Témoignages Portage Colombie-Britannique

Avant de venir au centre « The Crossing » de Portage à Keremeos en Colombie-Britannique, ils étaient tous des toxicomanes se demandant comment vaincre la toxicomanie.  Ici, ils partagent leurs expériences et vous offrent leurs témoignages pour vous donner une meilleure idée de leurs démarches dans le programme de réadaptation en toxicomanie.

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• "I found the Nor-Mar tour very interesting and informative, as I plan to pursue a career in the welding industry," says Dan, a Portage Keremeos resident.  "I saw many parallels in the values that Jim, the general manager, told us he looks for in employees and the values we learn here at Portage: reliability, honesty, consistency, respect, and pride in quality. I learned that Portage is teaching us skills that are 100% transferable into the real world. I am thankful to Jim for showing us around Nor-Mar and for answering all of my questions."

• "I came to Portage with a lot of issues like abandonment, loss, resentments, addictions, regrets and so on.  By being at Portage I was able to learn how to express my feelings and open up.  I was like a safe that was hard to crack open.  When I finally did open up, all the hurt of a five year old boy came out.  I am now a mature young man.  Portage gave me many of tools to help me succeed in life.  I have learned how to have structure in my life.  I have also developed self-respect and learned to love who I am.  My past addiction rarely goes through my head and I now wish for a successful life which I believe I will get because of my time at Portage." – Cody, Portage Keremeos resident. 
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• "In my addiction, I was missing the basic fundamental needs of living a happy and successful life. With the support from my peers and the dedicated staff, as well as all the tools I have learned, finally I am able to feel good about myself and the choices I am making. Portage has saved my life. It is such an amazing place and it can help anyone who is willing to put in a little dedication." -  Jon, Portage Keremeos graduate
  
  
• "Last year on Recognition Day, I was still pretty fresh off the streets and did not want to be at Portage.  I was confused and afraid and acted out in violence frequently. I was planning on leaving Portage, but made a commitment to myself to stay until just after Recognition Day, because I had the chance to sing on stage with the other girls.  I sang my heart out.  I saw all the people who graduated that day and I started to believe that I could do it too.  So here I am, almost ready to graduate the program -18 years old and loving life.  It wasn't easy choosing recovery over addiction, life over death, the hard way over the easy way - but it was worth it.  Never give up, stay strong, keep fighting for your life." -  Naomi, Portage Keremeos resident
  
  
• "Nature was lifeless to me in my addiction.  But all the nature walks and outdoor activities we do at Portage have really opened my eyes and inspired me to get involved in things that I really wanted to do deep down, but never had the opportunity or the will do to before.  I planted my very first tree here at Portage, on the grounds where I got my life back.  That tree will be here growing long after I graduate for many people to see." - Nik, Portage Keremeos resident
  
  
• A parent's testimonial: "Our son, Tim, has been at Portage Keremeos for two and a half weeks now and is thriving. The news from both his caseworker and the nurse, along with his own phone calls, has been heartwarming. In this short time we have already started to rediscover our son again. We know it is still early, but the time he has been free of drugs and alcohol has been doing so much good and he is proud of how far he has come. We cannot tell you how proud we are that he has decided to embrace this program. He is thriving on the structure that is in place and on the support that he receives – an environment where he can comfortably explore what makes him who he is. We are enormously grateful." - A parent of a Portage Keremeos resident
  
  
• "Portage has given me the opportunity to achieve my goals - to help me with my family and work through my problems, not around them.  To be able to do the things that I wasn't able to do before...it's really encouraging, it's inspiring.  It lifts me up and it really helps with my daily life." - Robert, Portage Keremeos graduate and recipient of the Portage BC Adolescents Bursary Program honouring the Central City Foundation
   

Karen, age 17
I got here 6 weeks ago. A couple of weeks into the program, I hated it here. I cried to go home. I tried to run away somewhere away from Portage, but I got talked out of it by a resident. And I was upset for a while, I didn't want to participate in any meetings, I stayed in my room. Then I got to think about what I was doing. Then I finally realised that I was making a fool out of myself. I was thinking more and remembering why I came to treatment. I came because I want to be the change in my family, community, and myself. And now I'm ready to change my life, I'm excited for graduation. In the beginning of my program I told everyone that I'm only staying until June but now I've changed my mind by seeing other residents transition, and one day I want to be like them, clean and sober!

Priscilla, age 18
I came into Portage insecure, with a tough angry front. I had to pretend to be someone I was not in order to survive in a cruel world. Portage has saved my life! For the first time in my life I truly love myself and know who I really am. My experience at Portage hasn't been easy but it has definitely been worth it. It's not that I never want to use again; I now value sobriety too much to ever use again.

Jon, age 19
Portage is a safe, serene, and challenging place. In my addiction I was missing the basic fundamental needs of living a happy and successful life. With the support from my peers and the dedicated staff, as well as all the tools I have learned, finally I am able to feel good about myself and the choices I am making. Portage has saved my life. It is such an amazing place and it can help anyone who is willing to put in a little dedication.

Carrie, age 15
I came to Portage alone and afraid. I remember at the beginning I thought this will NEVER work. I'm destined to fail. Well guess what, IT WORKED! My 11 month program is over in 22 days. I hated myself when I came here, yet a month ago I spoke to grade 8 & 9 students about how much I love myself and my sobriety. This program saved my life. It wasn't easy but in the end it was sure worth it. I am on my long lasting road to recovery.

Tom, age 17
I came into Portage not knowing how to read and write at 17 years old. Coming here has freed my mind and my spirit, and it's given me the motivation to change.  I can say only good things about this place. In my experience at Portage I have found that everything I need to be a better person and make a better life is here.

Robbie, age 18
My experience at Portage has been very intriguing. Sharing my experience with the other youth in and out of Portage has been great. I love being able to help people understand themselves. I shared my life story at a local high school and to help people who are not in the program understand the dangers of drugs and also to be aware the susceptibility to addiction was very powerful. This program has helped me recognize that I have a voice that matters, that I am able to have a great, successful life, and that I can do anything as long as I put 100% effort into it.

Amberlynn, age 14
When I came to Portage, I didn't know who I was. This place changed my life. I love my family and the people close to me again. I'm so grateful for the chance to come here and change. Now I know who I am and I love the person I've become. I love Portage and now I know who I really am.

Oeuvres réalisées par une résidente de Portage à Keremeos

Son interprétation de la «dépendance» et de la «sobriété»