After being in active addiction for five years, Keaton become desperate for help. “For the longest time I was in complete denial. It didn’t matter that addiction led me to institutions. Though that was where I gave up – in prison,” shares Keaton candidly. “I put my hands up and said I can’t quit on … Continued
Taking a Closer Look at the Consequences of Stigma Our vision at Renascent is that all people, families and loved ones impacted by addiction will have timely access to treatment. But one of the biggest barriers to treatment is stigma. S – What is Stigma? Stigma is any attitude, belief or behaviour that discriminates against … Continued
It’s impossible to know by just looking, the number of twists and turns that make up a person’s recovery journey. This is true for Renascent’s own Giuseppe Mercuri. After nine overdoses and ten stints in treatment, this year Giuseppe is celebrating eight years in recovery and seven years as a Renascent addictions counsellor. Giuseppe remembers … Continued
By: Susan Jones, Renascent Alumni I last had a drink on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2016. I happened to be in Toronto on a business trip and had stayed over the weekend to visit family and help provide support to my mother who was looking after my ailing father. It was a Sunday morning when … Continued
At Renascent, we use person-first language. Person-first language is language that acknowledges someone as a person before describing their personal attributes or health conditions. Calling someone an addict dehumanizes that person and can link a substance use disorder to their individual identity. A person is not defined by their illness or health condition. Language that … Continued
By Cody, Renascent Alumni Father’s Day being sober today looks a lot different now then when I was in active addiction. When I was using, I was always mad and yelling at my kids and scaring them because I would chose drugs over them. When I was with them I wasn’t there like I should of been. … Continued
While the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic thrust many people into using virtually technology, this online world was already a core part of Kimberly O’Connor professional life. As an addiction counsellor and professional hypnotist, she always worked in a virtual environment, providing one-on-one support online through her private practice. So when Kimberly joined Renascent’s Virtual … Continued
Michael LeBlanc remembers the exact moment when he first declared that he wanted to become an addictions counsellor. At the time, he was in treatment himself at Renascent Paul J. Sullivan Centre (Sullivan Centre), for a debilitating addiction to crystal meth. Having started drinking at an early age, Michael’s addiction slowly progressed over the years. … Continued
At a frail 108 pounds, Dustin Cunning sat among family members and surrendered. He lived in active addiction for about 17 years until that unsuspecting day when his family staged his intervention. It was that day which would be the catalyst that changed his life. “I drank and used for a couple of years until … Continued
It was almost by chance that Luisa Schifitto first became acquainted with Renascent. She was invited to participate in a Renascent Foundation fundraiser in 2019 and from the moment she learned about the cause, she became a passionate champion. Just six years ago, Luisa lost her older brother to substance abuse. He was 45 years … Continued
