It" COGECO 14 Programming Schedule - September l2th, 2000 - September l8th, 2000 W(005- E EMha.m tne .. 5 3 Ro~ftld 5.30,6O 30 n '-e M! 5:30,6:30,7I U0j P d Ir 5:306:30,72 Mup IhjdN www.cogeco.ca 7.%" Waw>IWASÇ11otDw 7:0» om b Eaff % Mw*w6. w nte Acton **Wp __hrià OOe Me~e 0p 1~sas. Adtos, ON L7J IV9Famix0 519-853-1270, or 853-4700______________________________ ____________ u