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Article taken from TimesColonist Davin Holmes: “You think ‘this isn’t me’ — I hate people who lie, cheat and steal. Everything I hated in someone’s character, I became.” Photograph By ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST A Victoria plumber who lost everything to drug addiction and both his brothers to drug overdoses told politicians on Monday why therapeutic recovery works. Davin Holmes, 37, at the announcement of a proposed recovery program at the former youth-custody centre in View Royal, said a similar resident program in Nanaimo gave him the tools to change a life of self-destruction into self-development. “I got a message from my daughter last night and she told me that I was the best father a little girl could ever ask for and I have that back in my life thanks to places like this,” said Holmes. “When you pick people up you change the way they see the world and I believe the therapeutic community did that for me.” Holmes, physically fit and employed, is the antithesis of what he was when teenage drinking, smoking weed and ingesting drugs on Sointula, a small village on Malcolm Island, became addiction to opioids in Nanaimo and Courtenay. He limited his drug use to weekends. But at age 28, Holmes tried the opioid percocet. “That was what took me out, for sure,” Holmes said. “That’s where the physical dependence of the drug kind of took over my life.” Holmes moved from percocet to oxycodone to heroin. He started lying to his wife and spending a disproportionate amount [...]

  The team at Foundation House would like to send a huge thank you to all those who supported us by participating and donating to our Golf Day. Despite the rain, the day was a success and could not have been possible without the following businesses. A special thank you to Jodie Kelly and her team at Macquarie Links International Golf Club for for being great and generous hosts.     cbus Super Austral Steelfixing Pty Ltd Trademark Kitchens & Designs Lack Group BKG Group BTGDA AW Edwards Pty Ltd Morris C Painting ACE Demolition & Excavations Pty Ltd GVK Management Pty Ltd Titan Cranes & Rigging Pty Ltd Eastside Formwork Pty Ltd Nass Services Pty Ltd Transform NSW Sydney Labour & Constructions Pty Ltd City Steel Pty Ltd Deluxe Cleaning Pty Ltd Reds Global Personnel Pty Ltd DJD Brick & Blocklaying Pty Ltd Crane Resources Pty Ltd Everwilling Tower Cranes Pty Ltd Marr Contracting Pty Ltd Zenith Workforce Pty Ltd Metropolitan Demolitions Pty Ltd  Nitro Steelfixing Pty Ltd  Snell Vending/Global Vend Trazmet Pty Ltd

What we tell those in recovery is that the opposite of addiction is connection; this is what 12-Step recovery aims to achieve. Narcotics, Alcoholics and Gamblers Anonymous (NA, AA & GA) are designed to do just that – help recovering addicts connect with others in recovery as a means of social connection and interaction. Around the world, there are over 200,000 meetings in each fellowship being run by peers in recovery. They span across the city, rural areas and suburbia; with online meetings being added to accommodate those who can’t get to a meeting. Currently being used by millions of people around the world, 12-Step programs (like Foundation House) encourage people to take on a set of principles (the 12-Steps), to maintain abstinence, form bonds and then eventually help the newcomer. Through the 12-Steps, those in addiction can learn how to cope with their addictions, to avoid triggers and learn to live a life without substances. Admitting powerless over addiction is the first step, encouraging those to surrender their self-will over to their higher power of their own understanding. It is assumed throughout the world that AA/GA/NA are purely religion based – though this isn’t the case. ‘To a God of your own understanding’ is a term used frequently in rehabilitation centres and meetings that adopt the 12-Step recovery model; and that one word is what turns people away – God. A God of your own understanding is often referred to as ‘your higher power’, but this just isn’t religion. Your higher power could [...]

Would you like the chance to play golf on a great Golf Course with lunch as well as support Foundation House? Well come along to our Golf Day on 26th February at Macquarie Links Golf Club, play a round of golf, have lunch and support Foundation House all at the same time. It will be a great day out - see the attached link for the invitation and get in early to book your spot. Hole Sponsorships are available, please call 9555-7852 for information. FH_Golf Day Invitation 3

  During the holiday season, it's important to recognise how challenging this time of year is for many people around the world. Family events, non-family events or even just as an escape; Christmas and New Years Eve especially form a critical make-or-break situation that many people find themselves in. But the question is, how do you engage in behaviours that align with who you want to be and how you want to act? There are several ways to help yourself through this holiday season. Practicing mindfulness through guided meditation and deep breathing is one way that can help you be present in the moment and 'ground yourself' in times of stress or anxiety. Yoga and meditation at the hundreds of studios close to you. A great way to also ground yourself and be present in the moment Writing a daily plan. This is important to do around the big days like Christmas and New Years eve. Writing a daily plan will ensure that there is a course of action for your day and something to refer back on if you feel like you're veering off track. Keep it in the day! This is a simple way to keep your actions for the day. instead of saying, i'm not going to drink tomorrow; just focus on the day at hand. If that becomes difficult, keep it in the hour, the minute or even just the moment. Write a gratitude list. This will help you be grateful and reminded of things that are good in your [...]