For 45 years, Billy was caught in the grip of hard drugs and alcohol, making a living by selling. The 62-year-old drank excessively every day and used drugs regularly, often isolating himself to avoid judgment or questions about his destructive habits. After years of hard work managing his addiction, Billy is looking to the future with positivity.<\/p>\n
Realizing he had a serious problem with substance use, Billy checked into a rehabilitation facility, successfully overcoming his drug addiction. However, while running a bar in Ontario, he swapped one addiction for another, continuing to drink heavily. To escape people urging him to get help, he retreated to a life of homelessness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just went away and moved onto the street. I had money in the bank, so I was going in and out of motels and on and off the street depending on the weather,\u201d Billy recalls.<\/p>\n
As he tried to quit drinking, his body craved more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went into convulsions and ended up in intensive care. That happened three times. Everyone told me I should go into some kind of treatment program,\u201d he remembers.<\/p>\n
A Life-Saving Intervention<\/strong><\/p>\n During one of those hospital visits, a doctor informed Billy that there was no space to admit him, suggesting The Salvation Army\u2019s Withdrawal Management Centre at the Centre of Hope in London instead.<\/p>\n \u201cCall it divine intervention; I think it might have been,\u201d Billy reflects. \u201cNext thing I know, I\u2019m in an ambulance on my way to detox. That was the first time I began listening to what people had to say.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Withdrawal Management Centre offers non-medical support during acute withdrawal, treatment planning, recovery education, on-site twelve-step programs, peer support groups, and referrals to community resources and treatment options.<\/p>\n After overcoming his alcohol addiction with the help of The Salvation Army and external treatment facilities, Billy moved into a room at the Recovery Community Centre (RCC) within the Centre of Hope, which offers a holistic approach to recovery, combining psychoeducation, spiritual support, peer-led activities, life skills programs, yoga, meditation, and music to guide participants on their journey.<\/p>\n