Paul Shanks shared his story on Recovery Day in Saint John, N.B. He's been in recovery for nearly 12 years. (Tamara Steele/CHSJ News)
Horizon Health bringing together agencies who support those with various addictions to celebrate Recovery Day.
It is a national event which recognizes and acknowledges the difficult journey to overcome addiction and celebrate recovery.
The lunch hour event on Thursday in King Square in Saint John, NB featuring the stories of people who work through struggles with alcohol, drugs and self-harming.
It included the Sophia Recovery Centre, P.E.E.R SJ and Addictions and Mental Health.
Paul Shanks shared his story and began by telling the crowd he had his first drink when he was 12-years-old.
“My first trip into detox was in 1995. It’s been a journey. For the first 12 or 13 years that I started my recovery, I was around recovery. For the last 12 years, I have been in recovery.” Shanks said.
Today is Recovery Day and a ceremony is underway at King Square. Several organizations who help those with addiction are here. Paul is telling his story of a struggle with alcohol. He had his first drink at 12. pic.twitter.com/CF0knLBpg4
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) September 19, 2019
Shanks says he couldn’t face recovery for a long time because he was afraid.
“I wasn’t willing to face my reality. I wasn’t ready to face my skeletons that were in the closet. I would open the door and then I would close it and wouldn’t walk in.” Shanks said.
Shanks now works at the rehab and detox unit at Ridgewood where he once was a patient.
The concept began in British Columbia in 2012 as a way for people to come together to celebrate their recovery and share experiences.
Follow
