By Sarah Stone

PHOTOS: Former addicts and supporters celebrate recovery

Sep 25, 2014 | 7:22 AM

Recovering addicts are stepping out of the shadows and sharing their stories without shame or stigma.

On Wednesday afternoon, around 50 people gathered outside the SIAST Woodland Campus for Recovery Day, a national event to build awareness, challenge stigma imposed by society and celebrate the role recovery plays in improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

The group of supporters, some from the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI) addictions recovery program, walked to Addiction Services holding various signs about awareness. At the end of the walk a ceremony was held, balloons were released and cake was shared.

Participant David Joseyounen is in the MACSI program. He said it has opened and changed his life and he was taking part to share what he’s learned.

“It was a big step for me to get into this program and now I realize what was costing to damage my life and ever since I’ve opened up my heart to God,” he said. “Before I was scared now a days … I want to start my life and be happy.”

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Joseyounen has been sober for 11 months and said his kids helped him make the decision to recover.

 “I’m happy about it you know. Now I’m not shy to talk about my path that I’ve been through,” he said.

Joseyounen isn’t the one who is in the MACSI program and is ready to talk about his recover.

Darcy Morin was open with paNOW about what he’s gone through with addictions. He said he’s struggled with using marijuana, alcohol and crack cocaine in past, but is making changes in his life.

“Everybody’s recovering, somehow or someway, everybody is recovering,” he said.

“Let everybody recover in their own way, however they want to recover, just recover.”

Shelly Carriere with Prince Albert Addictions Awareness Committee said Recovery Day celebrates all aspects of recovery.

“It’s a challenging ordeal. It’s a unique situation for each person in recovery and it’s important for us to recognize that and to celebrate it because it is an achievement,” Carriere said.

Carriere said there have been some addictions awareness walks, but this is the first time Recovery Day has come to Prince Albert and she hopes it grows every year.

“I think there is a stigma with addiction and recovery, period, and the more education and awareness we bring the more we break those barriers down and that’s what we hope to do today.”

Before the walk a compelling speaker hit the stage to share his own story.

Joe Roberts, a.k.a. the Skid Row CEO, was brought in by the Addictions Professionals Association of Saskatchewan (APASK) with sponsorship from the Saskatchewan Association for the Betterment of Addiction Services (SABAS).

Hundreds of people packed the auditorium in SIAST to hear how he overcame drugs and alcohol to become a high-profile businessman in Canada.

During his speech, he said he’s telling his story of addiction and recovery not as a victim, but as someone who overcame obstacles.

At the end of his speech, the audience gave him a standing ovation.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84