Victory over addiction is possible
Rob Hinz is the development officer for the Saskatchewan Men’s Centre at Allan, Sask. He and his wife Alizabeth recently paid a visit to Kindersley where Rob gave a presentation at Kindersley Christian Fellowship. The men’s centre in Saskatchewan is one of eight centres in Canada run by Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge Canada is a charitable organization that has operated a 12-month in-residence alcohol and drug addiction recovery program for adult men and women for over forty years.
They use a holistic faith-based approach to treatment and recovery which has had a 60 percent success rate amongst its graduates. “Some guys go through treatment programs that don’t work and come to realize giving one year of their life will be worth it,” Rob said, and he can attest to this, since he spent a year at Teen Challenge six years ago when he was battling a cocaine addiction.
Rob said, he was married while in his 20’s and had a successful oilfield business. He felt pressured to uphold his image among his peers, but his growing addiction proceeded to push him into isolation. “Eventually it was just me and my dog. My dog loved me unconditionally. She was always glad to see me,” Rob said. “When I was 31 I tried overdosing, but wasn’t successful.” Rob found a Teen Challenge brochure his mom had left at his house and made the decision to enrol. “There’s no quick road to recovery,” Rob admitted.
The program at the Saskatchewan centre is an intensive, holistic recovery process that is completely voluntary. “No one is forced to stay there,” Rob said, noting that some men leave after six months thinking they are free of their addictions, but most of them return later on.
“Some struggle after graduating, but they have the tools to get back up,” Rob said. And during these crazy times we’re living in when the number of drug overdoses are increasing every day, it’s the getting back up that is the most important thing.
At the centre, the men become stabilized and return to healthy life strategies, and through addictions counselling learn to understand addictions. They learn personal self-discipline, spiritual basics, work ethics and family conflict resolution. Finally they learn how to mentor others, set future goals and how to re-integrate into society.
“The program is hard. It’s 12 months and you do life together. You have withdrawals and are living with recovering addicts, but everyone helps each other,” Rob explained.
Every Saturday, close family members come to visit their loved ones. This is vitally important since 49 percent of the students attending have children. Last year, 68 children saw their mom/dad graduate from Teen Challenge.
The program offers various work projects to help raise funds, such as restoring vehicles or operating a thrift store. Teen Challenge is not government funded and is 100 percent funded by donations and a sponsorship program. The cost of the year-long program for applicants is only $1,100; the remainder cost is supported by donations from the community.
“The recent regulations put a huge hole in our fundraising,” Rob said, mentioning the upcoming virtual fundraising gala as one of the fundraisers planned in the near future.
“You never know what one changed life can do,” Rob said, noting that many of the graduates of the program go on to work for Teen Challenge.
And what do those changed lives have to say about the program? Graduate, Joel said, “Teen Challenge isn’t a year-long sacrifice, it is an investment. It saved my life and I’m so thankful for it.”
Graduate Kyle said, “Because of Teen Challenge, I have hope for the future. You are never too far gone for God to do something in your life.”
PHOTO: Rob and Alizabeth Hinz
